I know a centruy ride is a 100 miles. While ridding earilier I was thinking does that 100 miles mean 100 miles non stop? How many hours are allowed for the 100 miles? is there a time limit. I was feeling pretty wiped out thinking, gee I stopped ridding yesterday because it was getting dark and did around 60 miles, and really beat the hell out of myself. Then I got up this morning and another 62 miles; hard miles; probably sould have taken it easy today, I hurt! So if I did the 120+ miles in a 24 hour period does that count as a century ride? I have the feeling is does not. let me know.....

First and foremost - Great job on the miles.

As for the rule of thumb that I use along with most of my riding buddies, it counts as a century if you do not go to seep between the sets of the ride.

So, if you ride 80, take a 2 hour break and ride another 20, you have a century.

If you ride 80, sleep for the night and ride another 20, you dont have a century.

Sounds like you still had a heck of a great run though.

Holly

I think most people think it is basically 100 miles in a day (no naps), and very few stops.
Generally starting off in the morning, maybe stop for a snack lunch, then back at it til' late afternoon.

Unless you are hard core, then it is 100 miles non-stop!!!

There are actual guidelines from an official organization. I don't remember who posted it or from what org, but something about doing a minimum of 10-15km/h.

Personally, I think if you do 30km/h, but take an hour nap in the middle, that's not a century.

VR, you should still be very impressed with your self since, IMO, it's easier to do 100miles in a day, than do 60, wake up and do 60 more.

Hey thanks Holly, yeah like most rides it was a blast. And yes I did sleep. Oh well maybe next time. I'm so sore; climbing steep hills yesterday as fast as I could, and today playing this game when I went through a metro area; I like to chase down cars, ride like my life depends on catching them or even pass em up. Lots of fast turns, stop and go, you know what I mean. Maybe I should go stretch.

Thanks, I think you might be right about the 60 & 60 because yesterday's 60 seemed a lot easier than today's. Maybe I should have recovered first? Sometimes I start to doubt myself when I'm ridding solo, in a group I know where I stand . lol. But when I'm plunking along all by myself mile after mile and start to wear down I think to myself, "man do I suck". I think I'll go clean my chain.

Take it easy on yourself, lol...I set off this morning to ride 50, and limped in after 33, not one single pedal stroke felt better than a fred on vacation...ugh...even downhills were slowwwww.

Last century I did, I only stopped once and felt great the entire team, with a lot of eating on the bike.
Yesterday, I set out for a century and didn't eat a thing. I was with a fast group trying to be macho. They were skipping the SAG's and so did I. AFter 65 miles, I could barely go anymore. I stopped for 30 minutes, then limped home teh last 15 miles at an avg. speed of about 17mph. Average speed for the ride was still 22, so that gives you an idea of how hard these guys were cookin. Lesson learned: don't try and be macho, cause your body will respond accordingly.

You're right, technically, it's not. But I would agree that what you did was harder - especially if you felt maxed out after the 62. Most organized century rides have a time limit, but usually just because there is a limit to how long they can have support volunteers patrolling the course or have traffic control. Yeah, I'd go with the no-sleep rule as being a century...centuries done as fun rides usually have numerous rest and a lunch break in, so just do it in one outing and you're gold.

Great job, by the way, on the miles

G'day,

There are no rules!.....however, to qualify as an 'audax' ride (international cycling organisation) any distance must be covered at an average speed of no less than 15kph. this means that you can have as many rests as you want, but your total elapsed time, (time from when you started the ride, to when you finished), must come in at an average 15kph, (9.38mph). therefore, to qualify as a 'century'....you have almost 11 hours, start to finish, to complete it....

cheers,

Hitchy

Not quite, but near enough for the imperial century.

The 15km/h minimum average in Audax events/randonnees applies to distances between 50 and 600km. Over 600km (say 1000, 1200, 1400), the minimum is 15km/h for the first 600km, then changes to a lower mininimum thereafter (it can be 11 or 13km/h) to take account of the additional sleep time required.

I consider a century 100 continuous miles. Stops to refill water or for stoplights are obviously fine, and maybe to run into a convience store for a power bar or something. By my standards, if you stop for any type of rest or recovery (More than 10 minutes) then it's not a century.

I personally think that a century is if you ride 100 miles on a given ride. meaning you don't come in "home" Example you leave at 6 AM and ride 30 miles..stop somewhere to rest..look at the world etc. get back on your bike ride 50 miles..stop and have a beer or food relax sit around take in the view then get back on the bike and ride20 miles back home. There is no time limit. I personally think if you are "out" cycling and don't stop being on a "bike trip" or sleep for an overnight somewhere in the woods or park then it could take you as long as you want as long as you are still on a "bike trip". But it is still a century. i remember years ago I went on a ride that was 130 miles it took us 15 hours to do. When on the bike we averaged 19 mph. Problem is it was a party ride and we spend 6 hours at a bar playing sand volleyball. To us we still did a century because we rode our bikes to point a to point b without retiring for the night.