Hello all!! I was just curious, how long does it usually take to do a century??
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Hello all!! I was just curious, how long does it usually take to do a century??
Please don't take this a flippant answer, but it depends. Honestly the time it takes can be anywhere from 8 or 10 hours to under 5, depending on your level of fitness, the speed you travel, the difficulty of the course (is it really hot, hilly, windy?) and the number and length of rest breaks you take.
Sorry! This question is kinda silly. I should have given a little more info. I'm new to this forum and new to biking. I'm looking into getting a road bike and eventually doing a century & wanted to know around about how long it would take and also if it's done over a two day stretch. Right now I own a modefied mtb, smaller wheels and clipless pedals. I ride 23 miles every other day and it takes me an hour and 42 minutes & was just curious on how long it would take a road bike. Thanks for your reply!!!
A century is generally not done over a 2 day stretch.
If you train properly, you can probably do it in 10 hours given your pace right now. You could put slick (non-knobby) tires on your MTB and do it, but you might be happier with a lighter bike.
Much will depend on your training and, as Eden said, the terrain and conditions of the event you choose.
I did my first century in 7.5 hours... and that included 4 rest stops :D
rest stops were probably 20min each or so...
Really, listen to the "it depends"-ers. DH and I did his first century a couple weekends ago (I had done one 20-some years ago so I don't know if it counts anymore). On about the same weekend, several people here posted about their first century completions.
If I were a competitive type I'd have felt very bad about our time (it was several hours more that the ride reporters). But, I'm not and, quite frankly, I'm quite pleased with our tortoise-like pace. Our pace was really good for us. We enjoyed the ride and had a great day.
Interestingly, our final time was about what I expected. As we increased our mileage before the ride, I kept track of our average speed on the long rides as well as kept track of how hilly the ride. Using that data I extrapolated what I thought our average speed would be, +/- for weather. We got a good tailwind on the final leg and finished a little faster, but within my guestimation.
So, keep riding, start keeping track and start learning how you respond to various terrains and conditions. Learning to read your conditioning will give you the best estimate of how long it will take you.
A century is done in one day.Quote:
Originally Posted by mllymcbtr
On a road bike, depending on the terrian and your speed... you could have a 12-22+ mph average. Just all depends on your fitness, how fast you can ride and how many rest stops you take and for how long.
I'm doing a century this coming weekend. We are riding from Dallas to Ft. Worth and then stopping for lunch. It's relatively flat and we are going to keep around a 15 mph average. That's about 6-7 hours riding without stops. Including lunch and rest stops, we are probably looking at being out for 9-10 hours.
Get a road bike, build up your fitness, and then you will know how fast you can do one as you will know what your average is at the end of your rides. Trust me, once you start riding you will figure out what you can do.
Good luck!
I have done four centuries and several 80-90 mile rides. The times range from a blistering 6 hours with stops to closer to 9 hours (for an 85 miler). The fast one was flat and I was in great shape, only needed 3 rest stops for water. The other was hilly but I was also very unprepared and HAD to take pretty much every rest stop after 40 miles and then spent a long time at the stop wondering if I could get back on the bike.
It all depends on the ride, the weather, the terrain, your physical condition, mental condition and how hard you want to go. Some people enjoy riding slow and soaking in the experience, nothing wrong with that. Some people are pushing to finish the ride quick, maybe set a personal best.