Edna, thanks! I think I should be faster on the shorter rides, because I know on the longer rides, I will be slower. I don't think I'd have a problem actually riding a century from the standpoint of mileage; it's just from the standpoint of spending that much time in the saddle and finishing so late, I want to be faster. I did a metric last year and was dead last for that. I don't mind being dead last, but would like it to be before my friends have given me up for dead, turned in a missing person's report, driven several hours home, and been asleep for half the night before I finish, as would likely be the case for a century at this point.

If I can sustain 15 MPH regularly on 20-25 mile rides, I have a greater chance of averaging at least 10 MPH over 100 miles. I'd like the greater chance!

I've been thinking about buying a lighter, faster bike, but it occurs to me that what is on the bike could be lighter by way more than the difference between my current bike and any I might buy, so maybe I should concentrate on that, and simply pushing myself to ride faster, even if I do buy a lighter, faster bike!

ETA: Probably no riding for me today unless it's near/after sunset, as we are under a heat advisory.