California Millennium Ride

Frequently asked questions

  1. What is a Millennium Ride?
  2. Is the Milly an organized ride?
  3. Will there be sag or suport?
  4. Who will ride the Milly?
  5. What about records and awards?
  6. how can I become an official finisher?
  7. What are the 19 checkpoints?
  8. Is it all about the bicycle?
  9. What kinds of roads comprise the course?
  10. What kind of bike do I need?
  11. What information is available about the course>
  12. What AAA maps are useful?
  13. How can I contact Milly HQ?
What is a Millennium Ride?
A century but 1,000 continuously ridden miles instead of 100. Well, there are other differences, too.

Is the Milly an organized ride?
The Milly is disorganized. Milly riders start when they want to and ride alone or with only a few others.

Will there be sag or suport?
The object here is to put more bicycles on the road, not more cars, of which there is an adequate surfeit. No cars allowed.

Where does the Milly start?
Ride to the closest point and start there

Who will ride the Milly?
Some may finish in a week or less. These are Very Fast Milly riders. Some may take two or three weeks. These are Very Wise Milly riders. Some may spend an entire season. These are Most Fortunate Milly riders.

What about records and awards?
A record of finishers will be kept at www.milly.org. Commemorative publications will be issued in the inaugural year (2000) and at least every decade thereafter. No awards will be made for the fastest, slowest or wisest riders, but at the discretion of Milly veterans medals may be struck or patches stitched to decorate finishers.

How can I become an official finisher?
Pre-register (no fee), ride the route continuously in one go according to the guidelines, collect date- and time-stamped receipts (or send postcards) from 19 checkpoints on the course and submit them with a written or photographic record of any reasonable length.

What are the 19 checkpoints?
San Francisco, Palo Alto, Stockton, Jackson, South Lake Tahoe, Truckee, Quincy, Chester, Mt. Lassen Volcanic National Park, Mt. Shasta City, Coffee Creek or Trinity Center, Hayfork, Mad River, Zenia or Alderpoint, Laytonville, Fort Bragg, Healdsburg, Bodega Bay and Marshall.

Is it all about the bicycle?
Milly riders are all but required to summit Mt. Lassen by foot, where sulfur ovens are waiting to warm them.

What kinds of roads comprise the course?
Bike paths, freeways, highways, backroads, you name it. Some dirt roads fine for 700x28; also an alternative with no dirt but you'll be misisng out.

What kind of bike do I need?
Any kind of bike will do, as long as it works well and has front and rear lights. A good toolkit and lock are also recommended.

What information is available about the course?
Route directions and information will be updated as it is collected. It will be published at www.milly.org and in pamphlets distributed in bike shops and to the mailing list.

What AAA maps are useful?
Urban maps: San Francisco, Daly City, San Mateo, Palo Alto, Fremont, Pleasonton, Livermore, Tracy, Stockton, Placerville, Lake Tahoe, Susanville, Yreka, Ukiah, Windsor, Sebastopol, San Rafael, Milly Valley. Regional Maps: San Francscio Bay Region, Bay and Mountain Section, Gold Country Region, Northern California Section, Mendocino and Sonoma Coast Region. Additional: District 2 Caltrans Bicycling map, (shows that the official tate highway department-approved bicycle route between Mt. Shasta City and Castella is on Interstate 5) avial. free form: Pat Denton, District public Infomation Officer, P.o. Box 49603, Redding, CA 9649. (530) 225-3260.

How can I contact Milly HQ?
Write to Darryl Skrabak, 2530 26th Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94116. Or write to Henry Kingman, iffy@best.com.