[Closed] How long for your first century?

I did one many many years ago when touring. took around 12 hours. Is that what you mean?

Did my first one a month or two back at 52.

Did a day trip to Dieppe and a 100 mile loop from the ferry - probably the best day on a bike I've had. As you say, not quite sure why I waited so long.

Only did it once and that was for a charity bike ride. I cycled there and back so it was probably 110 miles all told - daggers in the legs by the end of it. Also got sunburnt on my thighs.

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was actually a bit more than a century but did start and finish in the dark - had to nurse mrs antigee's riding partner as far as first available train then some wild weather

When I was doing a lot more road riding and a few sportives I just sort of fell into it. There are quite a few of that length. My LEJOG was basically 10 centuries back-to-back.

Was close this weekend and covered 93 miles. Was really targeting a climbing goal of 10k feet, but at 93 miles its close enough for now especially since it was so hilly but still a goal to tick off. Took me 8.5hrs but not carrying any baggage, loads of opportunities to stop en route for refreshments so no need to load myself up.

I did my first century aged 19, someone in the club persuaded me to do a 100 mile audax (my usual cycling at the time was 10 & 25 mile TTs). Back then audax route info was vague directions/points of interest and (being used to mostly cycling up and down dual carriageways) I went off course and ended up doing 118 miles - still my longest ever ride 25 years later. Personally I've never enjoyed rides much over 60-70 miles, they just seem a chore after then but I guess it depends on what you train for.

For a first go I was pleased with my time. 6hr15 when I ticked through 100. It was very flat though only 5k ft elevation.

not counting knocking around on bikes as a kid, I'd been back into biking for almost 15 years, and commuting seriously for about 8 years by the time i ticked of my first century as part of a 2 day charity ride from coast to coast. 8hr 15 riding time, took about 11 hours elapsed. Not done one since, it's not really something I aspire to. Riding's more about the company and the scenery than the distance (I do aim for strava climbing challenges as I think the climbing helps my fitness which helps me enjoy riding)

I used to ride 100 miles + every Saturday and Sunday whenever I could. I considered anything less not worth the effort..

That was some time ago mind...

I've never managed one. Furthest is about 95 miles on a road bike. Hoping to set it straight this year doing the SDW (plus 10 miles from home to the start).

Never have and never will. Get bored after 50 miles or so.

Used to take meno time at all as a v young cyclist at age of 7-12yrs.

Nowadays more like 3-4ish days.

Always surprise myself though how quickly I get home after 25miles mind.

Kicking myself I didn’t stay out longer!!

I’ve never managed one. Furthest is about 95 miles on a road bike.

Werent you tempted to add on the 5 after getting so close?

I did the Fairies Fairly Flat 150 a couple of years ago and I thin k that took about 9 1/2 hours elapsed. I was a bit dismayed at the end and rode around the block a few times at the finish to get just over 100 miles. I wanted to do a 200km after that as I didn't feel too bad. Still haven't done more than 100k since though......

Can't remember how long my first took (only time I've done a 100 mile sportive, but with a lengthy stop at the feed station) and most of the rest have been untimed club/training rides. Only two properly timed 100 mile TTs - 5.23 for my first attempt and 4.58 yesterday for my second.

Did a couple of 100 mile sportives, pedal for scotland being the last. About 113 miles and not much over 6 hours. Was proper sore after though, neck went.

I've never done one in miles but I've done a few in km (70-odd mile round to trip to my mam's and back) so I'm counting them, what with this being 2019 and metric and all that shebang. They took me around 7 hours to do and a couple of days to get over 😆

Bought first road bike in 2006, first century was in 2009.

First double century was... 2 days ago.

first and only one was when i was 15 on the road- 30 years ago.

I did 60 miles in bowland last week and felt pretty good with that, I feel like I could have gone further. I'm going to sign up to the bowland Sportive at the end of December and do the standard 81 miles. Then aim for the 100 next year.

First one in 2015 (RideLondon) when I was 41, after riding bikes since for ever. Since then I've done one a year (2016 RideLondon, 2017 VeloBrum, 2018 Dunwich Dynamo, 2019 VeloBrum). I'll probably keep to one a year, gives something to aim for.

Once I started getting into riding serious and not just occasionally riding mountain bikes or bombing about on a BMX, I quickly seen these things as a challenge and wanted to know how far I could take it. Probably did my first century within the first couple of years, shortly after purchasing my first road bike. Naturally gravitated towards the more scenic routes too, which took me over some seriously hilly terrain. I remember it well, felt like a massive achievement at the time.

Werent you tempted to add on the 5 after getting so close?

Yes except the person I was riding with was done in.

I did have to do a couple of laps around the industrial estate before heading home to get mine.

Did my first century a few months after properly getting into road cycling in 2015 and not just using the road bike for commuting. Took 6h50 for a hilly Peak District route and nearly killed me. Have done many centuries since. Two years later I did my first (and so far only) double in 12h50 for 210 miles. Currently loving the mountain bike too much to use rare free days for long distance road riding.

About 6 and a half hours if memory serves. Since then I've ridden a lot more. Fastest solo is 3:56. Fastest group ride is 4:06 in Ride London. Typical is sub five and a half hours, but I tend to ride longer now - 225 km loops. Fastest longer ride is 281 miles in 12 hours. Fastest triple century was 16 hours but was a DNF). I was hoping for a triple century this year in 12 hours, but illness took its toll on my training.

Nothing silly hilly.

Never done one. Lots of 80 milers, biggest ride so far was 88 miles with over 8000 ft of climbing. Took me 6 hrs with a further 30 min for cake stop.

100 miles on the flat would bore the crap out of me however.

Tour of wessex last year, first day was 105 miles. Took me 10 hours ish and I missed the last feed station and the cut off time!!

Second day was 120 miles..........I went to Bristol with the wife and kids instead!!

I have never done a century.

I did 3 consecutive 90+ mile days last year cycle touring and also did a few 90+ single day rides. Planning on a cycle tour next year averaging 100 miles a day but it has never been a target for me.

Done two so far this year. One in the Derbyshire Dales/White Peak, 7 hours at 14.2 mph. Was more than a little dehydrated as I only set off with 1x bottle thinking I'd either only go for a short ride or stop at a cafe. But the intended stop was closed so I didn't get a rest until a pub at 80 miles by which point a pint of lemonade and a refilled bottle didn't even touch the sides.

Second was actually two mid-week clubuns with a lunch break at home! 50 miles on the front of the slow group at 17mph (flat route), followed by 50 being towed along with a faster group at 17.2mph (much hillier route).

Those were only about a fortnight apart so fitness was comparable, just shows what an impact route choice, fueling and someone else taking turns at the front has!

As for boredom, really? Find a nicer route! If it's a long day (hard route, lack of fitness) then it can be uncomfortable towards the end when the body is pretty much stuck in zone 1 burning fat and any sort of hill elicits a scream from your legs, but I wouldn't say it was boring!

Just think of it as 4x back to back 25 miles rides, take them easy and eat and drink a lot, I find supermarket "nutrigrain" style bars the most palatable (i.e. not too sweet like cereal bars, not greasy like flapjack and don't melt) when you're trying to eat 2-3 an hour for 6 hours!

It's just a number.

But it's important to know why you're doing it. Are you racing, or is it for fun?

If it's the first, look away now.

The way I approach a long ride is based on advice I was given when young. That was to break the ride up into chunks.

Rest 5 minutes in every hour, and stop for a proper feed every 3. Aim to average 10mph including stops. (That was for in the Highlands - I don't know what the norm for elsewhere would be)

Once you can do that easily, you can up the target average, but the whole point is you should feel capable of doing more at the end of it, not aching and wrung out.

I still do 3 or 4 centuries a year following that advice, but averages are getting slower because I like to stop longer.

That said there's no reason you can't set a lower average, but enough daylight hours then becomes a problem.

Remember it's supposed to be enjoyable.

Racers can look back now - sorry, I can't help you. 🙂

Just think of it as 4x back to back 25 miles rides

I cannot do this. I have to break it up into odd numbers so I don't get half way. So I use thirds. Halfway is such a psychological barrier for me, as it just makes you realise you have to do everything you have done so far all over again, urrghhhh.
However two thirds of the way and you've done more than you have left to go, its easier.

My first century was actually 150miles, straford upon avon to snowdon, on an old track bike, fitted with brakes and a freewheel but still single speed. All done with a huge dollop of youthful ignorance (I was 15yo), don't remember how long it took me but I do remember getting told off by my mum for not letting her know I'd arrived safely. Still the furthest I've ever ridden in a day & next year is the 40th anniversary so I really aught to try and beat it. 😕

Yes except the person I was riding with was done in.

Ditto 156km on the tandem last year 😃

i did my first 100 back n 1990 when i was 15 on my 1988 dawes ascent mtb. cycled from devizes to reading and back. i think it took me 7 hours 15 mins to do. got back in time to watch tdf on channel 4.

Didn’t take me too long from starting road cycling to doing my first century, took me about 15 years to do my first century on a mtb though.
I’ve done quite a lot now, like others on here I’d do them every weekend. Longest ride was 220 miles and 10000 feet, only timed 206 of it as that was to the start line and was saving my garmin. Took 17 hours, should have been 14, riding buddy snapped a gear cable and had to ride the last 80 miles in the one gear. To make matters worse we had one support vehicle that left us to go with the rest of the club who had carried on. We couldn’t get it into an easier gear so he had to grind it out.
Went for a century yesterday but was too hot, managed 80 miles, 6000 feet of climbing, but it was 36 degrees. That was 5 hours 49, the heat was brutal in the mountains.

Nothing like jumping in at the deep end, my one and only century covered ~9000 feet of elevation May 2018, up 13(?) cat3/4 hills between Bishop's Waltham, Hawkley and South Harting.

Elapsed time 9hrs17mins
Moving time 7hrs33mins

Rucksack containing plenty of food/drink/clothing layers on my back really hampered me on the climbs, massively reduced how quickly I could lose heat and extra weight to carry up the hills. Nearly quit before it really started, lost almost 30mins fixing a puncture after having a mare getting the tyre back on the rim!

That was to break the ride up into chunks.

This is absolutely vital. It's just four 25 mile rides. How fast do you ride 25 miles. Aim for steady effort all the way through. You really do not want to die at the end. Long rides are exercises in eating and drinking rather than endurance.

But breaking a ride down to 12 back-to-back sub-hour 25's really does not have a nice ring to it!

Did my first century in 2013 (on a hybrid) and since then I’ve got the bug for doing long, crazy endurance rides. I also race in time trials so although I’ll do the short 10 and 25mile ones I find the longer (50,100 and 12hr) suit me better due to my body conditioned to the longer stuff. Got some big races this summer so I’ve been banging out ton plus rides (on both the road bike and TT bike) nearly every weekend.(22 this year up to now)

I cannot do this. I have to break it up into odd numbers so I don’t get half way. So I use thirds. Halfway is such a psychological barrier for me, as it just makes you realise you have to do everything you have done so far all over again, urrghhhh.
However two thirds of the way and you’ve done more than you have left to go, its easier.

Good point, although handily my map screen on the garmin doesn't show any other data so it's a nice surprise when I flick back to the numbers and see "ohh I'm over half way".

Also, don't split it numerically. My Derbyshire century was split:
Calke - Ashbourne 32 miles, flat to rolling and about 1/4 the time.
Ashbourne - Mermaid - Mostly long drags uphill, The mermaid comes at about 50miles and half the time
Mermaid -Ashbourne - Mostly steep valleys, only 68 miles to this point but about 3/4 time.
Ashbourne to home - As the first 1/4.

The worst bit is getting back to Ashbourne having only done about 70 miles (and feeling pretty broken), but knowing the next split is much much faster is a nice mental boost! Although I was pretty beat up by that point so only just picked up the pace slightly!

Epicyclo got it spot on.

Spent a year doing quite a few centuries as part of a long tour and having a break every hour for a five min biscuit and natter with my riding partner followed by a longer lunch break served us very well.

Did my first one by accident when I was 18 back in 1995 and trying to prove I was ‘independent’. Was on a pink Raleigh mustang. Those were the days...

Completed my first road century last year be on the Ride to the Sun. 103 miles 6hr54. Then a 25 mile ride to the pick up point.

Before that my first (and only mtb) century was on the Kielder 100. That very nearly broke me, I think that was about 12hrs, IIRC 11000ft climbing. I thought my arse was bleeding by the end.

If you want to set a good time and press on, then it's a different game to just chilling out. If the latter, take your time, eat, relax, pick a cool route, don't worry about it. You only have to average 10mph for ten hours, it's easy.

However fast you go, your biggest issues are food, riding position and contact points. I've got a fairly racy position on my road bike now cos it feels really good generally, but after 4 hours or so my neck and shoulders hurt.

I did my first one over twenty years ago, on a MTB with the fork locked out and the tyres pumped hard. It's a lot easier on a road bike! Furthest this year was 260 miles.

Like Nobody my first was an in the deep-end job, Fred Whitton 4 Seasons. 13 hours out about 10 hours riding time. This was a warm-up for Dunwich Dynamo! I think I may have approached this in the wrong way! I was around 50 too.

Today, actually. Oldham to Lytham and back. Ended up being just over 200km, 1578m of climbing and taking 7:57. I’m happy with that as a few years back I was 152kg. 101kg this morning. The furthest I’ve done before is 137km in the CW125 sportive so it’s a big step up.
Loads of hydration tabs. 4 chic chip brioche rolls, chippy, 2 pork pies, three full fat cokes and a bag of skittles.

My first was one our Council organises each September - the Hell o' The North. Starts and finishes in Darlington, passes through Hawes, Kirkby Stephen and Egglestone so not flat. First time was on an MTB with commuter tyres, second time was single speed.

Also did the Kielder 100 off-road twice, both single speed.

My longest ride was 118 miles from Darlington to Rothbury.

My 1st was La Marmotte. Was also my 1st ride in big mountains. So 7hrs 2mins if we’re counting.

10 years from when I first started MTBing. 107 miles, at night, into a monsoon on the Exmouth Exodus. 6 hours 12mins on my trusty Niner RLT9 1*11 Alfine Commuter with 37 tyres, guards and a rack. Made it with 7% GPS battery remaining and my lights on emergency flash.

I’ve done a few since then, my biggest this year is 126miles on a hire bike in San Diego in January. T’was ace! Hot, but ace. My GPS actually did run out on this one, about 20 miles short of the finish - had to navigate using the sun and the ocean :-).

If you're not racing take your most comfortable bike.

I've done 200km audaxes in the Highlands on things like an upright singlespeed rodbrake roadster, my 3 speed high bar shopping bike, as well as on my dropbar bikes.

It's far nicer on the upright bikes with their sprung Brooks saddles and only about 30mins to an hour longer, and that may be down to enjoying the scenery more.

I've still not done one yet.
Longest ride was 100K. It took over 8 hours.
But it was in the Peak District and included things like Jacobs Ladder and Cave Dale - Not exactly the easiest place to get mileage!
I'm not really into long distances rides - Don't you find a ride becomes less fun and more of a chore when it goes past a certain point ?

Yup. 75-85miles is usually that point for me, after that it becomes more of a mission than a hobby. But, to me, that’s what a century is, a mission, a target. It’s still fun in its own way.

Speed is the killer of range. 100k can be done at 18mph fairly easily, 100miles...not so much. Not for me anyway. I tend to ride solo on these things, so there’s no aero assist, but also no extra mechanicals.

after that it becomes more of a mission than a hobby

Better to turn it into an adventure. My longest ride was 240 miles, done at a sedate overall 10mph, but I've done other centuries and above.

Starting at night, watching the moon and stars, then the sunrise, then the sunset. Smelling the world as it reacts to daylight. Watching things awake. Owls and frogs at night. Smelling and hearing the see, but not seeing it as I passed by in the darkness,. Popping through small unlit villages, but stopping for breakfast, for lunch and for dinner where I come across opportunities for refuelling.

It's grand.

I've done many. Fats when doing some Sportives on the road and slow as well when not chasing a time. I have only done one off road and that was part of High Street in the Lakes. Was Brilliant and an absolute killer.

One of my Fave ones though was cycle touring in the Netherlands / Belgium. Took all day, no care in the world visiting some of the Commonwealth cemeteries. Brilliant day.

Well done on completing it.

I've only done off road ones.
My "strategy" , do the first 60 and the last 40 is a piece of pish. 😉
10.5 - 12.5 hours depending on conditions, mechanicals and fatness.

I’ve done many centuries, always on road, sometimes on road bike, always somewhere between lightly and medium loaded.
My parents lived about 100 miles away from my grandparents, so it was an easy target for me.
Then, when i left home, i lived about 100 miles away from my grandparents (in a different direction)
Always took food with me, but only ever took 2 bottles of water, I’ve knocked on random strangers doors many times, to ask for water, people were always happy to help me.
One time I remember the gear cable snapped somewhere near alston, so i screwed the limit screw in so that the mech sat in the middle sprocket and just used the front mech for the next 50 odd miles.
That was a little easier than it sounds though, as they were mostly downhill from there, and i had a howling tailwind for almost the entire journey.
Happy days.

I presumed we were talking off-road, what with this being a mtb site 'n all.😉
South downs way 11 hours. Jennride 26 hours. And some 200km itt stuff too, sub 24 hrs.

I've done two, when I used to ride loads I didn't usually go much past 60 miles, but got carried away a couple of times.

First I rode from Manchester to Wales and back, was supposed to go with a group but everyone bailed as it was pouring down. Proper Manchester pouring. I had nothing else to do so figured I'd set off and see what happened. In the end I got sunburnt somewhere near Wrexham and when I got back to Manchester it was still pouring down. No one believed me when I said how nice the weather was!

Second one I was in Les Gets with my wife, and fancied a flat day, so we rode around Lake Geneva. She'd properly talented on a bike, she was fit from running, but was only doing 30 mins on a turbo 5 times a week on the bike, so not really enough. I figured she'd get round as she'd managed to get to the top of the Colombiere a few days earlier, but the second half would be tough. After 70 miles she hadn't broken, so I spent the rest of the ride trying to break her to see how tough she was, struggled to drop her. 111 miles in 6.5 hours. Awesome day out!