Quote Originally Posted by arielmoon View Post
I just started riding and logging my miles in May. My terrain is rolling hills.

I ride 20-30 miles a day on the weekdays averaging 18-19.6 mph by myself.

Group ride on Monday is 28 miles, and depending how many people come and which group I end up with, we average 20-22 mph.

I have taken some longer rides on the weekends 43 miles at 18.6 mph, 33 miles at 19.2 mph, and 55 miles at 17.5 mph.

For next weekend's century, my first, I am hoping to be in the 15-16 mph range.
Whenever I find myself hating you, I just tell myself I'm going to BE you some day and then I have to love you! You're a total inspiration! You've only been riding since July?!! Surely you were pretty fit before you started cycling.

I don't think you'll have any trouble at all getting a 15-16 average on your century with the pace you are doing your shorter rides at and you may, quite possibly, do it faster. It depends, of course, on if you get into a good group, as well as the amount of climbing.

My fastest rides were when I was 100% pulled by my "super cycling man" husband. He pulled me and two friends on a 66 mile ride to the beach and back at 18 mph. I was ecstatic at my time, even being pulled. I worked SO hard and kicked my butt! A week later, he pulled the three of us on what was me and my girlfriend's first century. I ended up with a 16.3 average. Since you are already faster than me, even not being 100% pulled, I don't see any reason you wouldn't get at least a 16 average, unless there's a lot more climbing or you have weather issues or something. I had about 3,000 feet of climbing and near perfect cycling weather ... other than the major headwinds the last 10 miles.

Good luck on your century and let us know how it goes.