I did a ride today with a buddy of mine. He was going to a football match so i agreed to ride there with him, wait and ride back again. So we departed mine and cycled directly there, 23 miles (in 1hr 2 mins!) which virtually killed me but still. While i was sitting waiting for him i nearly froze to death so i did a really leisurely ride of 5 miles to keep warm at about 13 or so mph, then i got back feeling warmer and sat down for 30 mins. Then rode 23 miles home at a more leisurely pace - an average of 17.8mph. So my question is, in total this is 51 miles but can i count it as a half century ride? I've never clocked up a half century in a day before so it's more of a big deal to me than someone who does distances like this regularly and wouldn't care whether or not it counted.

cheers

Jon

Go ahead and count it. It's an accomplishment and you deserve to feel good about it. Down the road when half centuries are a regular thing, you might have a different attitude or perspective, but for now - enjoy it.

55/Rad

Sure why not...

When I am on a group ride we sometimes go 25 - 30 miles, have food and come back. To me it is 50 - 60 miles whether we stop or not...

Of course some miles are harder than others... i.e. my time trial this morning...

That's a great accomplishment! Its miles either way! I personally prefer the coffee shop metric century... 15-20 miles to the first coffee/donut stop. 15-20 miles to a bike shop followed by a couple blocks to the next coffee/donut shop and then ride home. When I used to live in Washington we would throw ferries into the mix.

I look at things this way. How many people can actually do what you did? I'm not talking in the cycling community. I'm talking among the general populace. I don't think 10% could get up and do 50 miles on a bike no matter how many stops they took. So, yes, you accomplished something. Keep it up.

Your first half century congratulations.

Yes you should count it.

Only if you're really sore.

Cole

Quick, go jump on your bike and ride eleven more miles, and you will have accomplished a METRIC CENTURY!

People get all tied up in knots about how to count miles. Count them any way you like - they are your miles, and you are in competition with no one but yourself, IMHO, and then only if you want to complete with yourself!

By the way, congrats!

[QUOTE=DnvrFox]Quick, go jump on your bike and ride eleven more miles, and you will have accomplished a METRIC CENTURY!

QUOTE]

I felt this way ^^^^^^^^^ after I finished my first 50 miler.
I felt great after the ride,and probably could have done it, but I had only planned 50 for that day. My previous long ride before that was 41 miles.

Count it.

Fifty miles is 50 miles. Should I send you one of my old half-century badges? Tell you what. If you're under sixteen or over fifty years old, let us know when you do a full century and I actually will send you a bona fide 1983 L.A.W. Sanctioned Century badge. Yes, I mean it--all the way to England. I imagine those badges are collector's items these days. They were always beautifully done. (But hey, be able to prove you really did it--and with panache! )

No, it doesn't count, but mostly cuz you went to a soccer game. If it had been women's soccer, you'd have gotten double miles.

Of course it counts! You rode 51 miles in a day. What else might you call it?

Sure, count it. Why not?

I would count it.

Really, it is all about what your definition is and what your goals are. In your case, the "breaks" you had were not that long and they were not of any real benefit, given the fact that you were freezing, they probably hindered you.

I generally count my "rides" as anything ridden during the same day and day is midnight to midnight. However, I can not remember the last time I had a significant break in a ride even something as long as a lunch stop. But I did use to go to morning club rides and evening club rides and I just combined the mileage.

However, I do not approve of riding in the afternoon and then early the next morning to sleeze in a century.