COWBOYCRAMER

What is a fast century time, what is average?

sorebutt

I would say the average would be 16mph which is a 6:30 hours..

delay

between 5-6 hours is decent. 5 is something to shoot for, 6 is lesiurely but not really slouching.

ed073

160km?

Anything under 5 hours is decent for a training ride.

'nother

I think it depends on the specific route, or at least some characteristics of it. Averages start to go way down when you throw in a lot of hills and/or long climbs.

Recent personal stories: I rode a 100 mile with about 5,000' of climbing in April in just under 7 hours. I was not in such great shape, just coming off an injury, and hadn't trained too much for it. It's not that great of a time. Contrast with last weekend's 100 mile with about 10,000' of climbing, which I did in . . . 7 hours (these are ride times, BTW; total times were similar too). Roughly same amount of time, but I consider the latter a much better result because of all the climbing. If I had the April one to do over again now I'm sure I could shave off a great deal of time because I'm much better conditioned now than I was then.

thewalrus

I've averaged 30.5km/h (18.95 mph) for 85km... Doing a century it would probably drop to around 17 mph.

Univega

Interesting.

I this months Bicycling magazine there is an article about a century ride.
The author did a century ride in 7 hours. Which I thought isn't bad for a first time. She mentioned she came in last and everyone was gone by the time she got
to the end.

'nother

I don't think 7 hours is bad for a first (or a fourth ) either, depending on the terrain. Maybe she started late. Any chance it was it a race, as opposed to a ride?

DinoShepherd

It depends.

For me the biggest variables are the other riders and the course

If I can get in a big group of hammer-dogs on a fast course, 4 hours is no problem.

Conversely, if one is riding mostly solo or have to do most of the pulling, the time will expand quickly.

-Z

Univega

'nother, Thanks for that. I didn't think it was too bad either. But from page 70 of the Sept issue:
"After seven hours, we crossed the finish line, dead last. The naked-leggers had vanished. The barbecue pit had shut down, but I had not.”

Does everyone that does these things average better than 20 mph?

'nother

Heh. I just rode a century with 10,000' of accumulated climbing in 7 hrs as mentioned above. We started early, passed a lot of people, and didn't get passed by many. I would be very, very, very surprised if any of those that did pass us managed to finish in 5 hrs or less. 6, maybe, but 5 on what was darn near a TdF mountain stage would have been quite an accomplishment for anyone but a pro.

So I would have to guess that this person's "bad" 7 hr time must've been on a fairly flat course and/or with lots of big, fast packs to latch onto and keep up speed. I've never been on such a ride out here; one of these days maybe but I like the climbing

simplyred

Hmm... 100 km for me... around 4 1/2, 5 hrs...
So..
A 100 mile ride would be 10 hours...
HAHAHAHA...

crosscut

No, I don't. I usually average somewhere between 16-18 in the summer for a century but faster in the fall and spring due to the heat difference. Averages in the spring were around 18-20. Next century ride is in four weeks and our goal (MS Team) is to average at least 18 with a varying experienced group.

Alot of that depended on the route and terrain. Long rolling hills vs. climbing vs. flat.... makes a big difference. I personally prefer anything other than flats bec/ there are no breaks on the flats.

invincibleone

My personal best is five hours, nine minutes & fifty-eight seconds, this gave me an average of 19.4 mph. It was on the Santa Ana river path, which means good tail wind out and a strong headwind on return; I like to think they cancel each other out but the head wind really sucks when your over 80 miles. This was done solo without anyone to draft behind. I want to break that magical five hour mark before christmas.

Univega

Again, From the magazine on page 70:

“And the hills got steeper! As the inclines battered us and I peppered Ray with questions, he admitted he had never encountered a tougher century”

I have a metric century planned in Sept. I may have to do a Century ride a few weeks after.
I haven't done one in years. If I do it in 7 hours, I will be happy.

'nother

Heh, guess I'll have to get a copy and read it myself

Just seems hard to believe. Even the flatter centuries I've done (5,000' of climbing), there were plenty of people finishing in 8, 9, even 10 hours, maybe longer.

Help me out before I go pick up a copy: which Century ride was it? Got me curious about the stats on it now . . .

Ostuni

same here! today's 'below average' numbers:

100k
4:20:33

ac29593

When you guys talk time, do you count time in saddle, or total ride time including breaks and stops? Im assuming you are not riding 100miles without ever stopping for a short rest. When I was doing my metric century the other week I still stopped about every 15 miles for ten minutes or so to relax and take a break, get some drinks, eat a bit.

Univega

Colorado, if I remember correctly

Univega

Interesting point. I keep a log and list time in the saddle as my Astrale 8 gives me that time. Total time I start and end, I don't always know.

'nother

I keep track of both. Times above are ride times, total times are longer. Some are persnickety about this and insist that the only measure that counts is total time, not ride time, which is understandable.

DannoXYZ 

Our UCSB TTT group decided to practice on the Solvang Century one year since it was mostly wide-open rolling hills. Figured we'd hardly ever get the chance to do a long, policed course with feed zones, so we got out the TT bikes, took the disc wheels off and went at it. Got in at around 3:48. Thought we were hot sh*t, hah! The next month at the S.B. Stage Race, Ekimov and his Russian Olympic team schooled us on the 20-mile TTT with a time 5 minutes faster!

TheKillerPenguin

you mean you only barely averaged over 25mph? Sissy

DannoXYZ 

I bet it was one of the guys wearing pink socks that slowed us down! Don't wear PINK! Not only does it make you slow, it'll make you STERILE as well!!!

pinky

Oh ****...