What's the criteria for long distance?

Can a ride of 100 Km in mountainous area be called "long distance"?

And what's the difference between 100 Km's mountainous ride and 250 Km's plain ride.

I do road cycling.

What's the criteria for long distance?

Can a ride of 100 Km in mountainous area be called "long distance"?

And what's the difference between 100 Km's mountainous ride and 250 Km's plain ride.

I do road cycling.

It's different for everyone. I got caught a few days ago posting re: a saddle saying I was going for a 'short' 40 mile ride to test it.

I would not consider 100km long distance even with lots of climbing, but that's me.

My current idea of a long distance ride is greater than 7 or 8 hours with LOTS (>8 or 9k feet) of climbing or more hours with a more reasonable amount of elevation gain.

Perhaps you'd like to read through this current and active thread: http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=428737



And also the intro to the forum:

"Do you enjoy centuries, double centuries, brevets, randonnees, and 24-hour time trials? Share ride reports, and exchange training, equipment, and nutrition information specific to long distance cycling."

100 miles is a good place to start.

but if your longest ride to date is 100km, then that's "long distance" for you.

What's the criteria for long distance?

Since the term "long distance" is subjective, or referenced only by method or difficulty applying specific criteria to "long distance cycling" is difficult or impossible.

However a mature perspective in defining "long distance" may consider these values:

Is this ride going to be the longest ride I've ever completed or attempted?

Is the "time spent" completing the ride going to be the longest time spent on a bicycle ride?

Beyond those subjective assessments, typical cyclists consider any bicycle ride that requires "all day" to be a long, or longer distance ride. On the other hand, definitive distances, such as 100 kilometers or 100 miles are generally considered long distance rides, no matter how quickly they are accomplished. (3,4 or 5 hours?)

Clearly, a combination of subjective and objective measures are the only way to infer what is meant by "long distance" with respect to bicycle riding. Clear enough?