During the last weekend in September, amidst the falling leaves and overcast skies, you’ll notice bright, colorful apples painted on the roadways in Harbor Country. This signifies that it’s finally time for the Apple Cider Century, a 100 mile tour of our lush region, and the biggest bicycling event of the year.
This one-day trek offers your choice of a 15, 25, 50, 75, or 100 mile course that will lead you through orchards, forests, and wine country, bringing bicyclists near and far to celebrate the Midwest’s largest century event. Apple Cider Century began in 1974, and is sponsored by the Three Oaks Spokes Bicycle Club, a nonprofit bicycle club that promotes recreational cycling in the Southwest Michigan/Northern Indiana region.
“The Three Oaks Spokes Bicycle Club members perform most of the duties associated with making the tour work, as well as a number of rides and activities we organize throughout the cycling season,” says the Three Oaks Spokes Club. “We don’t have races or competitions; we are out to enjoy ourselves!”
This year’s ACC sweeps through our area on Sunday, September 25th, 2022, and includes a schedule of community events for riders and their families. Currently the registration fee is $75, as we are quite near the race date. Registration for the ACC is essentially always open, except during the weekend the ride takes place. Discounted rates for next year’s tour are offered as early as October, only adding to the excitement this event brings to riders and our communities. Approximately 4,000 bikes will traverse our streets and bike paths on Sunday.
An event of this scale would not be possible without local support, and Saturday afternoon of the 24th, Apple Cider Century participants will gather in Carver Park in Three Oaks for an ice cream social, after riders pick up their packets and route maps for the next day’s fun. Three Oaks Elementary School serves as the Start & Finish line for the tour, and is where riders will retrieve all of the information needed for the ride. Carver Park will host live music and camaraderie from 4 p.m to 8 p.m on Saturday.
The Three Oaks Fire Department will serve breakfast for all participants on race day, from 6 a.m to 11 a.m on Sunday the 25th, and an all-you-can-eat spaghetti dinner will be available at Three Oaks Elementary from 12 p.m to 7 p.m, filling bellies of accomplished, and famished, riders.
To register for the 2022 Apple Cider Century by Saturday, Sept 17th, and to learn more about the routes and trails, please visit applecidercentury.com, and prepare for a fantastic ride throughout gorgeous Southwest Michigan!
By Jocelyne Tuszynski, MOTM Contributor
