Metric/Imperial Centuries? Poll, and your experience.
- Thread starter PSm
- Start date
I’ll start.
Have done many metric, and one imperial century. All with my Ride1UP Roadster v2 single speed belt drive e-bike. Did one metric with only the internal battery (250 wh) & many metric and one imperial with internal + external (500 wh). And many metric with internal and two external batteries (750 wh). Greatest elevation gain in one ride 7600 ft.
Have done many metric, and one imperial century. All with my Ride1UP Roadster v2 single speed belt drive e-bike. Did one metric with only the internal battery (250 wh) & many metric and one imperial with internal + external (500 wh). And many metric with internal and two external batteries (750 wh). Greatest elevation gain in one ride 7600 ft.
Deacon Blues
Well-Known Member
Last summer I did 110km on my WattWagons UC Pro. To be on the safe side I switched to my second battery at 80km. I probably could have made it on one battery, but it would have been very close.
mschwett
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
i’ve done imperial centuries on my electric road bike (specialized turbo creo) and my just a regular not-e road bike.
on the creo i used the motor against strong headwinds and steeper hills. used about 1/3 or maybe 1/2 of the battery.
it has more to do with practice, planning, experience, preparation etc than any great athletic feat, unless you’re talking about serious hills seriously fast. that’s the beauty of a bicycle, it takes hardly any effort to ride on level ground at low speeds!
on the creo i used the motor against strong headwinds and steeper hills. used about 1/3 or maybe 1/2 of the battery.
it has more to do with practice, planning, experience, preparation etc than any great athletic feat, unless you’re talking about serious hills seriously fast. that’s the beauty of a bicycle, it takes hardly any effort to ride on level ground at low speeds!
Stefan Mikes
Gravel e-biker
- Region
- Europe
- City
- Mazovia, PL
My e-bike achievements (since August 21st, 2019):
The longest distances: 170, 168 km
Imperial Centuries (>= 160.9 km): 2
Gran Fondos (130-160 km): 6
Metric Centuries (100-129 km): 46
In my case, an Imperial Century ride requires:
Doing a Metric Century on either Vado or Vado SL is easy for me but it requires an extra battery or a Range Extender.
The longest distances: 170, 168 km
Imperial Centuries (>= 160.9 km): 2
Gran Fondos (130-160 km): 6
Metric Centuries (100-129 km): 46
In my case, an Imperial Century ride requires:
- A perfect Summer day: warm but not hot, windless conditions
- At least two 600 Wh batteries (I had three of them on my 2022 ride)
- Precisely set assistance, giving me enough of oomph but still at an economic level
- Starting the ride very early
- It had to be a full power Vado.
Doing a Metric Century on either Vado or Vado SL is easy for me but it requires an extra battery or a Range Extender.
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Not on my ebike, but 4 times on my analog when I was about half my current age on Fuji Saratoga touring bike. All four were related to a week long bike ride across Iowa (RAGBRAI). No desire for another these days; thats a lot of saddle time. With one battery on the Gazelle, I believe it would be doable on our River Trail since it is pretty flat and could ride unpowered for most of it.
Mr. Coffee
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
- City
- A Demented Corner of the North Cascades
I'd say that two days out of three on my longer tours are over 100km. I've only broken 100 miles a handful of times. Generally because I ride mostly in mountainous areas and 100 miles usually implies 6000 or 7000 feet of elevation gain (and loss).
Two 480wh batteries are usually adequate for 100km, three 480kw batteries might make 100 miles possible without a recharge on the way.
Also, almost all significant distances for me involve a fair amount of off-pavement cycling which means you are paying a Gravel Tax.
Note that for some reason my Garmin is now underestimating elevation gain, often quite dramatically. The actual measured elevation gain on that day was about 3600 feet.
Two 480wh batteries are usually adequate for 100km, three 480kw batteries might make 100 miles possible without a recharge on the way.
Also, almost all significant distances for me involve a fair amount of off-pavement cycling which means you are paying a Gravel Tax.
Note that for some reason my Garmin is now underestimating elevation gain, often quite dramatically. The actual measured elevation gain on that day was about 3600 feet.
Stefan Mikes
Gravel e-biker
- Region
- Europe
- City
- Mazovia, PL
I wonder who clicked "I'll never do it!" 
I took the challenge of "making" the first Metric Century after 7 months of being into e-bikes. It was my hub-drive motor Lovelec I used for two first metric centuries. The e-bike was reliable, and I already owned a spare battery for it.
Once, I asked a long-distance hero, a traditional gravel cyclist how he could manage his ultra long rides. His reply was: "The distance is only in your head". In the context of e-bikes that would be: "As long as you have the assistance, the distance is only in your head". My 2023 plan is making a Double Metric Century on one nice day
I took the challenge of "making" the first Metric Century after 7 months of being into e-bikes. It was my hub-drive motor Lovelec I used for two first metric centuries. The e-bike was reliable, and I already owned a spare battery for it.
Once, I asked a long-distance hero, a traditional gravel cyclist how he could manage his ultra long rides. His reply was: "The distance is only in your head". In the context of e-bikes that would be: "As long as you have the assistance, the distance is only in your head". My 2023 plan is making a Double Metric Century on one nice day
Djangodog
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
- City
- Claremont, NH
I have only done one Metric century on my Cross Core, but I have done twelve Imperial centuries on non electric road bikes. One of my Imperial centuries was a Double Metric century as well at 126.8 miles, (204 Kilometers).
The Cross Core still had 10% left on the charge after 63 miles and more than 4000’ of climbing.
I never kept track of Metric centuries, but in preparing for Imperial centuries, I would typically ride three or four Metric centuries and many rides between 25 and 50 miles.
The Cross Core still had 10% left on the charge after 63 miles and more than 4000’ of climbing.
I never kept track of Metric centuries, but in preparing for Imperial centuries, I would typically ride three or four Metric centuries and many rides between 25 and 50 miles.
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I retract my no desire comment. I sit with a "century ride" being "miles" paradigm. A metric century is an easy jaunt.
I wish I could, but age/health/arthritis pain make it unlikely. About 30 miles is my usual limit, but maybe I could accomplish 50 with a couple of Aleve's .
On my Gazelle Arroyo, under ideal conditions, I could probably get about 70 miles with constant ECO assist, but my achy joints would take me out before the battery gives up.
.On my Gazelle Arroyo, under ideal conditions, I could probably get about 70 miles with constant ECO assist, but my achy joints would take me out before the battery gives up.
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One of those would be meI wonder who clicked "I'll never do it!"
Djangodog
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
- City
- Claremont, NH
It should never be about the mileage. It’s about enjoying the miles that you ride.One of those would be me
Prairie Dog
Well-Known Member
- Region
- Canada
- City
- Red Deer
My wife and I completed four metric centuries last summer three of which were in the Cdn Rockies (Banff/Jasper Nat Park/Kananaskis) including the highest paved road in Canada, the Highwood Pass in K-Country. With over 1300m of altitude gain we only employed the Creo’s PAS on the steeper sections.
Later this summer, we plan to set out on an 1100km unsupported ride from our home base in Alberta to Vancouver Island. It will be a new experience for the both of us as we will be riding with loaded panniers.
Later this summer, we plan to set out on an 1100km unsupported ride from our home base in Alberta to Vancouver Island. It will be a new experience for the both of us as we will be riding with loaded panniers.
Djangodog
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
- City
- Claremont, NH
I hope that you will post pictures and stories along the way. That sounds like a great experience.
pmcdonald
Well-Known Member
Haha, one of those was me. I love reading accounts of other peoples century rides here but don't foresee it in my tea leaves.I wonder who clicked "I'll never do it!"
Work and family mean my discretionary time is limited. If I get a rare 5 hour block to myself I'd much rather make a trek to one of the regions mtb parks for a couple of hours of riding or go on a bushwalk. The rest of my cycling is either a 20km daily commute or a weekly (if I'm lucky) hour or two blast around the local trails.
Keep the century accounts coming though! They're great reading.
Great response and experiences, thanks to all! Despite having an e-bike, my bad knees (torn ACL) and ignorance of nutrition and hydration kept me from being able to do the long rides and big climbing gran fondos. My legs muscles would start twitching, knees be in pain, and could barely limp along further.
With a lot of training, use of topical generic voltaren directly on my knees https://www.drugs.com/voltaren.html and now a big meal one hour before riding, bringing and using gel gu, power bars every 45 min to hour, and bringing a lot of water along … a world of difference, and success at long rides, gran fondos, and major mountain climbs. Proper nutrition, hydration and training has been a game changer for me. And with an external battery(s), I can also do rides at higher average speeds, when I want to do interval and sprinting work. Or on the other end of the spectrum, do slow rides with low assist and less battery, going for maximum range, endurance, and strength training.
With a lot of training, use of topical generic voltaren directly on my knees https://www.drugs.com/voltaren.html and now a big meal one hour before riding, bringing and using gel gu, power bars every 45 min to hour, and bringing a lot of water along … a world of difference, and success at long rides, gran fondos, and major mountain climbs. Proper nutrition, hydration and training has been a game changer for me. And with an external battery(s), I can also do rides at higher average speeds, when I want to do interval and sprinting work. Or on the other end of the spectrum, do slow rides with low assist and less battery, going for maximum range, endurance, and strength training.
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See above, regarding VoltarenI wish I could, but age/health/arthritis pain make it unlikely. About 30 miles is my usual limit, but maybe I could accomplish 50 with a couple of Aleve's
On my Gazelle Arroyo, under ideal conditions, I could probably get about 70 miles with constant ECO assist, but my achy joints would take me out before the battery gives up.
Beautiful scenery and commendable team effort, well done. You have a great goal for this year, and something I wouldn’t dare try. My goal this year is for an 100 mile 10000 ft elevation gain single ride, if my body and knees and can handle it?!
When I consider rides, it's elevation that I pay attention to - not distance. So arguably that puts metric and imperial similar -1000 m ( close to yards ?) is where I ask myself if it's worth carrying the range extender ( and wearing cycling pants)
A hard day is 1200 m elevation in 24 km, an easy has similar elevation over 60 km.
A hard day is 1200 m elevation in 24 km, an easy has similar elevation over 60 km.
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