What counts as a century?
 

So do I have to cycle 100 miles within a limited time for it to count as a century? Im slow but by the end of sept I want to do one:eek:

Ah look, Nova Scotia!

Well, there are no hard and fast rules.

I do believe that the semi-unofficial standard of fitness measurement is to do a century (100 miles) in 6 hours or less.

That is not to say that it doesn't count if you did a century in 8 hours...it would still count as a century (provided there is no event time limit).

But it wouldn't count if you did 4 hours today and 24 hours later did the other 4 hours.

A century counts as a century if you do it in "one sitting." Yes, you are allowed to stand and climb.

Say, you started at 8am today and finished at 8pm that evening (12 hours), wthout going home, getting a shower, sitting on the counch, watching TV, taking a nap, etc.
That, in my mind, would be a century.

Some will say that it has to be done within 24 hours, or it is not a century.

If you ride 100 miles in a "ride" and not what you would consider 2 rides or more, then it is a century. The time it takes is not so much the issue, as the number of events or rides.

1 century = 1 "ride."

:popcorn

Never heard that before...
If you do a century in one day it counts. If you feel you had to stop and rest to much, try to do it more continuously the next time. A century is pretty much a personal goal, and so long as you do it, in one waking period, I am gonna give you the credit.

That's the rule I know, 100 miles in a day. That gives you 24 hours.

The standard definition is 100 miles in 12 hours.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Century_ride

But I think that's pretty much the time limit for organized rides so they don't need to have rest stops open more than 12 hours.

However, if you're riding solo, 100 miles is 100 miles regardless how long it takes as long as it is a single ride.

Calendar day.

100.. years.. Km or Miles, take your pick.

the leader of a unit of 100 ('C') Roman soldiers is a Centurion

Last time I rode an organized century, there were ~400 participants, of whom exactly 7 managed the full 100-mile distance in 6 hours or less, and median finishing time was around 8:15.

But maybe Nova Scotia is flatter. This one had 9000 feet of climbing.

If you start now, there should be enough time to finish by the end of Sept. ;)

(sorry, I couldn't resist)

If it is an organized century, finish before the party is over and the T-shirt people have gone home. If it is a club century get home before the next ride starts. Just all by yourself, It is the time period between sleeping.

Some parts are flat, others....not so much.

The 6 hour time is not a written down rule, but one of those things out there fluttering around as a semi-(un)official measure of fitness - "Do 100 miles in 6 hours and you're fit." That's an average of about 17 mph or 27 kph.

In my mind, if you can do 100 miles...in 8 hours, then you're pretty gosh-dang fit!

Anyway, I had not intended to imply that if it wasn't 6 hours then it doesn't count as a century. I just tossed out something I read here in BF and a couple of bike mags.

The posts I read above give 24 hours, a calendar day or in a single ride, or what that person would consider a single ride. As "bikepro" stated, "100 miles is 100 miles regardless how long it takes as long as it is a single ride."

That's about what I feel counts as 100 miles.

To my way of thinking a century is a 100 mile ride completed in a single attempt. My best time was a bit over 4 hours way back in my racing days, worst was about 14 hours into brutal headwinds, where we were pedaling down hill in our lowest gear. Then you have what is called a Metric Century which is 100 kilometers, same basic rules apply. My preference now is rides that last less than 8 hours and don't cover more than 50-60 miles with a pub stop every hour or so. :D

Aaron :)

I've done well past metric centuries, but not a non-metric one yet. I think it all comes down to riding conditions.
Wind, heat, hills, all can add time to the overall ride. A flat ride, with little wind and cool temps. will be a lot easier and thus faster than a ride in the aforementioned conditions.
So, one day seems to be reasonable for the miles to be completed and counted.

Replies made me laugh! Good Stuff. If someone promises beer at the end, the miles go by quicker.!

I asked the same question not all that long ago and got very similar advice. Now I consider a "century" to be 100-miles done with only brief breaks for food and water along with a stretch. My favorite soup and sandwich shop happens to be in one of my favorite bike shops about 45 miles from my home, so I have ridden there, had a 15-20 minute sit down lunch and ridden home, added a 10-mile cool down cruise around town and called it a century. I just did a charity century 101.9 miles in 6h 45m with some rain during the first hour and considerable headwinds during the last two and finished about with about 2/3 of the riders who finished ahead of me. I'm happy with that . . . for now.

Haven't done one, but I'm planning one and this answered all the questions I had. Now if I can just find someone that promises beer at the end.:thumb:

Most of the organized ones seem to have brews at the end...

Pack a cooler of your favorite brew and leave it in the car waiting for you. Or plan your ride, leave before the bar/pub opens and get back before they close.

Aaron :)

I see a potential problem there.

Make it so your house (or nearby) is the ending point. :thumb:

Why would it be a problem?

Aaron :)

These:

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/113324485
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/120544044

I'm fat and slow, but those are centuries.

I didn't realize people counting 1/4 centuries. I guess that gives me a reason to bike 25 miles this Saturday instead of the 20 I was planning on (longest ride so far has been 19.5 miles - which if I had known a the time I would have took a lap around the block to make it 20).

Woah what tool/gps thing does this? I WANT IT!

Garmin bike computers. Several models from 150 bucks to more than my bike costs. Very nice to have though, I'm certainly not knocking them.