Labor Day bike ride to cover 100 miles

More than 1,000 bicyclists will be on the roads of southwest Charles County on Labor Day for the 16th annual Southern Maryland Century – the Indian Head 100 organized by the Oxon Hill Bicycle and Trail Club. Most cyclists will be riding a hundred miles – what cyclists call “a century.”

Those riding the century route will have rest stops for food and drinks at Smallwood State Park, Oak Grove Baptist Church and Christ Church Old Durham Parish in Nanjemoy, Saint Ignatius Church at Chapel Point and Thomas Stone Historic House on Rose Hill. Other routes have short-cuts offering distances of 17, 26, 47, 61 and 70 miles.

Riders will return to the Indian Head Village Green for a picnic provided by volunteers from Saint James Episcopal Church of Indian Head.

Proceeds will benefit the organizations providing the rest stops and picnic, the Congregation Sha’are Shalom which will have volunteers at the Thomas Stone House, the Town of Indian Head and volunteer fire department in the area.

Cyclists are attracted to Southern Maryland because of the Indian Head Rail Trail, the scenic county roads with little traffic and the state roads with wide shoulders. Cyclists are expected to obey all the rules of the road and appreciate the patience of motorists. Motorists are reminded that Maryland law requires motorists to give cyclists at least three feet of clearance when passing.

Details on the Indian Head 100 can be found at www.ohbike.org/century.