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Join us Saturday Sept. 7, 2013 in Thurmont, Maryland for the Baltimore Bicycling Club's Civil War Century. This 13th Annual Cycling Event has grown and grown over the years. In 2007 there were so many riders that pre-registration since 2008 is limited to 1600 riders. In June 2012, Bicycling Magazine featured the Civil War Century in it's Fun 100s (View the Article). So, if you want to participate this year register early for the event that has everything -- famous historical sites, low traffic roads, breathtaking scenery, and well marked routes designed for every ability level. The Civil War Century is an event with five different routes that are described below. Also, see the "Event Support" page for more details about the event. For the history buff, you can visit Crampton's Gap, South Mountain, Antietam and/or Gettysburg battlefield sites. You'll see all four if you elect to ride the full century.
A Ride for Everyone -- We offer five rides ranging from long and mountainous to short and rolling. All routes are well marked, cue sheets are provided and maps are available at the rest stops. Which ever route you choose, you will be cycling through some of the most beautiful countryside east of the Mississippi. NOTE: Check-in for registered riders begins at 7:00 AM for the longer distance riders and continues through 10:30 AM for riders on the shorter routes.
Civil War Century (103 miles) -- Our most popular and most challenging route visits all three Civil War battlefields offering breathtaking mountain vistas along the way. 
This hilly ride has about 6,900 feet of climbing with four mountain climbs, but if you get tired, you can bail out at 65 miles, skipping Gettysburg (and the last mountain climb) in favor of a scenic nine-mile descent back to the start/finish. (View Civil War Century Map See instructions below)
Gettysburg Three-quarter Century (75 miles) -- This route is for those who want a more challenging ride to Gettysburg, but who don't want to tackle the full century. With about 4,800 feet of climbing, you'll scale three mountains en route to the battlefield. If you get tired, don't worry -- you can avoid the last big climb and bail out at the 37 miles, cruising nine miles mostly downhill back to the start/finish. (View Three-quarter Century Map See instructions below)
Gettysburg Metric Century (63 miles) -- On this ride you get to look at the mountains, not climb them, as you meander along pleasant country roads through the lush rolling farmland of the Monocacy and Carroll Valleys to Gettysburg and back. As a bonus, you'll cross 4 covered bridges on this route while doing 2385 feet of climbing. (View Metric Century Map See instructions below)
Gettysburg Half Century (50 miles) -- This ride takes a rolling route to Gettysburg, but there are some hills after leaving Emmitsburg. You'll be riding along most of the same pleasant country roads as the Metric Century while doing 1996 feet of climbing and crossing two covered bridges. (View Half Century Map See instructions below)
Covered Bridge Quarter Century (25 miles) -- On this rolling ride (1,153 feet of climbing) you won't visit any battlefields, but you will get to cross three covered bridges that were used repeatedly by the troops of both sides in the Civil War. (View Quarter Century Map See instructions below)
Want to practice? -- Try this ride that includes two of the Civil War Century climbs in only 27.2 miles. Ride starts at the Orchard Village Shopping Center in Thurmont. Look for the Wendy's sign. Here is the CWC Practice Loop Cue Sheet. Good Luck!
Map viewing instructions -- Click the "View....Map" link for the map you want to see. The link will take you to the map on bikely.com. Mouse over “Show” in Menu Bar. Click “Whole Route” in dropdown menu to view the route. You can then zoom in and out to see the route by clicking the + or – buttons on the left. You can view the distances in kilometers or miles by clicking the “km” or “mi” buttons on the right. Or, mouse over “Show” in Menu Bar and click “Elevation Profile” in dropdown menu to see where the climbs are. The other option under “Show” is “Cue Sheet”. However, the maps were put in so that you will not get “true” cue sheets. Remember, these maps are for the basic routes. Each year routes have to be changed due to closed roads and/or desired changes. Cue sheets are given out at the Baltimore Bicycling Club's Civil War Century.
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Contact the CWC Committee |
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