Eat turkey, do your shopping, celebrate the holidays and drink as much as you like on New Year’s Eve; but remember to start the new year out right with the New Year’s Day Century on January 1st.
Steeped in tradition, the New Year’s Century rides go back to before the turn of the last century. The 1903 CRCA New Year’s Eve Century went from Bedford Rest in Brooklyn to Valley Stream, L.I.
As in recent years, we will meet at Engineer’s gate in Central Park for a 7:30am departure. The route consists of two laps of Central Park, then up to the GWB, 9W and the Bear Mountain Inn. From there, riders will retrace the route back to Manhattan, ending up Fifth Avenue with a finish back at Engineer’s Gate. The only prize for the first rider back is the glory among fellow cyclists, a short write up on crca.net and being able to hit the shower before the rest of the back.
The ride is a USAC “Non-Competitive Fun ride/Tour” permitted ride. All USAC licensed riders should bring their 2012 license (available for renewal after December 1, 2011) and a signed 2012 waiver form. For those with the fitness and the ability to brave the elements, this is a great ride to start off your new racing year.