Planning my first Century

[Ningishzidda]

A friend and I are planning our first century ride. What is a realistic average speed.
We usually do 20-30 miles at 15-16mph

On another web forum, I suggest there is a simple formula for speed targets for longer rides based on known speeds for shorter rides.

Assuming you are comfortable riding 25 miles at 15 mph, the target speed for a longer ride is calculated from the % increase of ride length and the Natural Log of that percentage.

In your case, it is a 400% increase from 25 to 100 miles. Ln for 400 is 6. Your target speed will be 6% lower than 15 mph, which is 14.1 mph.

This bit of maths is deduced from David Wilson and Frank Whitt’s studies of touring cyclists. The cyclists’ riding duration and resultant average power output showed a logarithmic relationship.

 

[Matthew_T]

Eat something every 10 miles, and build in a few re-fil stops for water. Maybe take some energy drink powder with you to mix with water on route - don't go buying lucozade and similar from shops - pure sugar.

I would probably take a few cereal bars, bottle of water, bottle of juice, and some money for lunch.

 

[Brandane]

I would pick a day that is totally windless (not many of them) and hopefully sunny. I dont want to be cycling along soggy for more than 40 miles.

Don't forget to take sun-screen then. Especially if you are pasty faced like myself due to living in a sun free zone. Siberian night shift workers have better resistance to the sun than me. Seriously though, you don't want to start burning up half way through the ride.

 

[Brandane]

The significant difference between the 80 and the 100 as you describe them will be the solitude on your 100. There'll be nobody to tuck in behind for a bit of easy-peasy drafty-deluxe and nobody to chat to when it gets tiresome or dull.

Maybe I am unusual in that I prefer to cycle alone, particularly where distances are involved. I can go at my own pace; stop when and where I want to; and in any case I have never been in any fit state to have much of a chat during the 2 centuries I have managed.

 

[oldfatfool]

So long as you have built up to the distance you will be fine. Like a pillock I went out the other day on a long ride (160 mile) after only doing 50k's for the last few month and my knees are still complaining two weeks later

 

[Shut Up Legs]

What the others said about not using panniers. The less weight you have on your bike on long rides, the better, because more weight = more calories consumed. You'd be better off taking snacks for any on-the-road eating, and money (paper, not metal, as it weighs less) for stops at cafes (if there are any, of course).

 

[oldfatfool]

(paper, not metal, as it weighs less) for stops at cafes (if there are any, of course).

Feck me I 've heard of weight weenies

 

[Banjo]

Feck me I 've heard of weight weenies

one ten pound note weighs less than 2 fivers....

And have a dump before you set off.No point carrying 3 or 4 hundred grams of that around with you.

 

[oldfatfool]

Maybe he should take a credit card, otherwise he will have to lob is change away :P

 

[musa]

Cash and card

Ive learnt the hardway of going on rides and the cafes don't do chip and pub

So if in town or whever go to the cashpoint if you haven't got the monies on you

 

[albion]

100 miles= 12 jam sarnies, a packet of fig rolls and a few bananas.

A pub meal stop is a bonus as a fish and chip supper at the end.

 

[Shut Up Legs]

Feck me I 've heard of weight weenies

It makes a difference on a long trip, particularly if it's also hilly. I can save about half a kg by filling my saddlebag and jersey pockets carefully, and when I'm riding 1100m up Mt Donna Buang (a 150km round trip from where I live), that half a kg less makes the ascent easier.

I'm not an obsessive weight-weenie, I just think that if you're doing a long hilly ride, it makes sense to save weight where you can do so easily. I don't have to do anything complicated to save that half a kg.

I don't know if Matthew's ride is going to be a hilly one, so I was just offering a tip on how to make a hilly ride easier.

 

[oldfatfool]

It makes a difference on a long trip, particularly if it's also hilly. I can save about half a kg by filling my saddlebag and jersey pockets carefully, and when I'm riding 1100m up Mt Donna Buang (within at 150km round trip from where I live), that missing half a kg makes the ascent easier.

Sorry mate, I'm just a nutter that lugs a 45kg loaded tourer up the Bonnet and Tourmalet, 20g in loose change means nothing.

 

[Shut Up Legs]

Sorry mate, I'm just a nutter that lugs a 45kg loaded tourer up the Bonnet and Tourmalet, 20g in loose change means nothing.

Do you use the above for day trips, or for multi-day tours? I typically use my 15kg tourer for day rides. I haven't done any multi-day tours, so don't need to load up my tourer with panniers, etc. I'd like to do some multi-day tours, but just haven't found the time, unfortunately.

 

[oldfatfool]

Do you use the above for day trips, or for multi-day tours? I typically use my 15kg tourer for day rides. I haven't done any multi-day tours, so don't need to load up my tourer with panniers, etc. I'd like to do some multi-day tours, but just haven't found the time, unfortunately.

That would be on a multi-day/week tour, but you did say long trip! Still use the tourer for longer day rides but obviously without the same load.