Long Distance Competition/Ultracycling, Randonneuring and Endurance Cycling - What time do you leave for a century?

Well actually, for me its about only 80-90 miles to my destination. I am definitely not a morning person, mainly because of a few "medical issues" I have, and I believe that the earlier I could comfortably leave my home is around 11AM, and 10AM in urgent cases. I was planning on leaving at around 10:30AM for this ride, but some of the people who are coming with me want to leave earlier, like around 8AM. From what I've read so far, it seems that it makes the most sense to leave very early in the morning so that it isn't too late when you arrive, however, with my "condition" I'm not sure what to do. I would like to leave at 11AM and make it there sometime before 6PM, is this a reasonable time to leave?

What time does your century start??

My last organized century started at 8 am (if I recall correctly) about 2 hours drive from where I live. So I left home at about 5 am to get there in time.

Tough call with your situation; you'll have to figure things out with your riding partners and someone will compromise, or y'all will have to do your own rides on your own schedules.

Most folks I know like to start long rides not long after sunrise, not only to give you more daylight to work with, but also -- in this part of the world -- to get a lot of the riding done before the very hot and humid afternoon hours. Other friends like to start very early -- even an hour or two before daybreak -- so they can get back home and spend more of the day with their families.

I like to leave really early. The 7am and 8am start times for most organized century rides are late for my taste. I prefer to be on the road by 6am (in the summer) to get a few hours in before the day warms up too much.

I normally leave around 5:30 am and run lights until sunrise. I live in Houston and ride out to the country for my centuries and traffic is light early in the morning. And especially this time of year, I leave early to beat the heat and direct rays of the sun.

But where some of you live, I'd leave later in the day just to let things warm up a bit! My brother is in the Chicago area and a couple days ago he told me it only got into the mid-60's for a high. In June? That's just crazy.

5am, 6am etc.
and i've done some winter rides starting at 2pm which means finishing after dark and dealing with cold cold cold and wind and potential snow melt turning into ice on the roads.

I like to leave really early. The 7am and 8am start times for most organized century rides are late for my taste. I prefer to be on the road by 6am (in the summer) to get a few hours in before the day warms up too much.

I don't do many centuries, and I feel late if I leave after 5 AM. I'm thinking about getting (driving) to my next organized century and just leaving at my own start time (around 6 for a 7 AM group start). Anyone else do that? Of course I would do so at my own liability, and not have a paceline to join, but would probably be overtaken by one that I would be comfortable with.

I don't do many centuries, and I feel late if I leave after 5 AM. I'm thinking about getting (driving) to my next organized century and just leaving at my own start time (around 6 for a 7 AM group start). Anyone else do that? Of course I would do so at my own liability, and not have a paceline to join, but would probably be overtaken by one that I would be comfortable with.

I ride to the start for most of my organized centuries, so I show up about 30 min. before the "official" start. Sometimes I stick around for the start, but often I'll leave early since I'm pretty slow compared to the century crowd around here. I was amazed that when I did the Tour de Cure century last month, the finish line festival was packing up when I crossed the line... just shy of 8 hours total. Seems most organizers think everyone's ripping out a 6 hour pace.

7:03 am CDT.

Wow, so everybody leaves relatively early in the morning. I forgot to mention this isn't an organized century so I don't really have any deadlines to follow, its just supposed to be at my/my groups leisure.

On solo summer centuries, I like to leave the house around 7am, for a reason at least one other has cited. It means about 2 hours of very little traffic on a Saturday, just about 3 hours of very little traffic on a Sunday. I typically allot 7.5 hours, which gives me time for cheeseburger, fish and chips and sunscreen slathering breaks.

If you're riding on a weekday, fuhgettabout it. If you want light traffic, shoot for a graveyard century.

Wow, so everybody leaves relatively early in the morning.

Not everyone... I've done eight centuries this year and the earliest I departed was 1pm with my average depart time around 2pm. Unless you need the extra time to finish before it gets dark don't get up any earlier than you normally would.

For brevets that normally start in the 5-7 AM range, I'm usually rolling out of the house anywhere from 3-5 am to ride to the ride when possible.

This weekend is a 600k start at 6 AM 25 miles away, so I'll need to be out of the house by at least 4. And no, I'm not really a morning person.

For Ramrod, which is a 150-mile ride 40 miles away, I'll need to get up at 2, and leave the house by 3 or so. (Starts at 6 AM)

But if you're just doing a friendly century, why not start it at 10 or 11 am? Or even in the afternoon if you have enough daylight.

I like to sleep late on weekends, so whenever I wake up, back-timed against whatever time the sunsets. Allow 7 hours with breaks, and just go. If you have a medical issue, I'm sure your friends will adapt.

Earlier the better, especially if it's a hilly ride that will take me a couple of hours longer. I don't want to be coming back at 4:30, 5:00pm in the heat and humidity. That's a good way to ruin a ride, as far as I'm concerned. I love riding the cool roads just as the sun is coming up, or even a bit before....

The Century this weekend (Ride Around the Bear) has 9,400 ft. of climbing, so I'll start at the earliest time they allow, i.e. 5:30 AM (dawn, Pacific Daylight time). Hope to be finished by 2:00 PM approx.

For double centuries I'll often start as early as 4:30 AM.

Rick / OCRR

Can you send some of your hot and humid weather over here? Weather is not really a consideration in the UK... go when you want!

Now I am a bit of newbie to biking in a sense. I just ride bikes to wherever I want to. What is a century

The Century this weekend (Ride Around the Bear) has 9,400 ft. of climbing, so I'll start at the earliest time they allow, i.e. 5:30 AM (dawn, Pacific Daylight time). Hope to be finished by 2:00 PM approx.

For double centuries I'll often start as early as 4:30 AM.

Rick / OCRR

I wish that Seattle ran on that kind of schedule, but we all have to wait until Starbucks is open before a ride can convene. :lol: 7am is the typical 300k start with the randos; back it off to 5am for a 400k. The STP gets an early start for the 1-day riders, kicking the first wave off at 4:45.


Now I am a bit of newbie to biking in a sense. I just ride bikes to wherever I want to. What is a century

Century = 100 miles.

damn , the most I have got is 6 miles , 3 there , 3 back

Sorry if that last post sound a bit cocky , I meant I just go anywhere on my bike.

damn , the most I have got is 6 miles , 3 there , 3 back

Sorry if that last post sound a bit cocky , I meant I just go anywhere on my bike.

Welcome aboard. Commuting to work and running errands are great ways to get miles. Add one long ride each week, and increase distance 10% or so each week, you'll be ready for a century (or more) soon enough.

are they like events (races) or do you just do them :lol:

also do you use specific types of bikes while doing Centuries

My experience is that earlier is better than later. I find the quietest time of the week (in terms of traffic) is Sunday mornings. So -- all things being equal -- my very favorite time to ride is leaving at dawn on Sunday and getting as much riding done before the "Sunday drivers" emerge early in the afternoon.

A second favorite time to ride is Saturday morning.

On Saturday afternoons the roads fill up with people rushing around doing errands. On Sunday afternoons the crazies are out, throwing coins at CliftonGK1, and other garbage like that.

There is a century ride on Saturday morning that doesn't start until 8 a.m. I just realized this morning I think that's a crazy-late time to start a century on a beautiful summer morning. I may either leave from home and ride to the start or just show up at the starting line in my car sometime between 6 and 7 and take off on my own.

My experience is that earlier is better than later. I find the quietest time of the week (in terms of traffic) is Sunday mornings. So -- all things being equal -- my very favorite time to ride is leaving at dawn on Sunday and getting as much riding done before the "Sunday drivers" emerge early in the afternoon...

Around Boston, IMO the Sunday drivers are out by 9-10 AM. :eek:

are they like events (races) or do you just do them :lol:

also do you use specific types of bikes while doing Centuries


A century is not a race, not timed unless you want to time yourself. You can go on almost any bike; it's more about attitude than equipment.

The brevet rides (longer than centuries) that many in here ride, have a time limit, but are not races, either. Since you are not competing, they have the same friendly feel of a century. Like a century, it is up to you to go fast or slow, rest or ride on. Brevets are still more about the rider than the bike, although other issues come into play, like comfort and nutrition.

(Sorry if I'm thread-jacking)

how long do they take , I suppose they take a while

how long do they take , I suppose they take a while

Exceptionally fit riders drafting each other on a reasonably flat course can do 100 miles in less than four hours. My only century ride to date (also on a reasonably flat course) took me about 8.5 hours from start to finish. That included something like two hours off the bike, as the middle part of my century was a 100 km organized fundraising ride, with registration before and lunch afterward.

You just have to ride one and see how long it takes you. ;)

This weekend is a 600k start at 6 AM 25 miles away, so I'll need to be out of the house by at least 4. And no, I'm not really a morning person.


Lucky you. Our 600K started at 3AM. I use to like getting up early for a ride but now I enjoy sleeping in and getting a later start. I must be getting old.

I start early because a century takes me all day. Right now, it's also hot around here, so leaving early in the morning helps beat the heat, if you're fast.

Wow, so everybody leaves relatively early in the morning. I forgot to mention this isn't an organized century so I don't really have any deadlines to follow, its just supposed to be at my/my groups leisure.

So ... it's not an organized century and therefore you can start whenever you want. Is that correct? Then start it whenever you want. If you want to finish before dark, count back from sunset.

how long do they take , I suppose they take a while

Centuries??

It depends. If you're doing one at -30C in the middle of winter, you might want to count on 12-15 hours. If you're doing one in ideal conditions in summer, you might be able to wrap one up in 6 hours ....... total time, of course, not riding time.

Generally, organized centuries are scheduled around the notion of greatest safety and convenience for all the riders. This usually means choosing the most comfortable time of day, while considering time-related aspects of auto-traffic, weather and support-stop possibilities.

Organizations generally put safety first as a priority when scheduling. What any private group does is anyone's guess.

well I might do one when I can. I am fitting it into my usual day. I did 10 miles (5 there 5 back) today , its a start lol

I would like to leave at 11AM and make it there sometime before 6PM, is this a reasonable time to leave?

It really depends on how fast a rider you are.

90 miles in 7 hours with no stops = 13 MPH.
90 miles in 6 hours (assuming 1 hour total for stops) = 15 MPH.

1) How long do you expect stops to take?
2) How much time to you need to ride that particular 90 mile route?

People start early because it normally isn't that much of a hardship to do so. It also allows for a lot of extra day-light just in case things take longer than expected. Often, it's cooler earlier in the day too.

Around Boston, IMO the Sunday drivers are out by 9-10 AM. :eek:


haha you must be from the south shore like me, there the worsttt

Around Boston, IMO the Sunday drivers are out by 9-10 AM. :eek:


haha you must be from the south shore like me, there the worsttt

I live in Kenmore Square, but on my occasional Sunday rides, north or south, they're out there, but I think the Sunday drivers come out later in the downtown, maybe after 11 AM. Usually I only ride Monday through Saturday, unless it rains on Saturday.

For personal rides I like to start early. Around here the sun rises at ~5am in the summer. So starting at 5am is my default for any longer ride from my house, 6am to compensate for riding partners that can't handle 5am and later if I must.

I don't consume coffee so I am not linked to Starbucks hours.

If I'm on an organized ride -- charity ride etc. -- I prefer an early start, like 6am.

Before I got into doing brevets, I was limited by daylight hours, now I don't care. For brevets, it's nice to get in a couple of hours of riding before the sun comes up ... and the wind comes up. I like a 4am start for brevets.

If I'm by myself, I tend to dawdle around the house, catch up on what's happening around the world, have an early lunch ... eg. 10am ... and then head out around 11am. Having said that, I did a 137 mile Permanent the other day and left at 4am to get to the start point, with an starting Control start time of 4:30 -- that was to get in as much riding as possible before the heat of the day set in.

If I'm on an organized ride -- charity ride etc. -- I prefer an early start, like 6am.

Before I got into doing brevets, I was limited by daylight hours, now I don't care. For brevets, it's nice to get in a couple of hours of riding before the sun comes up ... and the wind comes up. I like a 4am start for brevets.

If I'm by myself, I tend to dawdle around the house, catch up on what's happening around the world, have an early lunch ... eg. 10am ... and then head out around 11am. Having said that, I did a 137 mile Permanent the other day and left at 4am to get to the start point, with an starting Control start time of 4:30 -- that was to get in as much riding as possible before the heat of the day set in.

Yes, leaving out early is a big advantage in Fl. in the summer. You get in some easy miles before the wind and the heat kick in, and, if you get done early enough, maybe beat the afternoon rain. Leave out after sunrise, and you might get headwind both ways, and a soaking wet sunburn.

You're a machine, Dave! Good job on the 1200k, too.

You're a machine, Dave! Good job on the 1200k, too.

Thanks ... the 1200 was a great experience.

I just finished a brevet, 211k, and it started at 5:00 AM, partly to beat the heat, partly to miss a charity ride in the same town. Their brevet next month starts at 7:00 PM so people get to ride all night. Charity rides usually start from 7:00 to 9:00, the earlier times being in summer due to having light and trying to beat the heat. If you're not sure you'll be there by dark, get some good lighting (and be sure to try it out plenty in advance.)

My last two centuries began just after 11am. I like to dawdle. If it was scorching hot I might plan to leave earlier.