Several years ago, while living in Kansas City, the Johnson County Bicycle Club held a New Year's century. It was a 25-mile loop. The temperature at the start was 0 degrees. I was so bundled-up that I looked like the Michelin Man.

I completed that century once (I''m not certain if the ride continued or not). The loop format made it difficult to pass up your warm car twice beforecompleting the ride.

When I moved to Denver in 1994 I became involved with the Rocky Mountain Cycling Club. The RMCC schedule ended in the fall and resumed in early spring. I started winter show-and-go rides every Saturday. The Saturday rides started out with just a few hardy souls and have grown to sometimes 30-40 temperature-impaired cyclists.

The Saturday rides were such a success that in 2002 I decided to start an RMCC New Year's Century. People doubted my sanity (not the first time) but I made plans anyway. The course is a single loop (to eliminate that tempting warm car) that stays on the relatively warmer (compared to the mountains) plains north of metro Denver. Colorado can be quite unreceptive to winter cycling, but we've held the ride for the last four years. The inaugural event attracted eight riders that all finished. There had been a snowstorm on New Year's Eve and many in the south part of metro Denver assumed the ride was cancelled. The roads on the century route were dry and the temperature was in the low 40's.

January 1, 2006 marked the fourth annual RMCC New Year's Century. The ride has steadily grown to exceed my expectations. We had a cool clear day with around fifty riders. Some chose to take a shorter route (no one keeps track) but the majority completed the 100 miles.

A New Year's century is the perfect way to start your cycling season. If you can keep up your daily average, you'll log 36,500 miles for the year! Join the Rocky Mountain Cycling Club in Colorado for a unique adventure next New Year's day. I promise it will be challenging, exciting, and memorable!

UMCA Year-Rounder Challenge

Preparing for and riding centuries

RAAM Time Station ambassadors: Val and Robin Phelps live in Durango, CO and run the Race Across AMerica time station.