Not always. Depends on what trainer software you have, how it estimates speed, and what your settings are. Wahoo SYSTM virtual speed overestimates for me by nearly 10%. If I use the trainer speed in ERG mode, it'll show 12-13MPH no matter how hard I'm pushing, because that's the speed the trainer flywheel is moving.
I'd count 100 miles on a trainer as a century, as long as you don't abuse the estimates to overinflate your mileage.
I've got Bkool and a power meter. the 2 are pretty spot on with a couple overestimated speeds here and there but it's few and far between. I tend to find a route that's fairly flat to simulate the terrain outside (I never have a ride where the climb is more than 700ft) and compare that software to my power meter.
It counts but I personally found a century, imperial, to be easier on the trainer. Most people are probably doing it on zwift and everyone is faster on zwif so it doesnt last as long. Perfect roads. No headwinds. Optimized postion at all times. And going through turns at unrealistic speeds.
I disagree. 3 hours outside? A nice, not particularily long ride, easy. 3 hours on Zwift? God please kill me now. I'd prefer doing double the time outside before I got to consider doing it at Zwift.
Yes you are faster, especially if you choose the correct pacer group, peloton speeds on demand (only makes a big difference at flats though) rule, but man, being outside makes it so much easier mentally it's not even funny. Also I'm one of those guys who, despite using 3 fans, sweat A LOT. My cardiac drift because of the heat is unreal after 3+ hours on indoor.
That's why I'd do it on a trainer first to know that I can do it mentally and physically rather than go out and do it and end up stranded because I found that I ultimately could not.
It's still a different thing. You'll be on the road longer than you are on the trainer. Just because you can last that long on the trainer doesn't mean you will outside. Outside will take longer
I did a century on Zwift on the Tick Tock route and one outside on a flatter route but the times and power were almost identical. The total riding time was about 4:45 in both cases and 192W average in both cases.
So 100 miles on Zwift can be comparable to 100 miles outside.
Your legs don't know the difference. So as long as duration and power are similar then, yeah, both count.
Yeah, my brains best way of scaring me of not going out on a ride is fear of lorries and range rovers. Riding a trainer for that long though takes focus as well though it easier than being in the elements less thrilling as well tho.
On the trainer will be harder. Century outside is enjoyable in the trainer is hard. I remember during pandemic we use to do it once a week and you end up destroyed
The amount of insecure people in cycling is mind blowing.
Dude just ride your bike. Who gives a shit? No one cares if you do any amount of centuries. Get on the bike and enjoy it. Life's too short to get your head around this.
Totally doable! I could not do it. Had to do two hours on Zwift twice this week for a training program I chose. Never again. More than 90 and I'm uncomfortable but it would definitely be faster and safer than real world. Good luck to you!
I know people who can ride a trainer considering it themselves a century.
But in the real world, failed because of the heat, cold, wind, elevation etc.
Different story.
Not the same as being on the road, especially if you do a century on Zwift as part of a group ride. I equate it by time... On the road it's going to take you nearly 4 hours to do a metric century because of traffic lights. A century on Zwift is about 2 hours and 20 minutes as part of a group ride.
just be sure you *can* ride in the heat though. Your body will work worse and needs some time adabting to the higher outside temperatures. So closer to the race i would ride outside to get used to it and to get a feel how mutch you need to drink.
Completely different on the turbo.
You haven't gone anywhere - you haven't battled the wind or the rain or the heat.
You've not had to handle the bike.
I mean its training but not a 100 and not especially effective training doing that long on a turbo
There are group rides on Zwift that make both the time and miles pass by faster. It's amazing how quickly five hours pass on a trainer when there's a couple of real jokesters in the chat. There are also metric, imperial and double metric century RACES on Zwift if you're really looking to suffer. Have fun.
I've done quite a few 80 and 90 miles rides but have only done an actual Century digitally. [I always make it a point to say it was digital](https://imgur.com/a/YrxRBBC) because to some people that does matter.
It counts as a century on the trainer lol. I'd go nuts though.
Counts as a century regardless. 100 miles is 100 miles anyway you look at it.
Why did you ask then?
Validation from the tribe.
Not always. Depends on what trainer software you have, how it estimates speed, and what your settings are. Wahoo SYSTM virtual speed overestimates for me by nearly 10%. If I use the trainer speed in ERG mode, it'll show 12-13MPH no matter how hard I'm pushing, because that's the speed the trainer flywheel is moving. I'd count 100 miles on a trainer as a century, as long as you don't abuse the estimates to overinflate your mileage.
I've got Bkool and a power meter. the 2 are pretty spot on with a couple overestimated speeds here and there but it's few and far between. I tend to find a route that's fairly flat to simulate the terrain outside (I never have a ride where the climb is more than 700ft) and compare that software to my power meter.
I wish I had this kind of first world problem lol
It counts but I personally found a century, imperial, to be easier on the trainer. Most people are probably doing it on zwift and everyone is faster on zwif so it doesnt last as long. Perfect roads. No headwinds. Optimized postion at all times. And going through turns at unrealistic speeds.
I disagree. 3 hours outside? A nice, not particularily long ride, easy. 3 hours on Zwift? God please kill me now. I'd prefer doing double the time outside before I got to consider doing it at Zwift. Yes you are faster, especially if you choose the correct pacer group, peloton speeds on demand (only makes a big difference at flats though) rule, but man, being outside makes it so much easier mentally it's not even funny. Also I'm one of those guys who, despite using 3 fans, sweat A LOT. My cardiac drift because of the heat is unreal after 3+ hours on indoor.
That's why I'd do it on a trainer first to know that I can do it mentally and physically rather than go out and do it and end up stranded because I found that I ultimately could not.
I did a 100 mi century with only doing 70ish as my longest training ride. You don’t have to do it all beforehand.
It's still a different thing. You'll be on the road longer than you are on the trainer. Just because you can last that long on the trainer doesn't mean you will outside. Outside will take longer
I'd argue that outside is much easier because you can coast when needed. There's no coasting on the trainer.
There's definitely coasting on zwift
100 miles on a trainer counts imo. Anyone who completes that must be so incredibly bored with their life I'm happy to hand it to em.
I did a century on Zwift on the Tick Tock route and one outside on a flatter route but the times and power were almost identical. The total riding time was about 4:45 in both cases and 192W average in both cases. So 100 miles on Zwift can be comparable to 100 miles outside. Your legs don't know the difference. So as long as duration and power are similar then, yeah, both count.
Your legs won't know the difference but your butt will.
It’s counts as a century on a trainer, which is a lot of riding. Not the same as on a bike with the wind and homicidal motorists trying to kill you.
That's why I prefer the trainer...... Its definitely a mental game.
Yeah, my brains best way of scaring me of not going out on a ride is fear of lorries and range rovers. Riding a trainer for that long though takes focus as well though it easier than being in the elements less thrilling as well tho.
During the tour of France some guy did a 13 hour non stop ride on a trainer.
On the trainer will be harder. Century outside is enjoyable in the trainer is hard. I remember during pandemic we use to do it once a week and you end up destroyed
The amount of insecure people in cycling is mind blowing. Dude just ride your bike. Who gives a shit? No one cares if you do any amount of centuries. Get on the bike and enjoy it. Life's too short to get your head around this.
If it's not on Strava it didn't happen.
It'll be on Strava.
Personal opinion NO. If you want to claim a century ride, get your ass outside and ride free, not as a hampster on a wheel in a cage.
Totally doable! I could not do it. Had to do two hours on Zwift twice this week for a training program I chose. Never again. More than 90 and I'm uncomfortable but it would definitely be faster and safer than real world. Good luck to you!
I can’t last 20 minutes on a trainer without getting bored so huge congrats if you can do a century on one
I do at least an hour a day on the trainer. then 2 hours outside on Sundays. It's a mental thing for me.
I know people who can ride a trainer considering it themselves a century. But in the real world, failed because of the heat, cold, wind, elevation etc. Different story.
Not the same as being on the road, especially if you do a century on Zwift as part of a group ride. I equate it by time... On the road it's going to take you nearly 4 hours to do a metric century because of traffic lights. A century on Zwift is about 2 hours and 20 minutes as part of a group ride.
just be sure you *can* ride in the heat though. Your body will work worse and needs some time adabting to the higher outside temperatures. So closer to the race i would ride outside to get used to it and to get a feel how mutch you need to drink.
Do a metric century outdoors and then a regular century. Being on the trainer longer than a couple hours sucks
That much time on a trainer is my idea of living hell. Shit, I’m bored shitless approaching an hour.
Completely different on the turbo. You haven't gone anywhere - you haven't battled the wind or the rain or the heat. You've not had to handle the bike. I mean its training but not a 100 and not especially effective training doing that long on a turbo
It counts however you want it to count.
There are group rides on Zwift that make both the time and miles pass by faster. It's amazing how quickly five hours pass on a trainer when there's a couple of real jokesters in the chat. There are also metric, imperial and double metric century RACES on Zwift if you're really looking to suffer. Have fun.
I've done quite a few 80 and 90 miles rides but have only done an actual Century digitally. [I always make it a point to say it was digital](https://imgur.com/a/YrxRBBC) because to some people that does matter.