1 - WABA BikeDC 2000 Washington, DC, 1,500 riders, 40+ miles over closed roads through DC. WABA's BikeDC becomes the first mass ride through the center of DC. Negotiations are underway to secure bridge and road closures to make this already popular tour a must-ride event for cyclists in the Mid-Atlantic region. (Imagine thousands of cyclists on an auto-free GW Parkway!) 8 - Tour du Port Baltimore, MD., 22 miles. Baltimore Bicycling Club sponsors the annual tour that takes riders through the quaint picturesque neighborhoods of Baltimore for a voyage beginning and ending at the lnner Harbor. See Baltimore in all its splendor from the seat of a bicycle. This rare chance to pedal through normally bicycle-unfriendly streets is the selling point of city rides across the country. As Bicycling Magazine once said of city rides, "You start to wonder if maybe you died and went to heaven". "With minimal hills and maximum scenery, Bicycling Magazine rated it one of America's 10 best city rides with a fun factor of 4 out 5, and a sweat factor of only 1." Benefiting ... Proceeds benefit the Bicycle Education Association of Maryland and the Police Athletic League, two charities devoted to increasing bicycle-safety awareness. 13 -15 - Sea Gull Century Salisbury, MD., 6,210 Cyclists 100/63 miles. In 1999, the Sea Gull Century celebrated it's 11th anniversary. An outstanding achievement for Salisbury State University Bicycling Club. Voted by Bicycling Magazine as "one of the Ten best Centuries in America". The Eastern Shore is renowned for it's quiet beauty. This flat rural landscape is surrounded by both the Chesapeake Bay and the Atlantic Ocean. Smooth flat roads have long been appreciated by cyclists. The route follows roads through calm woods to crashing waves of the Atlantic at Assateague island. For anyone considering their first century ride, this is it. The fun starts Friday with some short rides around Salisbury. Sunday's optional ride destinations are to Crab Houses for feasting of the pride of the Chesapeake Bay Benefiting... Though not billed as a fund raising event, several local charities benefit from funds raised by the Sea Gull Century. Riders have the opportunity to donate directly to Habitat for Humanity. In 1997, $16,500 was donated with additional funds from the organizing committee. Each year the committee purchases bicycle helmets to be distributed to 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders in Public Schools throughout Wicomico County. Over 1,500 helmets have been donated with 333 distributed in the spring of 1998. Sponsorship... Opportunities to promote and offer sampling exist at the ride start/finish and rest stops at 21,44,62 and 88 miles. Vendors set up booths outside and in, selling all manner of bike related merchandise. Organizers have not actively sought, nor apparently been approached by potential sponsors.