The Connecticut Challenge ~ Why I Love Fairfield!

Connecticut Challenge

The 2013 Connecticut Challenge is this coming weekend!  It looks like the weather is going to cooperate and, unlike prior years when the weather was in the 90s, low 80s are predicted.  My husband is riding as a marshal again this year.  What that means is he helps stranded cyclists with mechanical problems as well as provides lots of encouragement.  

The event starts Friday, July 26 for the 2-day ride, a new feature this year.  On Saturday morning at The Hunt Club in Westport, the main event kicks off with much fanfare featuring rides of various distances.  This event is an emotional one for many and , if you can, go out and support the riders and give them a shout out.  So many of the riders are cancer survivors or have a personal connection with someone with cancer.  

Provided from the Connecticut Challenge web-site–

Connecticut Challenge participants can choose from 10, 25, 50, 75, 100-mile and, New for 2013 – the 2-Day Ride. The 10, 25, 50, 75 and 100-mile routes start and finish on Saturday, July 27th at the Fairfield County Hunt Club.

The 2-Day Ride participants begin their CT Challenge ride on Friday, July 26th at The Interlaken Inn in Lakeville, CT and ride down to the Fairfield County Hunt Club, on a route of approximately 81 miles.  After an overnight stay at the Westport Inn, 2-Day ride participants will join the Saturday CT Challenge ride for any distance they choose.

This is a fully supported ride with rider aid stations located every 15-20 miles along each course and complete SAG/Safety support in between. Aid stations will include snacks, water, sports drinks and other cycling necessities.

Not sure how far you can ride? There is a brief guide below for each distance to help you determine the best distance for you. All five routes are concentric (overlapping), so you will have the option to shorten your ride at several points along the way.

How will you know where you’re going? Check out our directional signs to keep you on course.

Support

There will be SAG vehicles along the routes to provide assistance when needed or to transport cyclists back to the start. Cycling marshals will be riding all routes to assist with bike repairs and minimal first aid. Rest stops will have fruit, drinks, snacks, water and sports drinks.

2013 Ride Routes

2-Day Ride – Day 1 – Friday, July 26th

1-Day Ride –  Saturday, July 27th

10 Mile Route

We designed our 10-mile ride to encourage participation from families with children, less-fit or older riders, cancer survivors who have recently completed treatment and anyone with just a short amount of time available to ride.

Is the 10 mile route for me?

The 10-mile ride is for you if:

• You are new to riding a bike or getting back on after many years
• You are just beginning to get back in good physical condition after a long layoff or illness
• You have only a short amount of time available to ride

Estimated time on the 10-mile course:  1.0 – 1.5 hours

25 Mile Route

The 25-mile ride covers a relatively flat course through Weston and Westport and along the beachfronts of Southport and Fairfield before winding its way back to the Hunt Club.

Is the 25 mile route for me?

The 25-mile ride is for you if:

• you do not consider yourself a “cyclist,” but want to participate
• your physical conditioning is low and you will not have the opportunity to train extensively for your ride
• you want to finish early and enjoy the full day’s festivities at the finish

Estimated time on the 25-mile course:  1.5 – 2.5 hours

50 Mile Route

The 50-mile ride passes through the beautiful communities of Weston, Georgetown, Redding, Bethel, Newtown and Easton before taking riders along the “Gold Coast” beaches of Southport and Fairfield and back to the Hunt Club. The course climbs steadily from the start, reaching its highest elevation at 25 miles. The second half of the course is a steady and gradual descent. There are three rest stops.

Is the 50 mile route for me?

The 50-mile ride is for you if:

• you have experience in road cycling as a physical exercise
• you are and have been actively engaged in regular physical exercise and are currently in good physical condition
• you will have cycled 50 miles during your training or you can comfortably ride 25 miles in under 2.5 hours (10 mph avg. speed)

Estimated time on the 50-mile course:  3.5 – 5 hours

75 Mile Route

If 100 miles just sounds like too much time on a bike for you, but you still want a great challenge on drop-dead gorgeous CT roads, this new distance may be for you. It’s not a century ride, but it will still be plenty challenging for any level of rider. You’ll travel through three counties and have four rest stops.

Is the 75-mile route for me?

The 75 mile ride is for you if:

• you are currently in excellent physical condition
• you will have the opportunity to train extensively for your ride
• you have cycled 50 miles during your training or you can cycle 50 miles in under 3.5 hours (15 mph avg. speed)

Estimated time on the 75 mile course:  4 – 6 hours

The 100-Miler … New England’s Toughest Century

If you really want to challenge yourself, try our Century ride – the toughest you’ll find anywhere. We didn’t plan it that way – it’s just the Connecticut hills. But all your work will be made much easier by the beautiful scenery in the mid-summer Connecticut countryside and six great rest stops. This ride takes cyclists through communities in Fairfield, Litchfield and New Haven counties, completely encircling picturesque Lake Waramaug in New Preston, CT where there will be a nice rest stop waiting for you. The second half of the ride covers back country roads, past several reservoirs and a strong climb starting at mile 78, leading back to the Hunt Club. 100-mile riders will encounter multiple ascents and descents throughout their ride. No ride can beat this 100-miler for its combination of challenge and beauty. This is may be New England’s toughest, fully supported century, but it will be memorable.

Is the 100-mile route for me?

The 100-mile ride is for you if:

• you are currently in excellent physical condition
• you will have the opportunity to train extensively for your ride
• you have cycled 100 miles during your training or you can cycle 50 miles in under 3.5 hours (15 mph avg. speed)

Estimated time on the 100-mile course:  5 – 9 hours

Note: The bike course closes at 5 pm.  Riders still on the course at 5:00 pm may be picked up by support vehicles.

2-Day Ride Route

Day One:

Your first day of riding will start at the Interlaken Hotel in beautiful, quaint and quiet Lakeville, Connecticut and travel 81 miles to the Hunt Club in Westport.  As CT Challenge routes go, this one is not overly difficult.  In fact, the first 27 miles are mostly descending.  You’ll climb to the 33-mile mark and then ride rolling and occasionally sharp hills until 60 miles, but not huge climbs or descents.  From the 60 mile point to the finish is primarily a descent.  You will find fully stocked rest stops in Kent (20 miles), New Fairfield (40 miles) and Ridgefield (60 miles).  This is a truly beautiful route and a great start to a CT Challenge cycling weekend.

Day Two:

Depending on how you feel when you wake up on Saturday morning, you can select from any Saturday route to complete your two-day ride – 10, 25, 50, 75 or 100 miles – all beautiful, safe and well-supported.

Is the Two Day Ride for me?

The Two Day Ride is for you if:

• You are currently in excellent physical condition
• You will have the opportunity to train extensively for your ride
• You have cycled 50 miles in your training or you can cycle 50 miles in under 3.5 hours (15 mph avg. speed)
• You know and follow all cycling rules of the road
• You are looking for Connecticut’s finest two-day cycling experience

Estimated time on the 81 mile, day-one course:  4.5 – 7 hours.