Cadillac Challenge Century Bike Ride

Things to Do

Dean Read stands on the back of a flatbed truck, bullhorn in hand. “Penny and I are going to do this for maybe two more years. Hopefully, we’ll get a replacement.”

Dean and Penny Read are the lead organizers for the Cadillac Challenge Century Bicycle Ride, an annual October one-day event that sends cyclists either 100 miles or 68 miles, which is a metric century.

Gathering up volunteers including local Rotarians, setting up rest tents, route arrows, contacting cyclists, the Reads put their hearts and time into a ride that sends bicyclists up thousands of feet of elevation even up the road to Cadillac Mountain, Acadia National Park’s highest peak.

For 28 years, the ride has thrilled cyclists. It began thanks to Tony and Anne Mourkas. Their children Maggie and Michael helped. And now Read is the ride director, hoping to eventually pass on the bullhorn and keep the ride going for another 28 years.

So while you won’t find post-ride pasta feeds, registration bags of goodies, brass bands announcing your arrival at the finish, and other ride “extras”, you will find all the ingredients necessary for a enjoyable, challenging century ride. We will be providing a carefully researched route, detailed maps, cue sheets, course markings, and sag wagons to patrol the course.

Cadillac Challenge Website

The website also reads:

NO PLEDGES! NO FUNDRAISING! NO ENTRY FEES! NO BS EITHER! JUST GOOD PEOPLE ENJOYING A GREAT CENTURY BICYCLE RIDE!

This is a ride for riders and not about fanfare. And it’s not about the money. Cyclists just have to pay a park entrance fee.

For more information, check out its website and sign up for next year!

Dean has allegedly handed over the reigns for this terrific event, but I bet he might still be there if you’d like to say hi.