Organized Rides and International Cycling Races

Organized bike events around the world are exciting for amateurs and competitive cycling enthusiasts alike. While you can easily find local bike rides to get involved in, you may also want to enroll in a renowned competition on the other side of the globe. From mountain biking to BMX to touring, large and small events for all types of cycling draw hundreds to thousands of riders, as well as spectators, each year they are held.
 
If you are a member of a biking club, you'll also be privy to special notices about many types of races and rides, along with special discounts on entry fees and accommodations. For those interested in getting started riding in an international cycling competition, you may want to join a biking club to help you train.
 

International RoadRaces and Rides

If you're an adventurer who enjoys seeing the world from the seat of a bike, you have plenty of choices for organized rides that you can join. In fact, some travel agents specifically arrange for cycling scenic trips in nearly every country. Keep in mind that these trips are not for the faint of heart or weekend leisure riders. While the terrain is tough and steep at times, the rides are always scenic, giving you a truly unique experience of the country you visit.
 
Travelers can choose from a range of day and extended tours. Although your luggage will be transported by car, your main method of transportation is your bike. All tours are led by knowledgeable guides who can not only do general bike repairs, but who can also tell you some fascinating stories about the history of the area in which you ride.

Extended Tour Rides

When you're ready to take the leap from weekend biking with the family to extended tours, an organized ride is great fun. Organized rides are generally sponsored by some corporation or charity. After paying an entry fee, you are ready to join and enjoy the sights and sounds of the road.
 
Multi-day tours include luggage transportation (by vehicle) to and from each accommodation planned for the night’s stay. You'll also have access to stops along the way where you can eat, rest and get your bike repaired, if necessary.
 
If you are enrolled in an organized ride, be sure to get the proper training beforehand, even if it's a leisurely ride. These rides require you to cycle for hours each day. If your body is not used to this kind of extended exertion, you will get extremely sore and likely suffer from aches and pains. Build up strength in your legs, as well as your hands and arms, to prepare for any cycling ride.

Century Rides

Century rides are exciting marathons in which riders cycle for 100 miles. While some century rides take place in a single sprint, others are broken up into multiple segments. Preparing for a century ride takes time and requires the proper equipment, including a bike with a comfortable seat. Even those who are accustomed to longer rides may suffer at 100 miles in the saddle.
 
The fastest riders will complete a century ride in five to eight hours. However, keep in mind that in many competitions riders aren't expected to finish the course.

Cape Argus Cycle Tour

South Africa's Cape Argus Cycle Tour, a ride that is hugely popular around the world, is the largest international race that is individually timed and features cash prizes in several categories. The scenery along the route is astoundingly beautiful, which is an additional draw for spectators and competitors alike. The Cycle Tour is based on a grueling ride that takes riders along steep and narrow mountain passes.
 
Seeded and open categories make this race a draw for entrants over the age of 12. The Cape Town Cycle Tour Trust organizes and puts on the Cape Argus Cycle Tour.

Tour de Gastown

The Tour de Gastown in Vancouver is another international favorite. This race runs through historic cobbled streets amidst a throng of spectators. As a part of British Columbia's Super Cycling Week, the Tour de Gastown takes place the third weekend of July. The route forms in a 36-kilometer loop that features hairpin turns and tight quarters. The extremely high-speed nature of this race often leads riders to get involved in aggressive breakouts, as well as crashes.
 
While cash prizes vary from year to year, winners and placers in several categories share in approximately $15,000. Well-known names from around the world race in the Tour de Gastown.
 
Resources
 
Bikeride.com (n.d.). Bicycling Events and Information. Retrieved April 23, 2007, from the Bike Ride Web site.
 
NBL.org (2006). National Races. Retrieved April 23, 2007, from the NBL Web site.
 
USAcycling.org (2007). Home Page. Retrieved April 23, 2007, from the USA Cycling Web site.