Group Rides at the Back Roads Century

* Just Announced!  Back Roads Century Group Rides *

We're pleased to announce that Potomac Pedalers ride leaders will be leading group rides at the Back Roads Century in all distances - 25, 30, 50, 65 and 100 miles.  Each group ride is tailored to a specific level of rider which corresponds to the distance.  Whether you're an experienced cyclist going 100 miles at a fast pace, or if you're a family going 25 miles for the first time - we have just the ride for you!

Below is the full ride listing with start times, distances and speeds.  We ask that you review the rides in detail to find the one appropriate for your ability.  Then register online so that we have a firm count of Group Ride participants.   

You must be registered for the Back Roads Century in order to participate in one of these group rides.  Click here to register for the Back Roads Century   

Click on each ride leader's name to view the ride details. 

We have Back Roads Century jerseys in most sizes (both men's and women's) and they'll arrive in time to be picked up at the Century on September 18th.  You can pickup in the morning and wear it during the ride, or wait until the afternoon after you've finished riding. 

All orders placed online are guaranteed for pickup at the Century.  Once we run out of a size, our website will show "out of stock" and you won't be able to order that size anymore. 

You'll be the envy of your fellow riders when they see you in this beautiful cycling jersey, which highlights some of the unique features of our ride.  

On the front are rolling hills, farmland, horses and cyclists.  And prominently displayed, is the White Post street marker which you'll see at the intersection of White Post Road and Berry's Ferry Road.  The post was originally placed by George Washington, under the direction of Lord Fairfax in 1750.

It's important for cyclists riding different distances to start at different times.  That way you'll be paired up with riders going the same speed and distance as you.  This makes it more fun for everybody.     

Faster Century riders (20+mph) don't want to be passing casual cyclists who are riding at 12 mph.  It creates congestion.  And slower riders can become uncomfortable with groups of fast cyclists zooming by.

That's why it's best for everyone to stagger their starting time, and we've developed the following guidelines after many years of experience -  

• 7:00am - 7:30am - 100 Mile English Century Riders
• 7:30am - 8:00am - 65 Mile Metric Century Riders
• 8:00am - 8:30am - 50 Mile Half Century Riders
• 8:30am - 9:00am - 30 Mile Extended Quarter Century Riders 
• 9:00am - 9:30am - 25 Mile Quarter Century Riders 

Also, our post-ride cookout starts at noon, so you don't want to finish your ride too early; especially if you plan on doing the 25 or 30 mile rides. 

We have plenty of free parking, so don't worry about arriving later.  We actually encourage it!  

The # 1 question that we receive is "How hard are the routes".  The answer is "They're not easy".  The Back Roads Century is considered moderately hilly - up and down hills, however there are no mountain climbs.  Here is an overview of each route so that you can decide which one is appropriate for you.

25 Mile - Quarter Century

This is the flattest and easiest route we offer.  There's only 950 feet of climbing which makes it suitable for most casual cyclists.  Rest stop is at mile 13-Burwell-Morgan Mill. 

30 Mile - Extended Quarter Century 

This is the same route as our 25 mile ride, plus we've added a section that parallels the Shenandoah River.  The hills next to the river could pose some difficulty because they're steep, so you want to be sure you can handle the climbs.  There's a total of 1,400 feet of climbing on this route.  Rest stops are at mile 13-Burwell-Morgan Mill and mile 21-Church of Transfiguration. 

50 Mile - Half Century  

There are no long climbs however you'll encounter lots of short, steep hills of 5-10% or more.  The 50 mile route is also the second half of the full 100 mile Century.  Total vertical climb is 2,500 feet. Rest stops are at mile 13-Burwell-Morgan Mill, mile 28-White Post Restorations, and mile 41-Church of Transfiguration. 

65 Mile - Metric Century 

This may actually be the the most difficult of our routes because of the climbs - and it's also one of our most popular!  The Metric Century has all of the short, steep hills of the 50 mile ride, plus one long climb between miles 27 and 30.  We have a rest stop strategically located at mile 30, right at the top of the long climb.  Total vertical is 3,000 feet.  Rest stops are at mile 13-Burwell-Morgan Mill, mile 30-Fairfview Church, 43-White Post Restorations, and mile 57-Church of Transfiguration. 

100 Mile - English Century

The full Century has a total vertical climb of 4,700 feet which is considered moderately hilly.  The first half is 2,200 vertical, and the hills are more gradual than the second half of the Century.  Therefore the first half is the easier of the two.  The second half of the Century has lots of short, steep hills in the 5-10% range or more, so be sure to save some energy for the second half of your ride.  Rest stops are at mile 28-South Jefferson Elementary, mile-50 Clarke County High School, mile 63-Burwell-Morgan Mill, mile 78-White Post Restorations, and mile 92-Church of Transfiguration. 

Here is a link to interactive route maps which show elevation profiles.

2011 Cue Sheets will be posted in late August or early September.

Yes, you are free to choose any route at any time.  We realize that you may have planned on riding one distance, and circumstances now dictate that you'll be riding something different.  No problem!

During registration we asked you what distance you were riding so that we can plan food at each of our rest stops.  Different stops are on different routes.  We find that just as many riders move up in distance (65 to 100) as down (100 to 65), therefore it tends to even out.

So don't worry about what distance you told us during registration.  Just pick a route and have fun! 

We'll be mailing your bike number and wristband the first week of September, so don't plan on receiving anything from us before that date.  And no, it isn't necessary for you to have a bicycle mailbox - but it helps! 

We'll send you a notification e-mail when envelopes have been mailed. 

The Back Roads Century wouldn't be possible without the generous support of our sponsors.  Please keep these merchants in mind when you're in the market for cycling products or services.

We have Back Roads Century logo gear available for purchase in our online store.  You can purchase  any of these items during registration in one transaction, or you can come back later to place your order.   

All items purchased online may be picked up at the Back Roads Century.  We will not be shipping orders in advance of the ride.

Presenting our Back Roads Century logo t-shirt.  This is the same shirt that you'll receive free with your paid registration.  Go to our online store and stock up if you would like to have more than one.

Click here to purchase or to view a larger image

Presenting our Back Roads Century long sleeve logo t-shirt.  This shirt is 100% cotton and has the words Back Roads Century, Berryville, VA and 2011 printed on the front.

 Click here to purchase or to view a larger image 

Presenting our Back Roads Century hooded sweatshirt with full zipper.  It has our logo stitched on the front for a really elegant look.

Click here to purchase or to view a larger image.   

Presenting our Back Roads Century water bottles.  This is the same bottle that you'll receive free with your paid registration.  Go to our online store and stock up if you would like to have more than one.

Click here to purchase or to view a larger image.  

All items purchased online may be picked up at the Back Roads Century.  We will not be shipping orders in advance of the ride.