Randochap

Yep. think about it ... 10 centimetres sounds way better than 4 inches.

Dubbayoo

How un-American is the track Madison? also called the American, but raced on a track measured in metrics?

tkm

Anytime the words "French" and "bravery" are used in the same sentence, then you know your argument is pretty bad.

Flak

Americans don't like change (Obama being a recent exception).

It would cost a lot of money to switch though. The USA does have the 3rd largest population in the world, and a massive parcel of land. Just changing the speed signs on the highways would cost billions.

I thought it odd when i moved here that everything was still imperial, but meh, who cares?

Velo Vol 

100 miles = a Freedom Century

Flak

Apparently the words "history" and "Americans" don't mesh either....since many have apparently forgotten the French are more or less responsible for the USA's existence.

You use metric tools though, so I assume you were kidding

mattm

There are large contingents of measurement rebels in cities throughout the US, secretly using foreign units right here on our own soil. I saw a special about it on Faux News.

Think about it - as you pedal down the MUP, there just might be rebels among you, waiting for the right time to strike and open up the US to a superior form of length measurement. The mile marker might say 100, but their cyclocomputer reads 161. Ever think of why your CatEye computer defaulted to kilometers? They're planning for the takeover.

Some have said that certain organizations even report their 200k ride stats to foreign agents, and receive medals in return for their metric doubles, triples, quads, and 600's too. I think Rusa might be that agency.

Randochap

You mean those darn Frenchies with their kilos of pommes frites?

rollin

I think you mean "Twenty leagues, two miles, one furlong, twenty-one yards and five inches" (give or take ).

Nobody here calls it a "metric century". We call it a "metric". A "century" is still considered a 100 miles.

(p.s. I am a Brit living in a "metric" land but at least they drive on the correct side of the road here )

RecceDG

Actually, the intent was to make the meter equal to one ten-millionth the distance of a quadrant of the earth. They did the best they could with the measuring techniques at the time. Subsequent re-definitions have been done with wavelengths of coherent light and the speed of light in a vacuum, with the intent to not change the redefined length much from the original.

The one ten-millionth of a quadrant is useful for fitting maps to the earth on an even number, but is small enough to form a useful length for daily use.

Ironically enough, notwithstanding the anti-metric Yank bluster, the US Armed Services have been exclusively metric for quite some time. The MGRS co-ordinate system used on maps is metric (41R QR 5461 0023 defines a 10 square metre patch of ground) and the mil (a measure of angle) is the distance subtended by 1 metre at 1000 metres - very useful for estimating distances and adjusting fire - plus you get 6400 of them in a circle, which allows for more precise bearings than with 360 degrees.

Ironic, because the people who you'd call upon to defend you from the pinko commie metric hordes would themselves use metric.

I'm with bt - there is no such thing as a "metric century". There is the Century - 100 km - and the Imperial Century - 162-ish km - discussed purely for historical reasons; much the same way one might discuss the past results of velocepede races or the tire sizing on penny-farthings.

DG

Quijibo187

so, lets all go do a nautical century, then we'll have traveled a minute.

Moximitre

I see what you did there.

DwayneS

There is also the Klick, which in the US military is a kilometer.

Tulex

Why is distance even considered. I hear people talk about total watts, much more impressive to me than distance. Some people work a lot harder doing a metric than others doing 100 miles. And it's not like the distance gets you anywhere. You all end up back where you started.

JeffS

Not to anyone in this country. Maybe to Canadians, but you already know how much we care about what you guys think.

Velodad

cubit

Randochap

Well, it depends if you are doing an out and back route. Still, it's not so much the distance as the journey. The 1200 kilomtres of Paris-Brest-Paris gets you though a hundred fascinating villages, thronged with adoring fans. It threads forest and farm, valley and mountain. It leads you along rivers and curves around the sea shore. It demands you climb more than 10,000 metres.

And the café and pommes frites are beyond comparison.

umd

Watts is an instantaneous measurement, like speed. You can have an average Watts like an average speed but that doesn't necessarily mean much either. You would probably be more interested in kilojoules, which is work. What sounds more impressive, 200 miles, 321 km, or 6,300 kj? It's a bigger number, sure, but can anyone relate to it? And a bigger person would have done more "work" but it doesn't mean they worked harder...

Tulex

Well, most people are doing out and backs with their centuries. What you describe sounds more like touring.

Tulex

I knew I wanted a different term, couldn't think of it, as I don't use it. But to me, the work done is more impressive than distance.

Machka 

+1

And the 5000 km I rode in Australia in 2004 got me all over New South Wales, Victoria, ACT, Tasmania, and Queensland to see things like the Great Ocean Road, the Great Barrier Reef, all sorts of varied scenery from mountains to farm land to the most gorgeous beaches I've ever laid eyes on, and allowed me to meet and/or get to know a lot of people ..... including my husband.

I really don't care what my total watts on that journey were.

umd

Power junkies would probably want to know the TSS... of course after a certain point they cease to be impressed and just think you are stupid.

Tulex

I agree if you are talking about just riding. I'm referring to people that use distance as a measure of accomplishment. Sure, it can be a goal, and is an accomplishment to do either kind of century, but it doens't really speak about how hard you worked.

Tulex

Man, did you lose me with that sentence. I'll start with what is tss.

Machka 

Then you've got to do more. Do a double century ..... ride a 600K ...... ride a 1200K. Then you'll know you worked hard.