Gourmet Century 2010

Chris King's Oregon Wine Country Gourmet Century
Save the date: July 31st, 2010

The Gourmet Century is the signature event of the Chris King Precision Components event calendar. The 103-kilometer event is a non-competitive bicycle ride through Yamhill County, the hub of Oregon Wine Country, located less than an hour's drive from downtown Portland. The route is a worthy road course interrupted with just enough fun and epicurean interest to keep you moving ahead, wanting more of everything. In previous years, The Gourmet Century has hosted riders with menu themes such as Italian Cucina, Salsa!, Greek, Country French and, most recently, Spanish.

The event begins in McMinnville, Oregon with a hearty, full breakfast. But don't fill up! The route rolls west from town with tempting rest stops and a delicious lunch stop to delight your senses. Upon completion of the route you will return to McMinnville where Chris King himself gets hands-on in the kitchen. Full table setting and service will allow you to intimately enjoy the Gourmet Century's crowning principal meal; a meal expressly tailored for the efforts of a day's riding. Three seating times will accommodate the fast-finishing rabbits and the meandering sight-seers alike.

Course Info
-Route signed with Gourmet Century course markers
-Course opens at 8:00 AM
-5 Rest stops including lunch stop
-Helmets required!
-Technical support will be provided at the start and select rest stops
-Sag vehicles will be on the route

64 miles / 103 kilometers
3000+ feet of elevation gain

Registration opens April 1st, 2010

2009 Event Report
We challenged Oregon's weather by picking a late season date for the 2009 Gourmet Century and the weather fought back. Nearly all of the hearty souls who signed up for the event showed up, clicked into their pedals, and took to the road. Their enthusiasm for the ride and the heat from Chris's kitchen eventually won out over the rain and the day's final miles ended in sunshine; a beautiful autumn day for everyone. You can read an event report from Pez Cycling News here.

Images and comments from 2009 Gourmet Century - El Toro Del Noroeste

Pam – “ It sounded like a pretty, rural ride with good food and it was the perfect excuse to lure a friend out to join me on a ride. A lot of fun was had and that crazy climb was especially lovely. “

Dave – “The course was great.”

Mike – “We went on the ride because it's the perfect combination of bike riding, great scenery, good company and fabulous food .The ribs at dinner were over the top delicious. But then so were the tapas, every one of them. The food was a good mixture that you could devour all or part of or nibble politely. I chose the former.”

Cinny – “My best friend invited me. I enjoyed the beautiful scenery but the food was really the best part."

Maria - "See you next year!"