September 7 & 8th, 2024 – Columbiana, AL
Come join the Birmingham Bicycle Club for our 51st Annual Century. One of the most beautiful centuries in the Southeast—now an entire weekend of events at a new location. This weekend comes complete with an inaugural Eddy Merckx style time trial on Saturday, five different main-event ride distances on Sunday, and a bigger than ever after-party. You won’t want to miss this one!
Main-event ride options include a 100 mi century, 60 mi metric century, 50 mi, 26 mi, or 10 mi ride.
Location
Old Mill Square Park: 105 W College St, Columbiana, AL 35051
Weekend Schedule of Events
- Friday, 9/6/24
- Pre-Ride Packet Pickup: time and location TBD
- Saturday, 9/7/24
- 8:30am: Time Trial Lineup & Announcements
- 9:00am: Eddy Merckx Style Time Trial
- Sunday, 9/8/24
- 6:00am: On-site Registration and Ride Check-in
- 7:00am: Main-Event Lineup & Send-off Announcements
- 7:30am: Century(100), Metric(60), & 50 mi rides start
- 8:30am: 25mi and 10 mi rides start
- 10:30am: BBC After-Party
- 5:00pm: end of ride cut-offs
Registration Fees
- 100 mi century, 60 mi metric, and 50 mi rides:
- Special early-bird pricing, now thru April 30th: $55 (processing fees will be added)
*No discounts during early-bird pricing - May pricing: $65 (processing fees will be added)
*BBC members are eligible for a 15% discount in May - June pricing: $70 (processing fees will be added)
*BBC members are eligible for a 15% discount in June - July pricing: $75 (processing fees will be added)
*BBC members are eligible for a 15% discount in July - August pricing + up until the day of the ride: $85 (processing fees will be added)
*BBC members are eligible for a 15% discount in August/September
- Special early-bird pricing, now thru April 30th: $55 (processing fees will be added)
- 26 mi ride:
- $40 for BBC members, flat (processing fees will be added)
- or $50 for non-members, flat (processing fees will be added)
- 10 mi ride: $25, flat (processing fees will be added)
- Eddy Merckx Style Time Trial: $25, flat (processing fees will be added)
Additional Event Info
- Bike helmets are required to participate, all ages and all distances. Front and Rear Lights are highly encouraged.
- Packet Pick-up: Time and location TBD.
Bib numbers, wristbands, and tee-shirts to be provided at packet pick-up. - T-Shirt will only be provided to those that register before August 1 st. Please ensure that you select your size when registering. These will be available on ride day.
- Registration:
- Online registration will be open until the start of the ride
- On-site registration, check-in begins at 6:00am on the day of the ride
- We will be implementing contactless registration so you will be required to register online at the site.
- Eddy Merckx Style Time Trial
- Merckx division rules:
- All racers must not race a time trial bike or triathlon bike
- Use of clip-on aero time trial bars not permitted
- Wheels must be under 60 mm in depth
- Aero disc wheels not permitted
- Use of aero (tear drop) helmets not permitted
- Male Categories include: (M) 19-34, (M) 35-44, (M) 45-54, (M) 55+
- Female Categories include: (F) 19-34, (F) 35-44, (F) 45-54, (F) 55+
- Prizes may be awarded, but will be dependent on # of attendees
- Merckx division rules:
- Main-event ride options for Sunday include a 100 mi century, 60 mi metric century, 50 mi, 26 mi, or 10 mi ride
- Sunday ride cut-off:
- There is a 9.0 hour time limit to be off the course. Riders must be back at the park no later than 5:00pm.
- For riders arriving at our last stop (around mile 81.5 on the century) after 2:30 pm, they will be directed to a shorter return route back to the finish line to ensure they make it back by the 5:00 pm event end.
- After-party begins at 10:30am:
- Post-ride meal provided by Billy Ritch’s Pork & Pedal
(Vegetarian options will be provided as an option as well) - An assortment of beverages will be provided
- We will be having a DJ !
- Post-ride meal provided by Billy Ritch’s Pork & Pedal
- Amenities:
- Restrooms and showers available on-site
- Tent camping at Old Mill Square Park
- Hotel options nearby:
- Quality Inn: 357 Co Rd 304, Calera, AL 35040 | (205) 668-3641
- Hampton Inn: 93 Metro Dr, Calera, AL 35040 | (205) 668-6565
- No Transfers. No Refunds.
Once you register, you are committed. There will be no transfer of registrations from one rider to another.
Likewise, this is a rain or shine event. The board spends money in advance to plan for this event, so there will be no refunds given. All sales final.
Routes
Routes may see some minor changes as we get closer to the Event.
- ♣ Columbiana Dragon Century Challenge 100 miles:
- ♣Columbiana Coaster Metric Century Challenge 60 miles
- ♣ The Nifty Fifty – 50 miles
- ♣ Shelby– 26 miles
- ♣City Stroll-10 miles
Merchandise
As mentioned above, a T-Shirt will only be provided to those that register before August 1st. Please ensure that you select your size when registering. These will be available on ride day.
This year, the BBC will not be designing a ride jersey/kit. Rather, we put our funds and efforts into designing a club-member jersey this year. We encourage our members to wear these at the annual century event.
If you are an official member of the BBC and have not already purchased your club member jersey, you can do so by visiting the BBC merchandise site here: BBC Merchandise Shop
You will need to be logged in to your account, as these kits are restricted to our paying members.
Also keep in mind that these are while supplies last. Orders will be closed once we are no longer ordering jerseys from Primal and/or have run out of excess stock.
If needed, You can find the Size Guide on the Primal Website.
Proceeds from this years event will be used to help promote cycling safety and driver education.
Route Information:
Please visit our Club Ride with GPS page. If you are a BBC Club Member you will have Premium Access to the Routes through the BBC RWGPS Club Membership.
*Routes will be marked appropriately; however you may also download the route into your bike computer. All mileages and elevations are approximate via RidewithGPS.
♣ City Stroll-10 miles (Start time 8:30)
This leisurely ride takes you through the quaint downtown area of Columbiana starting from the Entertainment District where you can soak in the southern charm. After riding through downtown Columbiana, we promise you will want to come back and experience some of the shops and boutiques this town has to offer.
♣ Shelby– 26 miles – (Start time 8:30) Orange Road Markings
This 26 mile route is a friendly route that takes you past the rustic Shelby Ironworks backdrop. Perfect if you want to stop, stretch the legs, and take a picture. This route has plenty of flat farmlands, mixed with a few gentle rollers. The right combination for a fun day on the bike! This route includes a full rest stop at the halfway point.
♣ The Nifty Fifty – 50 miles (Start time 7:30) Yellow Road Markings
This 50 mile route has a good amount of flat mixed in with gentle and mild rollers. You can expect to see a good bit of livestock, so make sure to keep your eyes peeled. There are plenty of horses, donkeys and even an EMU (EMU, EMU and Doug!). There are three full rest stops on this route, which includes Hudds in downtown Wilsonville!
♣Columbiana Coaster Metric Century Challenge 60miles – (Start time 7:30) Green Road Markings
We call this the Coaster Challenge because, well, this route has it all. First, we start you on some ultra smooth tarmac to get your legs nice and warm before you move onto the gentle and mild rollers that seem like a roller coaster. You’ll have so much fun, you’ll forget that you were on a bike! This is a very manageable 2600 feet of elevation with no significant climbs and plenty of flatlands. On your final stretch coming into Columbiana, you will have a slow steady climb around mile 61. Don’t worry, that was designed so you can finish with a nice, fun descent all the way into downtown Columbiana. Make sure to check out the rest stops. Our Volunteers will be ready to keep you fueled up and cheering you on. There are three full rest stops on the route and a pop-up to fill in along the way.
♣ Columbiana Dragon Century Challenge 100 miles – (Start time 7:30) White Road Markings
Come slay the Dragon on this 100 mile century challenge! If you zoom out the route and squint really hard, you’ll see the route resembles a dragon! The Dragon Century Challenge route takes you through 100 miles of Shelby County, home to some of the best, quiet roads in the metro Birmingham area. This route is full of smooth tarmac, flat farmlands, countryside lake views, gentle/mild rollers and a few hilly challenges. Speaking of hilly challenges, towards the end of the ride you will be ascending the challenging but manageable “Firetower” area. You will feel the Dragon’s Flaming breath hitting you as you climb. We will have a water top off stop after “Liars Peak” for anyone that needs some quick hydration before heading back via JoinerTown. The full route is approximately 4,700 vertical feet. There are five full rest stops on this route with a sixth top off stop at Liars Peak (mile 86). Don’t forget to check out our rest stops. You might get to drink some Dragon’s blood!
*There is a time limit for the Dragon Century Challenge. All riders will need to be at the HWY 69/HWY 47 intersection no later than 2:30 PM. Any riders after the time will be directed to continue south on 47 directly into Columbiana.
IMPORTANT NOTES FOR ALL ROUTES: