What do others typically average on flat roads? what about hilly terrain?

On a 20 mile ride? what about 50? what about 100?

What is a reasonable time on a century?


I am considering attempting my first century in February (Palm Springs) and I'm wondering what I should be aiming for.

Thanks

I solo century around 5.5 hours....Shoot for 7 and you'll be pleasantly surprized when you beat it.

Edit: I should add that my century loop includes 2 Montana sized mountain passes and rolling farm country.

for a 20, I get 23.5 +- about1 mph. (group)

for a 50, closer to 20. Yeah, about 20 if I'm feeling good.

100's I haven't done enough to give an average. I'd be impressed with 5hrs, and (really) jealous at 4.

(all with a group, by the way)

Palm springs in 5:45 solo, not pushing the pace.

Solo flat 5:45, Sa Trail, Pacific Coast Hwy.

Hilly best 7:38 (7:03 ride time) On "Ride Around the Bear" (10,000 ft of climbing) Not bad for a 220 lb clydesdale! I know some other riders, half my weight, that swear they train much harder but finished over an hour back!

Nobody mentioned wind. It is probably one of, if not THE biggest variable. I sometimes average 16 mph on a 20 mile ride in very windy conditions. In perfect conditions i can get near 20 mph avg.

My slowest century was around 16.2 mph. My fastest one was 18.9 mph over the exact same course. Difference? Wind!

depends really on how much you stop, traffic conditions, headwinds, etc. the few centuries i've done had been in the 7-8 hour range total time, including all the stops.

remember though - you'll feel entirely different at mile 80 then you do at mile 20 or 30. you must learn to pace yourself otherwise the last half of your century will be painful.

I'm attempting my first century this Saturday. I'd say just aim to finish. After all, to finish first, you first must finish.

Average solo century with around 5,000' of climbing I get 5.5 hours in the saddle with about 6 hours total overall. My fastest century so far was this year New Years Day ride saddle time of 4:43 with about 15 minutes of total rest time, this ride had ~2,800' of climbing.

Smokin'!

Holy smokes! ....good job...

^^^The threat of rain must have been a strong motivator.

No kidding........that ride really turned out to be a hammerfest!

Good thing I was a bit hung over and didn't make it on New Year's morning.....I would have dropped like a fly within 5 minutes into the ride...

Good Quote!

My first metric I wanted to do > 15.0 avg and to finish. I did both, barely. To my credit I was on a 30+lb Schwinn with 90psi tires. Did most of it closer to 17-18 but the last few miles at much slower killed me. Temps had climbed and I was out of water.

I averaged 16mph on my first metric century this past year (solo). But this was on my Mtn Bike.

It was also the 2005 Seagull Century. If only I had brought shampoo

-D

This was not by choice . If you didn't keep up, the train was leavin' without you! We did have the benefit of riding in a pack for all but the last 15 miles or so. We (Pico and I) probably could have knocked a few more minutes off, but we stopped when one of the riders knock over an old lady on a hybrid. The rest of the pack didn't stop (pretty lousy, IMO), so we we're on our own for the last leg.

Don't worry about time for your first century. In my first century ride well back into the previous century I was on a pace to finish in about 5:10 total elapsed time at the 83 mile rest stop riding almost the entire ride solo. I pulled into the rest stop just as the lead group for the ride was leaving. A few miles later I bonked so severely that I finished in 6 hours and 30 minutes. Learn from my mistake. Take it easy on your first one and leave a bit of "gas" in the tank. On the next one you can go for a fast time, but you will have a better feel for how hard to go.

i did hotter n' hell in august in 4:31 with no stopping. 100 miles strait through with a 22.5 mph average. There was a good bit of wind when a storm hit at about mile 65 and it was headwind all the way in. my friend and i bridged the gaps between groups all day long and finally finished with a group of guys that did the metric, and we all sprinted for the finish line. next year were shooting for a sub 4 hour centry. if any of you guys are gonna be there for it we could use a few more in the group.

Michael

I rode in my first Metric Century ride last spring (The COBRA Okanagan Shuswap Century Ride) and averaged 15 miles/hr (24 km/hr.) on a solo effort. I was riding a 26 lb hybrid with upright handlebars and 60 psi 700x37 TT2000 tires. The temperature was 35 degrees C (95F) and one long steep hill actually pushed me down into my low range on the triple. Can't wait to ride it again this year on my new Lemond!

I did a very fast first 100 in a double, finishing in 4:15 with the fast pack. Then I had to get on the bike again and do another 100. I could barely move. This was the Seattle to Portland ride, back in the 80s.

20 miles under an hour
50 right around 2.5 hours
century 5.5+ depending on route

all of these solo

dont worry about how long you can do it it in, just work at keeping a steady pace and make sure you are eating and drinking enough, on your first few centuries just finishing without feeling like a corpse is enough of an acheivment by itself.

First century was this October, 2005 Seagull Century. As mentioned above it was WET... real wet and windy with 3-4 inches of rain during the ride that day.

I've never ridden faster despite the conditions. I had help from a pretty fast group (Hartford Velos) and managed to hang with them all day. We were pushing about 23-25mph in the rain on the last 5-7 miles. It was all I could do to stay in touch with the 5 or 6 of them. Thanks guys if any of you read this.

5hrs. 29mins. ride time for 104.6 miles (got a little lost in the first 20 mins.)
6hrs. 35mins. total time which had 3 stops for food/drink/talk/figuring out where we were
19.08 mph average
3,400 calories burned

The first thing you should know is that people lie. Every time I have been in a charity ride where they start you by estimated time, I am amazed at the people who are starting ahead of me. If you tell the truth, you spend the first hour passing people going incredibly slowly.

My first century was in 1988, many since then. Usually 6 1/2 to 8 hours total time depending on hills and wind. I try to enjoy and socialize during the ride and not try to set records. I would rather take more time and feel good and save hammering for the shorter rides. You can do it if you eat, drink, and spin.

Wait for your second wind too. Almost every time I do over 60 miles, I end up in a world of hurt, but then that last 5-10 miles come and it's 30+mph all the way in.