The Sharon Century

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Sharon, MA, US

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Route Overview

Sharon Cycling

Exploring Southeastern New England

101 mi.

5,241 ft.

Lake Chargoggagogg...
We use this ride as our early-season (early June) opener for long-distance riding. It has a simple goal: go around the longest-named lake in the world, and get back home.
www.SharonCycling.org

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Route Details

Over the years, we have refined the ride to be a little longer but more scenic and cycling-friendly.  This is not an easy ride, but it is a good first century for most generally fit people.

We start in Sharon and head westerly, usually picking up people on the way (we post target times to Foxboro mile 5 and Wrentham center mile 10).  The terrain is generally rolling until we hit Route 100 just north of Pascoag, RI.  From that point, a *long*, gradual incline takes you to the base of Buck Hill, a double-hump climb through mostly pine woods to the Connecticut state line.

Shortly after entering re-entering Massachusetts, you will see @photo[**The Sign**](1695678).  We always stop and take a picture @poi[here](631649), and make people try to pronounce the name.  Some fairly busy roads take us through Webster and our furthest point west, then we turn onto Gore road, which leads to the @poi[first food stop](631648) at mile 50.

Don't take too long or too many bottles, though, because the climbing starts immediately after the rest stop.  Doing this cold and heavy is a chore.  There is some very nice riding through the Douglas State Forest, and then you make a right in Douglas center, onto one of the straightest roller-coaster rides you will ever see, @slice[2 miles of South East Main Street](d,92596.86,96531.73).

It is almost a shame that the next few miles are fast and generally downhill, as it is some very nice country.  The descent ends very suddenly, with a @point[sharp left around mile 63.8](d,102772.37).  If you are not paying attention, you will go by it at 40mph.

Then the climbing starts again.  You will have time to enjoy this one!  A quick descent into Uxbridge, MA, sneaking through the downtown and out the other side takes us to the @slice[last big climb of the day](d,109201.87,112106.24).  This is where the people who are in good shape will shine, and those who aren't will start to flag.

A series of twisty descents and avoidance of major roads brings us to the @poi[last food stop](631647) around mile 79.5.  It is pretty much home territory after that, and we have selected the best roads to get home on.

# Notes

We have had good luck with the first food stop at halfway, but on a hot day it could be too far for some.  Note that western RI in particular, it is pretty sparse on a weekend morning, and if you need a store or something before getting to Connecticut, Pascoag/Burrilville, RI is your last chance. In 2016, we stopped at @photo[this mini-mart](1695681) @poi[just off the route](2085882).

It is only 30 miles between the first food stop and the second.  And most of the hard climbing of the day is between those two points.  I don't recommend loading down with 2 or 3 bottles unless you really need them between those points.

Almost every year, there is some construction somewhere that makes a road on the route bad for bikes.  Expect it.

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The Sharon Century

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