Ride Starting Times

Ride Starting Times

We know that you're anxious to get started on your ride, and the natural tendency is to get rolling first thing in the morning.  Experience has shown us that this doesn't work very well; when riders of a wide range of ability levels, all start out at the same time (early).  This creates two problems -

1. Everyone arrives at the rest stops at the same time, causing crowds
2. Faster riders have to continually pass slower riders, causing congestion

 100 Mile English Century Ride -  Recommended Starting Time - 7:00am - 7:30am

The 100 mile Century ride has its own rest stop at mile 28 (Jefferson County Elementary School), that no other rides share.  Because of the longer distance and the natural tendency of riders to spread out at varying speeds, you shouldn't encounter any delays here.  You'll simply want to start early, because of the total mileage that you're riding.

65 Mile Metric Century Ride - Recommended Starting Time - 7:30am - 8:00am

65 mile Metric Century riders will be sharing the same route and rest stop with Half Century (50 mile) and Quarter Century (25/30 mile) riders up until mile 13 (Burwell-Morgan Mill).  Therefore it's best that each of these rides stagger their starts, with faster Metric Century riders going out earliest.  Having Metric Century riders start by 8:00am will ensure that everyone doesn't arrive at the Mill at the same time, and Metric Century riders won't have to constantly pass slower riders.  Your next rest stop is at mile 30 (Fairview Church), which is only used on the Metric Century ride; so you'll encounter no delays here.

50 Mile Half Century Ride - Recommended Starting Time - 8:00am - 8:30am

If you're riding the 50 mile Half Century, it's recommended that you start after English Century (100 mile) and Metric Century (65 mile) riders, between 8:00am and 9:00am.  Since English and Metric Century riders will typically be faster than Half Century riders, you'll want to let them go out first.  The 65, 50, 30 and 25 mile rides share the same rest stop at mile 13 (Burwell-Morgan Mill), so you'll want to arrive at the Mill after Metric Century riders have already departed, to avoid congestion.  Also, our post-ride cookout starts at 12:00pm, so you don't want to finish your ride too early in the day.

30 Mile Extended Quarter Century Ride - Recommended Starting Time - 8:30am - 9:00am

If you're riding 30 miles, please do not start before 8:30am.  Riders going on our 100, 65 and 50 mile courses will be much faster tahn you, and if you start at the same time as them, they'll be passing at higher speeds.  You'll have a much more enjoyable ride if you start out with other riders of the same ability.  Starting at 8:30am will ensure that your dont' run into congestion at Burwell-Morgan Mill, because all of the 65 am 50 mile riders will have already passed through.  And finally, our post-ride cookout starts at 12:00pm, so youdon't want to finish your ride too early in the day.

25 Mile Quarter Century Ride - Recommended Starting Time - 9:00am - 9:30am

If you'reriding 25 miles, please don not start before 9:00am  Riders going on our 100, 65 and 50 mile courses will be faster than you, and if you start at the same time as them, they'll be passing at higher speeds.  You'll have a much more enjoyable ride if you start out with other riders of the same ability.  Starting at 9:00am (or later) will ensure that you don't run into congestion at Burwell-Morgan Mill, because all of the 65 and 50 mile riders will have already passed through. And finally, our post-ride cookout starts at 12:00pm, so you don't want to finish your ride too early in the day.