Road Cycling - what is a century?

forgive my ignorence but im new to the sport and i here people talking about riding centurys and im not sure what that is. Anyone want to take the time to
explaine.

A hundred mile ride. A metric century is 100 kilometers about 62 miles.

ohh durr, y didnt i think of that. Thanks for explaining

When a batsmen in Cricket scores 100 runs, that is a Century. Down here that is the ONLY sporting context the word is used for.

CHEERS.

Mark

When a batsmen in Cricket scores 100 runs, that is a Century. Down here that is the ONLY sporting context the word is used for.

CHEERS.

Mark

And Gilly almost made it a double! Good WA boy... ;)

A century is also 100 cyclists dressed in traditional Roman army uniforms.

When a batsmen in Cricket scores 100 runs, that is a Century. Down here that is the ONLY sporting context the word is used for.

CHEERS.

Mark

That takes, what, two weeks? ;)

How many century's is the TDF?

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/glossary

I used this incessantly when I was getting up to speed on cycling. Great resource.

How many century's is the TDF?

Roughly 21.

Not only just a 100 mile ride, but a benchmark to a recreational cyclist in America. The goal is to first complete one, then to improve upon the time.

How many century's is the TDF?
In any given TdF there are probably, what, about 14 century+ days?

forgive my ignorence but im new to the sport and i here people talking about riding centurys and im not sure what that is. Anyone want to take the time to
explaine.

A century is: torture;
frought with pain;
absolutely fatiguing;
a cycling accomplishment like no other.

And if you survive riding a century, try randaneuring- with rides of 200,300,400 and 600 kilometers - all without sleep!

Randonneurs USA -- http://www.rusa.org

Is it still a century if you stop for a minute to take a break for whatever reason?

That always irked me when someone would say that they rode over a certain pass, or rode a certain length, just to find out that they stopped once or twice on the way.

Yes, it is still a century. Even if you take a break in the middle.

Here's a fun quad!

quadzilla (http://www.rochesterbicyclingclub.com/ultra/flindex.htm)

-mark

Is it still a century if you stop for a minute to take a break for whatever reason?

That always irked me when someone would say that they rode over a certain pass, or rode a certain length, just to find out that they stopped once or twice on the way.

Of course it counts, as long as you don't spend the night. When I rode my first century, I stopped four times to refill my water bottles, to have a Clif Bar and to use the restroom. None of the stops was for more than 10 minutes.

There's nothing wrong with stopping during a century, even for more than ten minutes? I'll often schedule a lunch stop in the middle of long rides or stop and take a break to just stretch and relax. If you cover a hundred miles in a day it is a century.

If you have a reasonable level of fitness, have a bike that fits and go at a moderate pace, a century isn't "torture","frought with pain", or "absolutely fatiguing". It's just a relaxing way to spend the day.

-s

I'll often schedule a lunch stop in the middle of long rides or stop and take a break to just stretch and relax... a century isn't "torture","frought with pain", or "absolutely fatiguing". It's just a relaxing way to spend the day.



spoken like a true tourist. We need more cyclists who think that way :-)

Our group did a metric century in Scotland, was great, we even had a guy in the group who is 72, and i tell you, he can hack the pace! It WAS hell for me over there, id only a months experience on the bike, and was well dosed up with a cold. Still a crackin` good time.

A century is also 100 cyclists dressed in traditional Roman army uniforms.
??Ha??

Heck , For some of my metric centuries , I Commute to work 16 Miles, do 14 Miles at lunch , then take a 33 mile route home. and I have a Metric century for the day.

A century is 5-8 hours of pleasure, where problems cease to exist.

I went to see my Dr. yesterday and mentioned that I like to ride long distances -- lots of centuries (as well as longer rides) -- at my age. I'm 62. I mentioned that I like to ride to a particular town and back.
Dr., "How far is that?"
Me, "About 82 km each way. Together it's 100 miles there and back."
Dr., "Gasp, I get tired just driving there and back in the car."

To some, a century ride may as well be the equivalent of riding to the moon. To others (and I include myself) it is no more exerting than a round of golf.

Any physically able rider (and a few diabled ones) can do a century. Mental preparation is as important as physical ability. I am hoping to do a 1200km (745 mile) ride this summer and do it within the 90 hour time limit.

Hey Cadillac,

are you talking about Boston-Montreal-Boston?

Hey Cadillac,

are you talking about Boston-Montreal-Boston?
I am thinking about the RM1200 (Rocky Mountain 1200) since I live in Western Canada. My daughter did it in 2002 and then she did the PBP (Paris-Brest-Paris) 1200 in 2003.

I am thinking about the RM1200 (Rocky Mountain 1200) since I live in Western Canada. My daughter did it in 2002 and then she did the PBP (Paris-Brest-Paris) 1200 in 2003.

Do they provide a team of surgeons at the finish line to remove fused seats from participant a$$e$?

90 hours is quite a long time in the saddle

-mark

Cadillac said: "at my age. I'm 62"

Me too, almost 63. I do metrics all the time, but as I live in the mountains, there is a lot of climbing - one direction or the other. So I ask: does one get credit for Km when there is a lot of climbing, or is a century in that terrain just harder than one on the flat? :rolleyes:

Cheers...Gary

Although cycling for 90 hours (probably with about 5 hours sleep in that period off and on) may hurt the butt, it is really the brain that is hurt. The ride is best performed immediately after a partial brain removal. :D

However, over 4000 riders attempted the PBP and the vast majority of them completed it. I assisted a little on the RM1200 as an unofficial volunteer in 2002. The riders were exhausted at the various controls (checkpoints) but they said it was one of the best rides they had been on. You can check their site at
http://www.randonneurs.bc.ca/rocky/rm1200.html

Centuries are unforgivingly 100 miles (162 km) regardless of hills, wind, rain, snow, hot or cold temps, etc. The advantage of hilly country is that there is a downhill to compensate for the uphill. The problem in the prairies is that while it is relatively flat, the wind can switch directions so that you have a headwind both directions. While we often complain about the riding conditions, they are still a part of the challenge of riding. :D

The problem in the prairies is that while it is relatively flat, the wind can switch directions so that you have a headwind both directions. :D

Ah yes, the Dutch hills. We have a phenomenon around here called the Mistral. High winds that funnel down the valley between two rows of mountains. So, added to the French hills - the rocky type, things can get doubly difficult.

If anyone has a reference to a scientific discussion about why the wind is always from the front, as it seems here much of the time, I would like to have it. ;)

Cheers...Gary

When I lived in Regina while going to grad school, I tried to convince my wife to go for a long bike ride. We had ridden short rides together many times, but I wanted her to join me on one of my longer rides. The wind always blows hard around Regina, so I suggested that we ride for 30 miles into the wind, then when we were tired, we could turn around and have the wind blow us home. She bought the argument and we set off. Just before our designated turn around point, I noticed that riding had become a little easier but thought little of it until we made the turn. Ahhh, the wind had switched and was stronger than ever. She has never let me forget it either -- it was one of the toughest rides we've ever had. ;)