Crowders Mountain Metric Century 2005 Report: 
Sunday, April 10, 2005; Crowders Mtn State Park, Gaston County, NC

Course Details: The Gaston County Cyclists sponsored its annual Crowders Mtn Metric Century ride at 1:15 p.m. on Sunday, April 10, 2005. The weather was excellent, with a temperature of about 75 deg F, little wind, & clear skies. The start/finish area was Crowders Mtn State Park in Gaston County, NC. The course was 60 miles long, with 3000' feet of cumulative climbing. Two optional courses were available of 38 miles & 22 miles.

Organizer/Volunteers: Thanks go to Jack Moore for organizing the event, marking the course, & patrolling the course. 
Jack also serves as the President of the organization Friends of Crowders Mtn www.friendsofcrowdersmountain.org .   The Friends group provided all of the support & organization for the ride, & proceeds from the ride will be donated to benefit the Friends group.
Thanks to Mike Burgess for his assistance, particularly at the start of the ride.
Thanks also go to club members Melissa Magee & Elizabeth Barker for helping with registration.

Riders Were Assaulted:  Unfortunately, at least two riders were injured when struck with objects thrown from a moving vehicle.  The vehicle was traveling in the oncoming lane on Lincoln Rd in York County, SC.   Apparently, one or more persons in the vehicle realized that cyclists were riding on Lincoln Rd & chose to intentionally throw objects, believed to be metal sockets from a wrench set, at cyclists riding in the opposite direction.  One rider received a significant bruise in the chest area, but was able to complete the ride.  Complete details of how many were struck & the extent of other injuries that might have happened are unavailable.  York County law enforcement was summoned & the crime was reported.

Participants: 132 riders were registered -
47 club members (including 2 new members, just signed up at ride) & 85 non-members.  
79 registered for the 60 mile course, 44 on the 38 mile, & 9 on the 22 mile.
The average age was 42. The oldest was 66, & the youngest was 10.

Riders came from the following 32 towns:
NC:   Kings Mtn, Charlotte, Gastonia, Stanley, Belmont, Matthews,  Dallas, Maiden, Bessemer City, Huntersville, Concord, Lincolnton, Iron Station, Taylorsville, Shelby, Sherrills Ford, Harrisburg, Cornelius, Conover, Claremont, Waxhaw, Salisbury.

SC:   Lake Wylie, Tega Cay, York, Rock Hill, Greer, Moore, Fort Mill, Clemson, Greenville,

TN:  Greenville.