Tom Bombadil

The current thread on centuries, which I do find interesting, brings me back to something I've thought about from time to time ... Why are so many motivated to ride 100 miles?

As everyone knows, I'm a numbers guy. But I see numbers more as linear things. As in time, one day I'm 53 years, 320 days. Then I'm 53 years, 321 days. Eventually I'm 53, 364 days, then 54. Crossing the year boundary doesn't mean much to me because I'm not a year older, I'm a day older.

I view distance in pretty much the same way. Going 100 miles is traveling 528,000 feet. Or 176,000 yards. If I ride 95 miles then that's 501,600 feet.

I do get caught up a bit from time to time in pushing myself over a mileage goal, as in there have been a couple of times when I've been at 29 miles and I'll ride another mile just to make it 30. And I've done that at 38-39 miles a couple of times too.

But I've only set out to reach a specific number of miles twice. I went for 30 one day and 40 another day. Outside of that, miles just kinda happen as I ride. Recently I rode for 44 miles and had time to go after another 6 to make it 50, or 9 to ride my age for the 1st time this year. But 44 is a fine number and I didn't feel any need to ride any more that day.

I find it interesting that so many people go after century rides. So many events are structured around riding a century. You wouldn't want me setting up events because I might make them to be 73 or 84 miles, for I feel little need to make them be round numbers.

So what is the attractiveness of riding 100 miles? As opposed to say 91 miles?

I did ride a metric one day, and when I got close to it, I did want to make it to 100km. But as I eased over 62 miles, I wanted to hit 64 as that is 8 squared and 2 to the 6th. To me 64 was a neater number than 100km. (And now that it still leaves me 1 mile ahead of SKT, I am very glad that I rode those 2 extra miles.)

Note that I am not being critical of anyone on this, just interested in knowing why that is such a meaningful number to so many cyclists.

zoste

Because "That's how it's meant to be."

Seriously, I think it's the desire for round numbers.

In more formal settings, there are similar round numbers for Brevets in randonneuring, though they're expressed in km's instead of miles.

dewaday

100 is an easy number to remember without having to resort to algebraic equations.

Pat

Well, Tom it has to do with our base 10 number system.

But 100 miles is a reasonably challenging distance to cycle. It is achievable by nearly any adult in reasonable adult after a certain amount of training.

As you certainly know, it can really impress non cyclists.

It has become a sort of defacto standard.

Then there is the age thing. I suppose riding the gold standard challenging distance in cycling means we still have what it takes. Or so we keep telling ourselves.

Of course, there is not really a functional difference between 91 miles and 100 miles and 106 miles and so on. The challenge is determined by the conditions, terrain, course and so on. But since when does logic and sense have anything to do with it?

Tom, I am afraid that as long as you think about things and analyze like this you are not going to understand. Remember, human activities do not have anything to do with thinking and logic. I mean can't you tell? There is a presidential election going on for crying out loud. And if a US presidential election can not convince you that human activities do not involve thinking, I don't know what will.

vtc12ip

It's not a normal ride. For most of us anyway. It's a goal. I, for one, need goals. No goal, no life.

Rick@OCRR

I agree with zoste that's it mostly about round numbers. However, Tom, if you prefer square numbers (apparently), there's no harm (or problem) with going for square numbers, or even random numbers, or . . . whatever number it happens to be at the end of the ride. It's all goal-oriented, or can be.

I prefer 200 mile rides, but that's just me (and Dante).

Rick / OCRR

Allegheny Jet

Why don't runners stop at 25 miles, or swimmers who cross the English Channel continue and swim 1/4 of the way back. I think the 100 mile mark is a signifcant number that most everyone can place an association with. My motner and father think I crazy to be out riding my bicycle for 100 miles while my best friend is put under a little cloud of sham ,when we are out to dinner and our wives compare our day's play, where I rode 100 miles and Dean played 18 holes of golf in 90 degree heat while riding in a cart. Her saying "Bill rode 103 miles" just doesn't sound normal it's too exact.

NOS88

Since grade school most of us were taught that getting 100 on a test was better than getting a 95. I think it's just culturally ingrained as an important number. But why do it? Well, it impresses the hell out of most folks when they find out you can ride 100 miles in one shot.

roadfix

It's simply a numbers and challenge game. Some people like long distance riding and brevets while others prefer races.

maddmaxx 

How bout a reasonable distance for offroad riders! On the other hand, for numbers people 64 miles is a round goal or 1000000 miles or 80 miles. For those who only count on their fingers, thats 800 miles.

BikeWNC

I've never worried about the distance. I laugh at people that feel compelled to ride around the parking lot just to tick the odometer over to an even 100. Seriously, it's all just a number. Besides, I can ride 100 miles in 5 hours or less one place and another it takes 8 hours. So really time on the bike is more important than distance.

BluesDawg

It's just an easy number to relate to. It could be anything, but round numbers are easier for people to process. You think too much. (or at least a lot more than I would ever care to do)

roadfix

Speaking of computers........ Although I like the challenge of distance riding, I'm not into bike computers at all. Most of my bikes don't have them.

az_cyclist

I would say the desire for a round number.... you add an extra loop around the neighborhood to make a 49-mile ride 50 miles. Also, 100 miles is a laudable goal..... similar to a marathon rather than 22 or 23 miles.

zoste

You're in good company. The Ultra Marathon Cycling Association, which sanctions RAAM, acknowledges that due to routing peculiarities, most century rides are not exactly 100 miles. They consider a "century" to be any ride between 90 and 149 miles.

DiabloScott

Exactly - it's (10)^2 miles... note that it's not (10 miles)^2


What exactly is so great about 50+ anyway... isn't that the odometer factor as well?

Personally I think we should change the name of this forum to (e)^4 + so I can forestall membership a few more years.

DnvrFox

100 miles impresses the HE** for people such as my neighbors. Isn't that why we do it - to have a milestone to mention in casual conversation, like:

Neighbor - "What do you think about Palin?"

Me - "Well, I bet she couldn't ride a 100 miles like I did last week."

or

Neighbor - "My car gets 26 niles per gallon."

Me - "Well, my bike got 100 miles to a hot dog on my last 100 mile rdie."

You know, casual conversation like that.

tcs

The sport cycling "century" ride as a personal test and fun challenge dates back to at least the late 1870s. Yes, 1870s!

As posted above, I've never once ridden a century that measured Tom's 528,000 feet. (However, when we finished our tandem century two years ago, one team rode around the block twice to get their cycle computer to read "100.0 miles"!)

I have taken a picture of various automobiles I've owned as they rolled the odometer at 100,000 miles, and I recall being invited to 7 different parties on the night of December 31, 1999 but only one on December 31, 2000.

Best,
tcs

tcs

Ah, there's nothing like laughing at other people, is there?

Tom

Garfield Cat

Must be a human thing. Centennial, Bob Hope and George Burns, 100 Pounds of Clay, a hundred dollar bill, what else?

For most recreational riders, it requires conditioning to do a century. Right around 70 miles is when I feel like taking a rest, legs getting heavy. That last 30 miles is like a threshold. Pass through it and you're in.

Digital Gee

You must be Very Popular!

Trsnrtr

I agree. 100 miles is a distance that is not easily attained, yet attainable. Does that make sense?

I only do 1-3 a year on average and each one gives me a great feeling of accomplishment.

lighthorse

Good question Tom. My take is that the organized cycling world revolves itself around centuries, either miles or metrics, including the whole Randonering thing. Never made much difference to me. I have scores of 90+ mile days that were not centuries. Who cares?

gcottay

For me it's no big thing, but the combination of mild challenge with a good long ride is appealing.

zoste

Hundred Years' War (actually lasted 116 years, but with time outs there was only fighting in 80 some years).

hundred weight (don't know what that is)

When I was in school we celebrated "Hundredth Night" - one hundred days until graduation. It was one of probably a hundred reasons to tap several kegs.