Ride of the Century – 100-mile bike rides are all the rage for cyclists

When asked to divulge the secret to his success, legendary Belgian Tour de France winner Eddy Merckx famously said, “Ride lots.”

Baton Rouge bicycle racer Corey Ray takes this advice seriously.

Fifty miles is nothing to him. He does that for breakfast.

Since last November, Ray has finished more than a dozen 100-mile-plus bike rides around Baton Rouge.

The cyclist says putting in long miles is vital for success in bike races.

Skip that critical step, and you’re spit out the back of the pack faster than a bullet. To stay at the front, Merckx was right. You’ve got to ride a ridiculous amount.

Ray estimates 80 percent of his training time is spent moving at a steady pace, just collecting roadside attractions and jetting stray dogs by the hundreds.

“The more miles I can stack in, around work, wife, dogs, family and friends, the better,” Ray says. “You almost have to like being alone on the bike for 5 to 7 hours and just enjoy and admire mother nature. This gives me time to reflect on life or blow off some steam, if needed.”

If Ray can get people to go with him, though, that’s perfect.

“When I can ride with friends, or any cyclists, for long periods of time,” he says, “it is like a special bond or a cycling fellowship gang that only you and those few people are a part of.”

To make the most of the time he does have for biking, Ray tries to finish a majority of his 100-mile bike rides within or close to the city limits.

Crazy? Ray’s got a strategy: “I try to stay away from stoplights, cars, and traffic as much as possible to ensure the safest and most pleasant ride.”

Route 1: 123.5 mi
Route 2: 87.6 mi
Route 3: 99.7 mi
Route 4: 83.6 mi
Route 5: 101.3 mi
Route 6: 99.9 mi