General Cycling Discussion - Just what is a (cycling) century ?

Hello all,

French is my mother language, so I've got a little problem figuring out what could be a CENTURY, cycling wise, in english...

(Time-wise, I know this is a hundred years, so I'm hoping to prevent the usual cool wise one to drop this one answer following this post :p )

What is it in terms of distance and time on the bicycle ?

Thank you in advance for all the answers...

(Back in lurking mode)

Sapolin

A century, in general, is 100 of something. In cycling, it's 100 miles. A metric century is 100Km, or about 62 miles.

100 miles. A metric century ia 100 kilometers.

Wow, those were fast answers ! Thank you all !!

Sapolin

It's what you call siecle in french.

To faites un siecle on a bike is to ride 100 miles or kilometers at a time.

It's what you call siecle in french.

To faites un siecle on a bike is to ride 100 miles or kilometers at a time.

Je ne pense pas que nous les appelions des "siecles", peut-etre un "centenaire" ? en fait je ne connais pas du tout l'equivalent du terme en francais car je n'avais jamais entendu parle de "century" avant de venir aux USA.

Je ne pense pas que nous les appelions des "siecles", peut-etre un "centenaire" ? en fait je ne connais pas du tout l'equivalent du terme en francais car je n'avais jamais entendu parle de "century" avant de venir aux USA.

Ack! The one year of French that I took in high school just came back to haunt me!

Je ne pense pas que nous les appelions des "siecles", peut-etre un "centenaire" ? en fait je ne connais pas du tout l'equivalent du terme en francais car je n'avais jamais entendu parle de "century" avant de venir aux USA.

Ack! All 4 years of French in high school just came back to haunt me.
Babelfish, you screwed me again!

Ack! All 4 years of French in high school just came back to haunt me.
Babelfish, you screwed me again!

Excuse my french :D

mais "century" est un mot anglais n'est-ce pas? bien sur que vous n'utiliserez pas le meme mot en France!

just i guess, not sure tho.. ;)

If English speakers can say derailleur, peleton, pannier, etc., then Francophones can say century, dadgummit!

If English speakers can say derailleur, peleton, pannier, etc., then Francophones can say century, dadgummit!

Phonetic spelling of 'pannier', if you don't mind. I just got mine and am having some trouble with it.

If English speakers can say derailleur, peleton, pannier, etc., then Francophones can say century, dadgummit!

Haha...ironically I doubt many English speakers say them right. Gondola and foyer (I love fancy interior designers who say this like a gutter kid with no training, makes me almost puke..."and this is the FOY-YER" PUKE!!!) are two words that come to mind that english speakers butcher so bad it even makes my non french understanding ears cringe.

Well, I have to admit that I've always said "pany-ers" but I suspect that it's really pronounced "pan-yay."

Sapolin, can you help us?

Dah-wail-lah!

yes, It's more like pan-yay and pany-er's

En passant, Je crois que le vrais terme est centenaire, mais j'ai deja entendue quelqu'un dire "centurion". Quoi que je crois pas que ce soit le vrais mot...

There was a thread on how to say pannier. It might be from old english, just looks french and you do pronounce the r. Search for the thread, there was some different opinions on the word pannier.

My Ozark upbringing is coming back. The thought "whatever doesn't get me beaten up" is crossing my mind.

"I got yer 'pany-ers' right here, fancy boy!" :fight:

"I got yer 'pany-ers' right here, fancy boy!" :fight:

thats not funny, why am I LOL!?

En passant, Je crois que le vrais terme est centenaire, mais j'ai deja entendue quelqu'un dire "centurion". Quoi que je crois pas que ce soit le vrais mot...

J'ai aussi trouve "Centurion". Un centurion imperial ou un centurion metrique ? :D

Haha...ironically I doubt many English speakers say them right. Gondola and foyer (I love fancy interior designers who say this like a gutter kid with no training, makes me almost puke..."and this is the FOY-YER" PUKE!!!) are two words that come to mind that english speakers butcher so bad it even makes my non french understanding ears cringe.

Here's a third.....forte. A hint....it's one syllable not two. :)

J'ai aussi trouve "Centurion". Un centurion imperial ou un centurion metrique ? :D

I'm purty sure for them Aussies a Century is metrique. Kiwis too. ;)

As to the second part of your question, the part about "in terms of time on the bicycle," there is generally no time limit. Many people ride centuries at big events sponsored by bike clubs or charities; at these events, the organizers may tell participants that support--SAG vehicles, staffed rest stops--ends at a certain time, so riders still out on the course after that are on their own. Other than this caution, stronger riders, obviously, do them faster, others do them at slower paces. Riding with others in a small group working, more or less, together, I generally complete a century in 16 +/- miles per hour. I haven't tried a solo century, but I am sure that my time would be significantly slower with the group dynamics for support.

We recently discussed on this forum the fact that a couple of these kinds of rides require cyclists to reach checkpoints within specifiied times.

Well, I have to admit that I've always said "pany-ers" but I suspect that it's really pronounced "pan-yay."

Sapolin, can you help us?

"Pan-yay" for sure, but some Montrealers may not agree (I was born in Quebec City, though I stay in Montreal now)... but emphasizing on the "n" not too long, like "pann-yay" ...the second "n" must not sound, but vibrate fluidly... and don't chew words like gum in French, it could help you be better understood... you must flatter the words, give them space in your mouth, taste them...

(Aren't we a bit far from cycling ?)

"excusez-moi, voudriez vous m'aider à retrouver mes outils dans mes paniers, s'il-vous-plaît ?"

"L'adresse du prochain B&B est dans mon panier droit"

"Je suis tombé et j'ai endommagé mon panier gauche"

Sapolin, trying to help them anglophones with them French...

As to the second part of your question, the part about "in terms of time on the bicycle," there is generally no time limit. Many people ride centuries at big events sponsored by bike clubs or charities; at these events, the organizers may tell participants that support--SAG vehicles, staffed rest stops--ends at a certain time, so riders still out on the course after that are on their own. Other than this caution, stronger riders, obviously, do them faster, others do them at slower paces. Riding with others in a small group working, more or less, together, I generally complete a century in 16 +/- miles per hour. I haven't tried a solo century, but I am sure that my time would be significantly slower with the group dynamics for support.

Thanks for the "time" bit, this makes me realize there are many "centuries" going on in the summer in PQ, for charities, for fun, and just for training...

16 MPH... for 100 miles makes 6 to 7 hours on the saddle .... my whole body hurts just thinking about this kind of distance.

(before next summer: training for bike shape ! So this is back to swimming, cross country skiing and fast walk this winter... while still carrying the massage chair to work, traveling in the public transit...)

Lance don't allow no cussing around here!!!!!

"Thanks for the "time" bit, this makes me realize there are many "centuries" going on in the summer in PQ, for charities, for fun, and just for training...

16 MPH... for 100 miles makes 6 to 7 hours on the saddle .... my whole body hurts just thinking about this kind of distance"

You'll be amazed at how you get into it. When I completed my first century, I felt on top of the world! (The next day's ride was, however, a different story.) As for the long day, that becomes part of the pageantry--it's a day with friends on the bike, complete with food, drink, and fellowship.