Training & Nutrition - Good or bad to take breaks?

Is it good or bad or null to take breaks when your riding? I find yesterday that in the middle of my 30 mile ride (i turn around after 15 miles and head home) that i took a 3 to 4 minute break where i got off the bike.. tired a GU packet thingy drank some water.. and when i got back on. i had a huge burst of energy.. It could have been the GU but it shouldn't take effect that fast should it? I just felt a bit more energized and my legs felt like they weren't as tired.. i guess i could have been going a slight down hill... but i was hitting 20mph oh my hybrid where as on the way up i was averaging 13-14 mph..

Is taking a break mid ride for a few minutes a good thing? I allways thought if you stop, your muscles start to think its rest time and start doing some bad stuff if your planning on riding more..

Originally posted by Electricview
It could have been the GU but it shouldn't take effect that fast should it?

Yup - that stuff gets in your blood REALLY fast.

Taking a break is really a personal preference. It's totally up to you. If I feel really tired, or see something interesting, I'll stop for a minute or two.

A break of less than 10 minutes can be very rejuvenating, especially if it is combined with water and some fuel. Longer than 10 minutes and things can really cool down and stiffen up.

Breaks are very important! How else can one sit down and enjoy a latte or a iced coffee? With a croissant? And maybe a cinammon bun? Hmmm? :D :D :D

Nothing wrong with breaks! Riding should be a pleasure, not a death march. As a previous poster mentioned, a couple of short breaks beat a long one, in my book.

Paul

I regularly stop on two of my normal routes. They are also at the half-way point or almost. That extra energy boost is always welcome too!

Originally posted by late
Breaks are very important! How else can one sit down and enjoy a latte or a iced coffee? With a croissant? And maybe a cinammon bun? Hmmm? :D :D :D

Now thats a rest stop, chocolate doesn't hurt either

Breaks are our friends.

With the speed of traffic lights in Queensland, I often don't have much bloody choice! :mad:

However, there's nothing wrong with taking breaks at all. Personally I ride for enjoyment first, so if I want to linger for a few minutes at a waterfall or a patch of rainforest I'll do it.

Thats good then, I mean i do occasionally stop for the traffic lights (they usually dont last more then a minute or two).. But i ride pretty leasure-like, i dont pedal the entire time.. sometimes i'll stop and just coast for a minute to give myself a quick rest.. I just ment actually getting off the bike and taking a rest, but it seems to be pretty normal from what a few of ya say..


the gu really hits you that fast? it says 15 minutes on the package.. and it sure didnt last long if that was it.. I had that energy burst spurt for about 3 or 4 minutes, then i started to slow again down to 15 mph.. If thats truely the energy from the GU, should i try to pace myself more after i take some to not burn it all up so fast? Are power bars and other such things about the same energy wise? the GU was okay, but kind of like sucking down extra sweet corn syrup!

By all means if you fell like taking a break... take it. However, remember to try and stay loose. Stretch and move around a bit otherwise you might end up with muscle cramps and other associated nastiness once you get moving again.

I usually only take a break on my longrides of over 4 hours. Usually my shorter rides I never feel like a I need a break or would want to take a break. I guess stopping at light would be considered my breaks.

Occasionally we have an idiot who comes out with us who usually collapses after about 1 - 2miles (xc riding btw) He can take up to 15 mins to recover ny which point i am cold and stiff and havnt even had opportunity to propperly warm up yet. I take breaks if i need but 15 mins is a piss take

I always take a break. Otherwise I'd be out of water before I finish. I go through a bottle an hour roughly. 50 miles takes me about 2.5 hours. That last 30 minutes I need the water more than any time, so I always stop at a mini-mart to buy water to top things off. I also like tostop when I eat my granola bars. Also stopping allows you to take in the scenery. Nothing wrong with it, just don't take too long where you start tense up from cooling down.

Originally posted by Electricview
It could have been the GU but it shouldn't take effect that fast should it? I just felt a bit more energized and my legs felt like they weren't as tired..

your legs were probably just thanking you for letting them rest a bit, and rewarded you with a boost of energy. it's probably a bit like weight-lifting, where you do a set of reps and then rest. your muscles can't repeat the same motion indefinitely, but when you let them 'reset' for a moment, they're back to functioning again.

If riding solo I tend to not take a break until 25-30 miles, if then. When riding with others we tend to get that break at 20+/- miles. I use the downhills as a break.

There be downhills in Indiana?! :p

Depending on the ride, breaks can be fairly frequent in group rides.. I.e. nature or for regrouping. Solo, I always have a desire to keep moving for some reason (must be the racer in me:)), but do get the occasional 'break' on descents, refilling water bottles or when stopping for a pee. I admire the scenery just fine without stopping..

ITS THE GU. Go hard or go home. Rest's are for wimps.:D :D :D