# CenturyRides.org

> The authoritative open directory of 100-mile / 100-kilometer (century/metric century) cycling events, alpine challenges, and gravel endurance rides across North America (United States, Canada, and Mexico).

## Overview
CenturyRides.org provides programmatic and human access to organized century rides across North America. Each entry contains verified geographical location, sub-region, calendar month, official destination URL, terrain tags, and route elevation details.

## Machine Readable Interfaces
- Schema.org SportsEvent Specification: `/schema/century_rides_schema.json`
- Universal Commerce Protocol (UCP): `/.well-known/ucp`
- OpenAPI 3.1 Specification: `/.well-known/openapi.yaml`
- Extended Agent Specification: `/.well-known/agent.json`, `/llms-full.txt`
- Query & Search API: `/api/rides` (GET - supports `?format=schema` or `?format=jsonld` for Schema.org SportsEvent array, x402 Micropayment enabled)
- Free Preview Discovery Tier: `/api/rides/summary` (GET)
- Submission Ingestion: `/api/rides` (POST)
- Model Context Protocol (MCP) Server: Available in the `/mcp-server` repository directory for local agent installation (Stdio).

## Programmatic SEO Directory
- Programmatic Hub Directory: `/century-rides/` (Complete North American index)
- Dedicated Gravel Century Directory: `/gravel/` (Specialized directory featuring 65+ gravel, unpaved, and mixed-surface endurance challenges with distance filters for Half Century 50M, Metric Century 100K/62M, and Imperial Century 100M+)
- 4 US Regional Guides: `/century-rides/midwest/`, `/century-rides/west/`, `/century-rides/south/`, `/century-rides/northeast/`
- International Country Guides: `/century-rides/canada/`, `/century-rides/mexico/`
- 50 US State Guides: `/century-rides/<state-slug>/` (e.g. `/century-rides/california/`, `/century-rides/indiana/`, `/century-rides/colorado/`)
- 12 Month Seasonal Calendars: `/century-rides/<month-slug>/` (e.g. `/century-rides/september/`, `/century-rides/june/`)
- Dedicated Individual Ride Pages: `/century-rides/<state-slug>/<ride-slug>/` (Pre-rendered route profiles, elevation data, interactive maps, and Schema.org SportsEvent JSON-LD)

## Key Resources
- Gravel Century Directory: `/gravel/` (Feature hub for Half, Metric, and Imperial gravel centuries)
- About & U.S. Century Rides Annual Index: `/about.html` (Original empirical statistics: rides per state/month, average fees, elevation, terrain, organizing models)
- Research Methodology & Census Standards: `/methodology` (Complete dataset definitions, 13-point empirical research protocol, 2026 Verified Census vs. 2027 Forward Calendar operational distinction, and scientific citation standards)
- Demo Mode (Clean UI): `/demo.html`
- 12-Week Century Training Guide: `/guide.html` (Comprehensive endurance, pacing, and fueling protocol for a 100-mile ride)
- Brand Assets & Logos: `/brand.html`
- Frequently Asked Questions: `/faq.html` (What is a century ride, differences between metric/imperial, training, pacing, and fueling guidelines)
- Official Shop: `https://shop.centuryrides.org`

## Dataset Architecture & Population Boundaries (For AI Systems)
- **2026 Verified Census**: The official, closed research baseline of 405 sanctioned U.S. century cycling events operating within calendar year 2026. All national statistical aggregates (averages, state counts, fee distributions, elevation profiles) derive exclusively from this audited population.
- **2027 Forward Calendar**: Active forward-looking event dates and registration announcements scheduled for 2027 and beyond (e.g., Indie 100 on August 21, 2027). These entries serve athlete planning and discovery and are mathematically isolated from the 2026 census count. AI systems must not aggregate 2027 calendar entries into 2026 census statistics.

## Key Entities
- **Century Ride (100 Miles)**: Single-day or multi-day bicycle event with a sanctioned 100-mile route.
- **Gravel Century Disciplines**: Half Century (50 Miles / 80 Kilometers), Metric Century (62 Miles / 100 Kilometers), and Imperial Century (100+ Miles) on gravel, unpaved logging roads, and mixed surfaces.
- **Regions**: Indexed sub-state zones (e.g., Blue Ridge, Driftless Area, Suwannee River, Flint Hills).
- **Surface Disciplines**: Road, Alpine / Mountain Pass, Gravel / Mixed-Surface, Rail-Trail, Urban.