Average miles per hour for 100 mile ride?

[Dogtrousers]

I'm just wondering whether that would be a realistic goal for the summer, 100 miles in twelve hours. How long would other people plan for that distance?

Personally I'd just make a 100 mile ride your target. However long it takes. The distance is a significant enough target alone.

It's a big distance and you'll get tremendous satisfaction from doing it (plus a fair amount of pain and misery, but that will fade). A time target is a bit superfluous. Obviously a time estimate is useful for planning, but that's all.

How did I plan for it? Just build up to it. Make sure you're comfortable on the bike, and are happy with all the gear you are using, and step up the distance. Stick to flatter routes when you increase distance, then gradually introduce more hills.

I could tell you my fastest (not very fast) and slowest (very slow) and average, (if I could be bothered) times but it wouldn't be any use to you. I could also go over my gear and what kind of food I take, and so on but again I don't think it would be very interesting. Finding your own way and what suits you is part of the adventure.

Best of luck! Keep us posted with progress!

 

[Peter Salt]

I don't think the question is precise enough. If you ask someone how fast they can walk 20 miles the immediate response would be: In what weather, what terrain, etc. Just asking how long 100 miles on a bike can take is too vague. How much elevation? What roads? Solo or not? How old are you and what's your fitness? A pootle for one will be race pace for another...

Just don't look at the data end enjoy yourself.

 

[Oldhippy]

I measure in fun per hour.

 

[matticus]

Well, most replies so far have been very helpful. At least they let me know that my plan isn't way off.

Well it's still not a question I would ask, but if you've found it useful, carry on 👍

 

[Ian H]

What is "an average tester"?

It is obviously somebody way ahead of the average bike rider. Very few of us would complete a 25 mile TT in under an hour, so four of them in succession really is elite level riding if you re riding solo.

1) I said 'striving for'. It's been a target since The Boot first beat it in 1956.
2) Even I, a very much part-time, occasional time trialist, have got under the hour a few times.

 

[Gwylan]

12 mph; that was before I was metricated. 20 sound so much faster, just have to do 160 instead of a British tonne.

 

[Jameshow]

What is "an average tester"?

It is obviously somebody way ahead of the average bike rider. Very few of us would complete a 25 mile TT in under an hour, so four of them in succession really is elite level riding if you re riding solo.

Nah easy peasy just popping out this afternoon for a quick century, I'll update the thread at 6.15pm👍🤣

 

[Rusty Nails]

It's a big distance and you'll get tremendous satisfaction from doing it (plus a fair amount of pain and misery, but that will fade). A time target is a bit superfluous. Obviously a time estimate is useful for planning, but that's all.

The worst thing about my century was the pain/discomfort from the saddle during the last couple of hours. Should have done a lot more riding on that saddle before then.

 

[presta]

If you're confident you can do the distance just get on the bike and go, and if you're not, get on the bike and go, but make sure the point of no return isn't 50 miles away. If you ride in a circle centred on your home you can do 100 miles without ever being more than 12 miles away if you need to quit. Don't start off fast and end up finishing slow, the fastest rides are the ones that start slow and finish quick.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

Nah easy peasy just popping out this afternoon for a quick century, I'll update the thread at 6.15pm👍🤣

He’s not back yet

 

[Gunk]

It is sometime since I did a 100 miler, covid days - I would be away 14 hours, may be longer

but all my long rides (50+ miles) are slow, 6 or 7 mph (esp if weather is nice)

I did 100 miles in lockdown I’m sure it was about 13-14 hours. The first 20 are the hardest, once you get into a rhythm it’s not too bad. Not sure I could do it now, perhaps it needs to be a 2025 goal.

 

[Jameshow]

He’s not back yet

I never left!🤣🤣🤣

 

[Jameshow]

If you're confident you can do the distance just get on the bike and go, and if you're not, get on the bike and go, but make sure the point of no return isn't 50 miles away. If you ride in a circle centred on your home you can do 100 miles without ever being more than 12 miles away if you need to quit. Don't start off fast and end up finishing slow, the fastest rides are the ones that start slow and finish quick.

I find I have a natural speed going any faster really eats into energy. Going slower means my butt is sitting heavy on the saddle and I'll get sore. So finding that happy medium is key and comes after a few long rides.

Also when doing long rides when I'm going down a decent down hill I'll get out the saddle and rest the butt. Also steep uphills are ideal times to get out the saddle and use body weight to get up the hill.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

plus a fair amount of pain and misery

Only if you’re doing it wrong

 

[Dogtrousers]

Only if you’re doing it wrong

Means I've done in excess of 100 of them ... wrong.

Oh well