Cycling Lingo 103

CENTURY RIDE

cen*tur*y ride [sen-chuh-ree rahyd]

Generally understood to be a bike ride that is 100 miles in length and takes place over the course of a single day. Accomplishing a ride of this distance is considered by many cyclists to be a milestone. Given the long distance involved, a century ride generally takes place on the road. 

A modification of this term, metric century (measured in kilometres), is sometimes applied by a unique (crazy) class of endurance cyclists, called randonneurs. On the surface, this may appear to be a watered-down version of the century ride; however, randonneurs more than account for the conversion by regularly performing multi-century rides (of up to 1200kms!).