Long Distance Competition/Ultracycling, Randonneuring and Endurance Cycling - Perceptions of "Centuries"

"A solo, unsupported century is tougher than a supported one where you can draft".

Someone tell me what it's like to draft...I've heard about it and read about it... There is no difference to me when I do a solo long effort compared to an organized century as everyone tends to gang up behind me and talk during those.....is it because I'm not much of a talker or maybe because I'm 6'7" 270# ?? :D

I'm just a moron commuter, but I've got a new bike on the way and have a self-guided century ride in mind for July. I think I'll print my own t-shirt for it: the front will say "Spreggy Invitational Century Ride", and on the back it will say "It's all about Me". :p

Great idea!! :D As long as you've got the T-shirt it is a "real" century!! :D

Can we all agree that a Century must be done in miles?
I always thought is was pretty weak when people say
metric century in the US. Nothing is measured in km here
and that ride is many miles short! Those folks should do
160.9k before they can say 'century'.

Just remember that a lot of people who post on this forum do NOT live in the US. Here in Canada we switched to the metric system back in the 1970s, and I believe Australia did the same around the same time. In fact, I believe the US and UK are just about the only two countries who don't use the metric system. Personally, I hardly know what a mile is anymore. Give me kilometers ... those I understand!! :)

As for century distance definitions, it goes like this:

Metric Century - 100 kms
Imperial Century - 100 miles (also more commonly known as a Century)
Double Metric - 200 kms
Double Century - 200 miles
Triple Metric - 300 kms
Triple Century - 300 miles
etc.

Devil's Advocate comment here ... what constitutes Long Distance? 100 miles? 200 miles? Brevet? RAAM?


Believe it or not, I'm open to 100 kms (metric century) being considered a long distance for some.

For me ... it becomes long at the about the 400 km brevet point ... where night riding becomes a significant factor. Although I've had a few centuries (100 miles) in the dead of winter, in significantly sub-freezing temps, that I would consider long as well.

"A solo, unsupported century is tougher than a supported one where you can draft".

Someone tell me what it's like to draft...I've heard about it and read about it... There is no difference to me when I do a solo long effort compared to an organized century as everyone tends to gang up behind me and talk during those.....is it because I'm not much of a talker or maybe because I'm 6'7" 270# ?? :D

barndoor? You are the entire barn! ;) At 270 you have a few pounds on me. I am 6'7" and 210. When on my road bike I am very popular. Not so much on my recumbent, where I can draft literally anybody, and most people have to work to get any sort of draft off me. Seeing how I have spent plenty of time towing people around, I am ok with that. :)

Wow. I peeked in here because I'm trying to get ready for Seattle-to-Portland, a 2-day 200 mile event. I've never done a century, but have done a few supported and a bunch of unsupported metric centurys.
When I ride a metric I tell people I've ridden "a squeak over 60 miles" because century sounds like I'm claiming something I didn't do, and metric century sounds like I'm a lawyer, or a contract with fine print.

[QUOTE=barndoor]Someone tell me what it's like to draft...I've heard about it and read about it... /QUOTE]

It's pretty friggin amazing.

Put it this way. Solo (and even in good shape I don't have great speed) I can push it to 16-17mph. But it is a constant effort to keep that pace.

In a paceline I can hit 21mph and spend at least some of the time soft pedaling so I don't rear end the guy in front of me.

-D

Seriously though (I was being serious), doing 100 miles is a century, with extra credit for doing it solo and planning your own route. Tomorrow I am doing my 55 mile training route, and I am trying to figure out how to add another 45 miles. :D

I did my first century ride this past Memorial Day. It was great. But instead of mapping out a long course or loop I just took the route I use as a training ride. It's an out and back of 25 miles. I did it four times. Though it could really be boring as far as repetitive scenery, I knew where all the stinking road kill was, where the dogs lived, how to prepare for the tough hills and nothing really happened unexpectedly. I could leave my house and my mileage was 25 miles exactly each time I came back home where I could rest for 20-30 minutes. I just needed to get the first 100 miler under my belt so I could decide it I would want to do any more later. I'm hook! The only suprise during the 7 hour & 45 minute road time was how easily I did it. Yeah I was fatigued at the end but still I thought that I would be a dead man walking at the end. My next ones will probably be some kind of loop routes and I'd like to do one every other month or as time allows but I also hope to stretch the next one to a 200K ride.[/QUOTE]

A ride is a ride. I rode my first century this year (and my first in over 20 years) from home in similar fashion recently and for similar reasons. It is a good confidence builder and you can vary the route as you please. It is also easier on the wallet. I rode another century, an honest-to-goodness organized ride, yesterday. It is nice to see other roads, dogs, etc.

You know you're a randonneur when you catch yourself saying, "Only 100 more miles to go."

Sweet! I am a Randonneur!! :D I can spell it now too:rolleyes:

Hmmmm, 100 miles is a "century". If 100 years is a century, then 100 miles is certainly the same thing.

I've ridden many dozens of centuries over the years, and only one with a group. I'm doing a metric century with a group this summer, but I like riding alone. I am only riding with the group for the t-shirt ... the last "century" t-shirt I got, is worn out.:rolleyes:

100 miles (or a 200k) is a long distance for me ... I'm a (fit) Clydesdale. It ain't no easy task to carry this frame over hill and dale.

Believe it or not, I'm open to 100 kms (metric century) being considered a long distance for some.

A long distance is whatever challenges people. If someone who is totally out of shape rides 50 miles, I'll cheer them on, congratulate them, and celebrate their achievement with them.

100 miles in easy conditions is nothing for an in shape rider, so it wouldn't occur to me to think they accomplished anything other than going for a ride even if I think it's a great idea.

A long distance is whatever challenges people. If someone who is totally out of shape rides 50 miles, I'll cheer them on, congratulate them, and celebrate their achievement with them.

100 miles in easy conditions is nothing for an in shape rider, so it wouldn't occur to me to think they accomplished anything other than going for a ride even if I think it's a great idea.

I agree too, as a rider trains more, long distances become shorter (or is that longer). To me, a long distance ride is one where the rider sets a day to do the course, it not just hopping on your bike and taking off. I think the idea of using the metric system for metric or imperial based countries is great, it gives more goals to obtain as a rider gets stronger, start with a metric centry, then imperial, then double metric ect. Or at least that's my plan for the summer.

Allright then, a variation on a theme - dirt miles are harder than road miles. Sometimes they're twice as hard.

So, would a rando rider tell a finisher of the Leadville 100 they rode "only a century" or "nice training ride?"

It's a hypothetical question, not trolling just expanding the mind here. Serious MTB trails have hills that would leave LSD riders crippled

Allright then, a variation on a theme - dirt miles are harder than road miles. Sometimes they're twice as hard.

So, would a rando rider tell a finisher of the Leadville 100 they rode "only a century" or "nice training ride?"

It's a hypothetical question, not trolling just expanding the mind here. Serious MTB trails have hills that would leave LSD riders crippled


D2R2 (http://newhorizonsbikes.com/page.cfm?PageID=347) - is it on road or off? Its definitely more in the Rando scene than the MTB scene...

I think most Rando riders respect the century as a distance and as a challenge ... I know when I don't respect it - it usually kicks my a$$.

Wow there are a few mileage snobs here! Thankfully there are a lot who are not. :-)

My background, I lead centuries for 2 bike clubs in Central/Southern Jersey (NJ, USA). So they're rarely solo. They're mostly flat (250 ft of climb, total) but what they lack in climb they make up in heat and wind. I like riding down the Barrens. I design my own routes and I use what others have shown me or from organized routes. I never put someone down because of the distance or the speed (though I do bust on my friends). I have lots of stories and lot of years. There is always someone who rides further or faster than I so I try not to put bring too much ego with me.

I have about 9 self created centuries, 1 double metric, 1 - 150 mile route and about 4 organized centuries. I'm currently work on many more and I'm now adding hills. I have a nice 61 mile route with 3600 ft of climb. I think I'll have the hillier century some time this summer. I do one double century each year (the easiest 208 miles, 'The Longest Day' in NJ).

I don't want to talk with the Long Distance folks (though I might have some idea of what they're talking about). I just do this as a Saturday leasure activity.

I remember just getting into cycling, I was in awe of myself when I rode a 22 mile roundtrip to the beach and back. I would never look down on anyone's accomplishment, it's always awesome when someone grows in their understanding of what they can do.

I accidentally did my first century this June while touring in Switzerland, carrying 40 lbs of gear/food/clothes. I'm very proud of it, though I know many have done much more. 11.5 hours pedalling with 30 min off bike for lunch, trying to reach my sister in Bern. Started in Basel, and went by way of the Passwang pass (STEEP) to Solothurn, Kirchberg, and eventually to Bern. Only 125km until you add the several hours I spent being LOST searching for missing bicycle route signs, and 20 km was OFF-ROAD. Thank you, crappy map. Grrrr. Great feeling of accomplishment when I made it.

I remember just getting into cycling, I was in awe of myself when I rode a 22 mile roundtrip to the beach and back. I would never look down on anyone's accomplishment, it's always awesome when someone grows in their understanding of what they can do.

My friend, who knows that I do long rides, recently took up cycling. So one day we're talking and he tells me that he rides 25 miles on the nearby bike paths. I was in honest shock, I couldn't beleive that he was doing such mileage and I was impressed. Of course I'm used to longer mileage but 25 miles for someone who just started is excellent. One day he might join me for my rides or maybe he won't. My wife (not a big time cyclist) and I may join him for a ride. We'll take the tandem.

I think the only time I reacted funny to someone else's milage was when 'Jepardy' had a contestant who had recently finished a century (his first). He made it out to be this impossible mileage. I laughed and my wife's comment was that a century is my weekend ride (which it is). I personally wouldn't belittle him to his face but we had fun with that for a while.

Of course I have a couple of friends that do Brevets once a month so I do have to be careful of what I say. They might take exception to my short rides. :D


I accidentally did my first century this June while touring in Switzerland, carrying 40 lbs of gear/food/clothes.

I want it to be know I had nothing to do with this! It's bad enough I missed one turn on a ride I was leading and my short cut added 40 miles to the ride. That and I have a reputation for leading rides that are 20% +/- of the advertised mileage (it's never under ... ;) ).

Wow, I bet you were sore at the end of that ride but ego wise it hurt so good.

I'm so glad I read your post. I'm taking my first long distance, self supported ride through Scotland and it's definitely over 100 miles. I didn't know there was a category for it. So I leave on July 30th for a month and I'm scouring over any route info I can find, which I might add is sorely lacking for us individualist types. I've considered contacting some tour groups to ask their routes but I suspect I'd get nowhere fast.
I have found a site I think I like;
http://www.cycle-route.com/routes/England-Cycle-Routes-2.html
It covers the UK and Canada. So far I haven't found any routes pertinent for me but there is a handy interactive map which shows non main roads so I can try to get where I'm going in one piece.
I can't always avoid the "A" roads so here's hoping there isn't a lorrie with my name on it :eek:
You can also create a route and safe it in the data bank for other's to benefit from.
Would love to communicate more with any other crazy souls who've done Scotland on bike. Give me some noice pointers?
btw, I'm new to the forums so this is also saying "hello"

Century is a hundred miles. No matter how you slice it, solo or organized, most people can't/won't ride for 5+ hours.

Century is a hundred miles. No matter how you slice it, solo or organized +1...yup

I have always thought of a century as an organized ride, lots of people, plenty of support. It is a more social event; normally you would travel to one in a car, stay at a motel and ride the thing with friends. These things come in all flavors like Mullhulland century and a much easier Solvang. With all that said, 100 miles is a 100 miles. They are a great way to have fun, meet new people and get a ton of confidence if new to cycling. They can provide a lot of fun for the most seasoned of us as well.

After a while, long training rides on the weekend either by yourself or with a couple buddies go 100-140 miles (for me anyway); but I don't call them a century, I call 'em a long training ride. Which ones easier? Depends on how you ride them. The last time I rode Solvang, I was always pushing my own wind and had a whole line of people behind me. It was nice having easy places to go get water instead of going into gas stations or mini marts. Going up hills was great, plenty of people to try and pass and feel like a stud.

Any way you slice it, you ride a 100 miles; feel proud of that....it's a long way, not many people in this world would be able to do it without a lot of training. Anyone who tries to discount your effort, ignore them, they're idiots....or at least are in serious lacking of any people skills.

How about this as a definition :
You must recieve a crummy tee shirt or be given the oppertunity to purchace an overpriced jersey for it to be considered a century. Otherwise it's just a delightfully long ride.

Hey my weekend rides qualify! :) When I ride down to Tabernacle we can pick up a 'Piney' T-Shirt (I lead a lot of rides that ride down to the Pine Barrens in NJ).