From Bicycling.com
By MOLLY HURFORD
I remember the first time I rode a century: I was still in college, reluctantly part of the Rutgers Cycling Team in order to improve my biking as a triathlete. Every Sunday in February, the ragtag team of 10 or so riders would roll out from New Brunswick, New Jersey—rain, snow, or sun—and pedal for 100 miles.
These were truly the best of times and the worst of times. Numb fingers, toes, and noses were the norm. We never packed enough snacks. We’d swarm coffee shops and gas stations like gremlins, hunting out the most calories for the least amount of money. These rides often took upward of 10 hours, thanks to multiple stops, flats, and quite a few missed turns. And I had the time of my life.
If you’ve never ridden a century—or 100 miles—it can be a daunting concept. If you’ve been training consistently and are ready to hit triple digits, the big question becomes: How long will it take me to ride a century? It can be hard to plan your day when you’re not sure if you’ll be out for seven hours or 14. So we compiled the data on average finish times and what you need to know to estimate the length of your own 100-miler.
How many people ride centuries?
First of all, a round of applause for even attempting such a feat: According to Strava, in 2023, only four percent of cyclists on the platform did a ride that was 100 miles or more.
Nervous about making the attempt? Consider starting with a metric century, which is about 62 miles, if you haven’t done a ride that long yet. Even at 100 kilometers, you’ll be riding longer than 87 percent of your fellow cyclists on Strava. In 2023, only 13 percent of riders hit 100 kilometers in any ride—and in the U.S., the number is even lower, with only 9 percent of cyclists going that far.
Photo by Martin Magnemyr on Unsplash
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