Week 3: The History of the Century Ride

June 30, 2016/ Maria Parker

This is week three of a twelve week series to help you train for and successfully complete a century ride. Check out the free 12 Week Couch to Century training plan here.

This is thanks to Granfondoguide.com

The origins of the century ride are obscure, but most agree they were invented in the United States, around the 1890s.

Dora Rinehart of Colorado, gained a reputation as “America’s Greatest Cyclienne” for her long-distance riding in the mid-1890s. Rinehart took up cycling in 1894, even though society at that time discouraged female riders. In 1896 she famously rode more than 100 100-mile rides. She commented that “I do not like to go on a hard run when my husband is with me, for you know it does take so much starch out of a man to ride the century.”

In June 1894 she addressed the 24th Annual Convention of the Colorado State Medical Society in Denver. On the agenda were presentations titled, “The New Movement in Dress Reform” and “Bicycle Exercise for Women.” She is quoted as saying: “Just to give you an idea of the benefits of a divided skirt, it is almost impossible for a lady to ride any distance…with the ordinary skirt. You get too much of the dress on the one side of the wheel, and you do not get enough of the dress on the other side.

Next up in this series: Equipment for your century ride

Congratulations on taking on your first Century ride! Maria Parker, world record-holding cyclist and Cruzbike CEO, put together this 12 week training guide and blog series to help you successfully complete your first century ride. Share your progress with the Cruzbike Community @CRUZBIKE on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. We’ll cheer you on through your first 100 mile ride.