Long Distance Competition/Ultracycling, Randonneuring and Endurance Cycling - Average timeline to ride 100km for average cyclist

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worldtraveller
06-27-11, 11:24 AM
Good evening I like some time figures.

What is the average time for average cyclist to ride 100km. More less a route with some climbs etc.

Give me some figures and also compare that to what a pro from tour de france could ride?
thanks


StephenH
06-27-11, 11:33 AM
I'm not average, but usually on a rando ride, between 4 and 5 hours. That usually includes a mid-point control, and usually includes some hills, but not any major climbing, either. And there's people doing long-distance riding that go a lot faster and a lot slower than me.

Some of my most fun rides were the slowest, and were fun due to the people I was with.

The fastest rando ride I've ever done was a 600k where the entire ride was either with no wind or with a tailwind, and also riding in a group on a fairly flat course. I averaged 18.1 mph on my speedometer average. But usually, it'll be more like 15-16 mph. Saturday was 13.0 mph, due to some pesky hills that slowed me down.

Hezz
06-27-11, 11:34 AM
Good evening I like some time figures.

What is the average time for average cyclist to ride 100km. More less a route with some climbs etc.

Give me some figures and also compare that to what a pro from tour de france could ride?
thanks

100km = 62.14 miles

assuming a few easy hills to climb no big TDF style mountains and no stopping.

Elite pro road racer 24-26 mph / 39-42 kph. About 2.50 hours.

During a TDF stage this could be faster if sprint teams are trying to keep the pace high to stop a breakaway. Could be as high as 28 mph / 45 kph average if the course permits. For a 100 km race, which would be short by pro standards the pace could get very high. Could possibly be done in 2.20-2.30 hours.

Casual recreational rider 12-15 mph / 19-24 kph. About 4.6 hours.

Average semi fit recreational rider 15-18 mph / 24-29 kph. About 3.75 hours.

Local very fit athletic casual racer primarily recreational cyclist 18-22 mph / 29-35 kph. About 3.00 hours.

Basically what it comes down to is that the pro elite road racers can maintain about 100 watts more power over a long time than a regular cyclist.

Regular cyclist can maintain about 120-200 watts continuous power for several hours. Pro riders can maintain 220-300 watts for long periods of time.

As a basic guideline for power:

These are averages not high power moments:

Casual recreational rider usually rides between 100-130 watts.

Average semi fit recreational rider usually rides between 150-180 watts.

Local athletic serious cyclist usually averages between 180-220 watts.

Pro elite road racers usually average between 200-300 watts.


These are long term ranges that riders in these groups can maintain for several hours.


globecanvas
06-27-11, 11:34 AM
It really depends on the route. I did a quite hilly, but not mountainous, 100km yesterday in 3:03. That's like a "well trained local rider" time. A pro on a flatter course would be more like 2:30.

worldtraveller
06-27-11, 02:41 PM
Wow that are good figures
it is so amazing how fast those pros go.
Makes rest of us feel sick.
Then again, we also don't breath and eat our bike like those too
sometimes its nice to have a balance in life.

Machka
06-27-11, 04:13 PM
At my peak fitness level back between 1999 and 2004, I could do 100K in 4 hours if I put in a little bit of effort, and 5 hours if I took it easy.

Then my fitness level slipped away because of University and then DVT, and I'm currently work on getting it back. I'm reasonably fit now (but not at my peak) and I do 100K in 6-7 hours.


EDIT: That's 100 kilometres, not 100 miles, in case anyone wondered. 100 miles, these days, usually takes about 10 hours (or occasionally about 8 if we've got near-perfect conditions)

Mr. Beanz
06-27-11, 04:58 PM
Average cyclist? Well the wife and I did a 60 miler on Saturday in 3:47 with a BIG headwind and we are far from race material. Not even sure if we're average. But in the past I did a 100 km event in 3:10. First 2/3 alone, remainder with a partner. A few centuries in and like Tour De PalmSprings in 5:45 solo. Not crazy about drafting. I'm about an average Clydesdale rider and don't race.

http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l267/gulpxtreme/062511A.jpg

dvald001
06-27-11, 06:00 PM
Last Saturday me and my dad (55 and going strong!) rode a metric century to the beach and back. Took us almost 4 hours on the dot with an average speed of slightly more than 15mph.

Mr. Beanz
06-27-11, 06:12 PM
Last Saturday me and my dad (55 and going strong!) rode a metric century to the beach and back. Took us almost 4 hours on the dot with an average speed of slightly more than 15mph.

Wow, you make it sound so old!:D We're 48 and know lots of older riders doing great on the bike.:thumb: I just feel so old now!:p

clasher
06-27-11, 06:40 PM
I did my first 100km in 3:54 IIRC, I was pushing against wind for the last half and am still in horrible shape, so a lot of it is variable.