Solvang Century

Official Website : http://www.bikescor.com/solvang/welcome.htm
Date : March 13, 2010
Race Type : Road Cycling
Race Distance : 100 mi

Race Description: The very first "Solvang Century" was held in 1983 to raise funds for a club debt. In 1982, the SCOR Cardiac Cyclists Club sent 14 riders on a non-stop relay ride from the Avenue of the Stars in Century City to the Avenue of Flags in New York City in 12 days, 1 hour and 50 minutes. While most of the expenses were paid for, the bottom line was that SCOR owed $2000.00. Up until 1983 the primary club fund-raisers had been paper and aluminum can drives! It was clear that it would take a lot of newspapers and cans to raise $2000.00!

Instead, SCOR decided to take a club ride it had been doing in Solvang since 1975 and open it up to the public. The result was 300 riders and a ride was born. Although inexperienced in putting on rides, the ride worked well enough; 1200 riders came the following year! Since then the ride has grown to 3700 riders in 1998. A second venue was opened in Santa Maria in 1989. A half-century option was added in 1994 due to continued requests for a shorter route.