[rola643]

Originally Posted by synack

I think I will take the extra 1k feet of climbing!

lol, you can have it all

[synack]

Don't lie, the mountains are calling you. Rooolaaa, Rooolaaa... The pain of the climb, the beauty of the scenery, calling out to you like the Sirens of ancient Greece.

[Dos_Ruedas]

The little town I grew up near is having it's first "official" bike event. "The Grand Mercer Metric"

Location: Athens, WV
Date: May 11, 2013

Your choice of a 30 miler or a not quite metric METRIC.
The catcher...I understand there is a long hill with an 18% grade....and you will not be descending it. Total climbing on the metric will be 6200 feet.

Learn more & register here:
http://www.granmercermetric.com/index.html

[Dos_Ruedas]

Here's an event I learned about as I was reading the website above.

"Mountains of Misery" with more than 10,000 feet of climbing with the last four miles being a 12-16% grade.
100+ miler or a double metric.

Sold out for 2013, but maybe some of you will want to watch for it next year.

http://www.mountainsofmisery.com/2013/

[lmiles64]

Last summer I posted these Washington State events in the Washington State Forum Folder. So I'll throw them here if anyone is interested.

Top Cycling Events in Washington...
Thought this would be a good place to list some of the top organized rides and the links to their sites in this great state. Just in case anyone has plans to visit our great state and needs reason to do so or is looking for a ride. Even though there are many, these are some of the most popular and talked about. They are listed in no particular order. If any of you Washtonians have more to add, please do.

#1: Seattle to Portland (STP) Ride in one day or two.
http://shop.cascade.org/content/events/stp

#2: Ride Seattle to Vancouver (BC) and Party. (RSVP).
http://shop.cascade.org/content/events/rsvp

#3: Chelan Century Challenge. Climb McNeil Canyon if you so choose. I did last year and lived to tell about it...
http://www.centuryride.com/

#4:Courage Classic. A great ride for a great cause. 3 mountain passes and root beer floats.
http://www.multicare.org/home/courage-classic/

#5: MS Bike America. My favorite so it gets a plug.
http://bikewas.nationalmssociety.org/site/TR/Bike/WASBikeEvents?fr_id=17999&pg=entry

#6. 8 Lakes Leg Ache. Spokane. The best "free" food at the end.
http://www.lcsnw.org/8LakesRide/index.html

#7: Inland Empire Century. Tri-Cities
http://inlandempirecentury.org/

#8. Tour de Blast. A nice little ride up to the Mt. St. Helen's blast zone.
http://tourdeblast.com/

#9: Ride Around Mt. Rainier in One Day. (RAMROD) 10,000 ft of climbing in over 152 miles.
http://www.redmondcyclingclub.org/RAMROD/RAMROD.html

[Dos_Ruedas]

Imiles,

Thanks for posting.
Are you riding any of those?

[lmiles64]

First and foremost I will be doing the MS Bike America.
Also my list includes:
The IEC
Possibly the STP in one day.
Chelan Century Challenge
8 Lakes Leg Ache
And contmeplating the Tour de Blast since they have moved it to the 3rd weekend in September.

[Dos_Ruedas]

Nice list.

I haven't participated in organized bicycling events for many years and those were all MTB.

If things work out, I hope to do so this year.