mattm

This summer I switched my cyclo-computer over to km/h from mph, mostly after watching the Tour de France and wanting to get more familiar with metric units. Now that I'm used to it I'll never go back, at least cycling-wise.

(btw I suspect that many riders don't realize that most (all?) cyclo-computers are km/h by default, causing n00bs to say things like, "I've been riding for two weeks and my average speed is 28 mph. Is that good?")

Which do you use on your bike, mph or km/h?

Dubbayoo

I have something called trainer math. I consider 6.2 miles on the trainer to be 10 miles on the road, since I don't coast or draft.

Machka 

Kilometers, of course. What else would I use??? Metric is the offical measurement system in my country. We haven't used miles here in over 30 years.

And of course cycle-computers come up in kilometers ... most countries use kilometers. I can only think of two who still use the archaic miles system.

CharlieWoo

I hacked my computer to use light years.

Sirrobinofcoxly

This subject has already been covered. The correct answer was kilometers. Period.

CharlieWoo

Light years says I. Maybe Parsecs for the really fast guys.

halfspeed

On a trainer you are, essentially, getting a perfect draft because there is no wind resistance. Your math is backwards.

toucci

That's on rollers. On a trainer the resistance increases with speed to mimic wind resistance.

permanentjaun

I will stick with mph because it's all mental. 100 km is shorter than 100 miles, but your brain sees 100 and thinks you did a good job. I'd rather use mph and have to work harder to maintain my psyche. It should make me a better cyclist right?

haimtoeg

I use miles because that's the system where I live. I was born in a metric country and miss using that system daily.

CastIron

Knots. In a paceline I'm in you'll periodically hear a call to "mark the twain" as well. My cyclometer is an abacus and sundial.

uMP2k

What the hell is a mile - never heard of it. How many metres in one of them...?

halfspeed

"My car gets 40 rods to the hogshead and that's the way I likes it."
--Grampa Simpson

ZXiMan

I don't even use distance anymore.... just hours on the bike.

Strong Bad

Kilometers aren't cool because metric centuries for wussy.

mattm

interesting - i'm thinking the opposite, by switching to metric. the distance ticks by faster, which i like. plus when you see a distance of 161 km, it feels like you've done more than 100 miles.

and my goal is to reach 100 km/h - yeah its the same as saying, "i hit 62 mph today," but i just like the way "one hundred" sounds. (i hit 84 km/h this weekend, so i'm getting there)

and lastly, i'd like to ride the 2011 Paris-Brest-Paris, so i might as well get used to metric.

CharlieWoo

Ah, Time x Effort

yes, I've heard that before

permanentjaun

No, we're saying the same thing. With km, the distance ticks off "quicker" meaning you get gratification easier. When you're using miles it takes "longer" to get the satisfaction of getting to 50 or 100. You work harder to get the satisfaction of reaching 100 in miles versus hitting it kilometers.

We're saying the same thing.

joecool2727

miles on my mountain bike and km on the road bike

Pajaro

Miles because I live in the United States. If I lived someplace that designated distance in kilometers, I would use that system.

Machka 

Have you started riding brevets yet? Have you been over to the Long Distance forum?

Yeah, it's a good idea to get used to kilometers if you're going to travel just about anywhere, but it does help to "speak the language" on the PBP. While you're getting used to metric, don't forget to pick up some French.



PS. I rode the 2003 PBP, and part of the 2007 PBP.

jkizzle

you are suicidal.

zonatandem

Certainement!

Velo Vol 

I'm an American. What kind of question is this to ask during a time of war?

mattm

i live there too - which makes it all the more fun to switch!

try it, you never know... plus i don't think it's against the law to use a different system. =]

i'm doing a intro ride with the seattle rando's this saturday, so yeah i'm about to dive in. with a bunch of unsupported centuries and a supported double, i'm hoping i'll have a running start. although the thought of 1200 km (or ~745 mi) still sounds crazy, but would make a great story at least.

also, i've started studying french cycling terms. how do you say, "on your left!" in french?