For most of his life, Bryan Volstorf has been an avid cyclist, as he’s participated in various century (100-mile) rides across the country. His passion continued to increase throughout his 20s, ultimately leading him to create his own bicycle club and century ride in 1974.
A Surge in Popularity
A member of the League of American Wheelmen, he was inspired by the organization’s numerous 100-mile routes. Seeking assistance from the organization, Volstorf sat down and thought about names for his upcoming century ride.
Interested in hosting the ride in Three Oaks, Michigan, in September, one name especially stood out to him, as it just “rolled off” his tongue: Apple Cider Century. The name simply made sense. Not only is Three Oaks renowned for its cideries, but September is a popular time to visit.
“I put little flyers out in different bike shops to promote it,” Volstorf said. “We ended up with 226 riders the first year.”
While planning the first-ever Apple Cider Century, he also focused on his own club, the Three Oaks Spokes Bicycle Club. A nonprofit, the club has expanded considerably over the years, as it now organizes several 15- to 40-mile rides each cycling season.
As the club steadily grew, so did Apple Cider Century—substantially. During its second year, the century ride had 500 participants. By the fourth year, it had 1,000 riders. From there, everything changed even more.
“In the late 1970s and early 1980s, Apple Cider Century was the United States’ number-one ride,” Volstorf said. “We eventually had 7,500 riders in the late 1980s and early 1990s.”
The ride’s popularity increased so much that Volstorf couldn’t have any more participants. After all, he wanted to feed and entertain everyone too, as he didn’t view Apple Cider Century as just a century ride. It ultimately became a weekend full of entertainment, camaraderie, and lasting memories.
In fact, Volstorf believes his century ride stands out from most others for one key aspect—its wide array of amenities.
“We have an ice cream social, a spaghetti dinner, and tons of food stops,” Volstorf said. “We have everything you can think of. We don’t skip on anything and every participant gets their money’s worth.”
This year, the weekend festivities will begin on Saturday, Sept. 26. Participants are welcomed to check in at St. Mary of the Assumption Church, prior to enjoying an ice cream social from 4 to 8 p.m. at Dewey Cannon Park.
On race day itself, participants will begin parking at the church at 5 a.m. If they haven’t done so yet, they can check in from 6 a.m. to
12 p.m., while also relishing an all-you-can-eat pancakes, eggs, and sausage breakfast. As a reflection of the Three Oaks community’s involvement, the breakfast is prepared and served by the Three Oaks Fire Department.
As has always been the case, participants can begin riding whenever they’d like. All 100-mile riders are advised to start by 10 a.m. though, and every participant must finish their ride by 7 p.m. Participants don’t need to ride for 100 miles either, as 15-, 25-, 50-, and 75-mile route options are available, too.
Furthermore, to fully complete the experience, every participant is welcomed to attend an all-you-can-eat spaghetti dinner at St. Mary of the Assumption Church after the ride. A salad bar, French bread, and fresh apple pie will be served as well.
“Because of our amenities, we don’t have to advertise,” Volstorf said. “It’s mostly word of mouth, which is the best advertising you can have.”
A Family Affair
In addition to its food options, the Apple Cider Century has an outdoor band on Saturday evening, offering entertainment for all ages. While reflecting on the century ride’s steady popularity, Volstorf’s son, Tim, believes there is another key ingredient: It provides something for nearly everyone, whether a participant is in middle school or has been riding for 50 years.
“We let children 12 and under ride for free,” Tim Volstorf said. “They’ll receive a rider number and a packet. Everything they receive costs us money, but it doesn’t cost them a penny.”
This family atmosphere continues to attract riders from all across the United States. Last year, roughly 200 children participated in the ride. And the average age—of all participants—was 45.
“We can’t wait for our 53rd ride, and we have some special milestones coming up, including the 55th and 60th anniversaries,” Bryan Volstorf added. “Our future is bright!”
