Salisbury University Sea Gull Century

Community Event

It was 1989 when a group of 68 cycling enthusiasts banded together to develop a 100-mile bike ride at Salisbury University. Now, some 20 rides later, the Sea Gull Century has grown to attract more than 6,000 cyclists every year.

Named “by far the most popular local century” in the Maryland-Delaware-Virginia region by The Washington Post, SU’s annual Sea Gull Century generates some $2.5 million for Maryland’s Lower Eastern Shore. It’s one of Wicomico County’s largest tourism events. Thousands have joined in the Century, which starts and ends at SU, during the past two decades. They come—some of them year after year—because of the terrain, the challenge, the food, the entertainment, the chance to explore a new area and the hundreds of friendly volunteers who make the Sea Gull Century happen. Some travel farther than others. In 2008, Century participants came from Maine, the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico and even Egypt. Claire Williams of SU’s Social Work Department rode among them; she’s biked in every ride. Also pedaling were members of the Naval Academy Cycling Club and a U.S. Air Force lieutenant colonel, Mike “Starbaby” Pietrucha.

Last year, while stationed in Iraq, Pietrucha rode two half-centuries around Baghdad’s Victory Base Complex, dubbing his combined journeys “Sea Gull Century East.” To date, he is the only person to have ridden a Sea Gull Century course, official or not, past the former palaces of Saddam Hussein! Other riders have included Debbie and Mark Hammert of Woodbine, MD, who celebrated their 25th anniversary at the 2005 Century. Cancer survivor Joan Wharton and Bruce Cleland, whose daughter is a leukemia survivor, have cycled to raise money for the Leukemia-Lymphoma Society. And David Hooper of Bel Air, MD, a long-time rider who participates with his son, Yuri (an SU alumnus), founded a new scholarship at SU. The League of American Bicyclists has named the Sea Gull Century a “Best Bicycling in America” event. The Ride Magazine calls it “one of the prettiest big rides in America.”

“This campus has such enthusiasm and everyone pulls together as a team to make the ride a success.”

From SU’s picturesque campus, bicyclists wind through the Eastern Shore to Assateague Island, where they may see wild ponies while cooling their feet in the surf. A a stop at Adkins Mill Pond features pie à la mode. Live music at these rest areas allows cyclists to relax to everything from bluegrass to rock ’n’ roll—and even classical! A 100-kilometer (64 mile) route to Princess Anne is available for those who aren’t quite ready for the full 100-mile circuit. Optional rides on the day after the Century end with local crab feasts, where visitors may dine on one of Maryland’s signature delicacies. With lush scenery, photographers are snap-happy during the ride, juxtaposing the neon yellows and pinks of the riders’ jerseys against the Eastern Shore’s greenery.

Proceeds from the Century have provided bicycle helmets for local school children, more than $100,000 in funding for Habitat for Humanity and scholarships for SU students, all benefiting town and gown. “This campus has such enthusiasm and everyone pulls together as a team to make the ride a success,” said Amy Waters, Century coordinator. And she can show you 6,000 cyclists each year who agree. For information on the next Sea Gull Century visit www.seagullcentury.org.

Sea Gull Century
Salisbury University
1101 Camden Avenue
Salisbury, MD 21801
410.548.2772

www.seagullcentury.org

Pictured: Cyclists in Salisbury University's annual Sea Gull Century.
Photography: Salisbury University