I used to do this ride every year:

http://www.cowalunga.org/

Still have a soft spot for it-- great people, great route, good cause.

Thought I'd see if there was interest in getting a group of c'linkers together.

The last few years I brought a mountain bike and took my time-- it wasn't much harder than doing it on a road bike, and you tend to get to know people and have a better time that way.