Road Cycling - break or no break

I typically ride anywhere from 18-30 miles. My longest is 40 miles. I never stop and rest or take any break at all unless I have a mechanical problem or stop to assist another rider. Was wondering what the point of needing to "get off the bike" was for most of y'all.

Sometimes its good just to stop for a moment and move the muscles around a bit. Today, I rode 75 miles in the mountains and I stopped 4 times: once to watch the ocean and another time just to take in the view. Other times for food and mother nature.

It's early in the season, so I make a point to stop once if I'm going 50 miles or further. Usually for 10 minutes or so at well beyond the halfway point to take in a power bar. Also depends on who you're riding with.

55/Rad

It depends on the length and the temperature. I have done 100km rides non-stop but I am usually rationing water by the 80km point. So 80km before stopping is normal for me. Normally I would only stop for water re-fills while eating on the bike. Most people could probably ride for hours without stopping, if they had a support vehicle passing them water and food. Unfortunately we don't, so stopping is necessary. Nature breaks are also a good reason to stop.

CHEERS.

Mark

I don't usually stop for nothing unless like you said to help someone or help yourself. The only time I will stop to stretch is when I was doing a 158 miler, then I would stop at a store in a town about at the half way point to buy Gatorade and some bottled water to refill my bottles and Camelback and some food. The stop would be for about 10 minutes; warning, stopping like this then takes about 5 miles or so to get the legs moving properly again. Unfortanately long rides like that you do have to stop, but on rides of 100 miles or less I don't stop. If you want to stretch you can do this on your bike, plus you should be getting off the seat anyway about every 15 minutes (for about a minute) of riding so your ball bearings don't fall asleep. I ride unsupported and alone by the way.

so your ball bearings don't fall asleep

Funny but true. :D

CHEERS.

Mark

I don't stop under 50 miles unless it is a club ride to an eatery. Your legs don't get warmed up until you have 20 miles in.

It depends on who I am riding with and how far we are riding, If I am riding with my son I will stop when he needs it and thats usually at 25 Miles.
If i am riding alone I wont stop unless I absolutely have to.
Stopping is not bad but limit your stops, and dont take a long stop, your muscles could cool down,
I usued to do a century back in NM every year, they had a check point at every 25 miles, they took your # and gave you a little plastic bicycle (different color at each stop) This is where they had bathrooms and food. It was a very organized ride...

Depends on the lenght of ride, the terrain, weather conditions, and how well I feel. I've gone 30 miles without stopping except for stoplights/signs and the few odd traffic obstrcutions, and I've had to stop every 5 miles or so because of fatigue, blood sugar issues, etc.

Generally speaking, my two water bottles (48oz.) are good for 30-35 miles in typical Memphis summer temps. So I'm usually looking for a food mart between 30-40 miles to refill. That's my only break. On longer rides 50-80 miles, depending whom I'm riding with, there might be a stop of 10-15 minutes for stretching and fluid refill.

I used to never stop. If I stopped, I would feel like a wimp. Once when I went on a 30 mile ride, I bonked 15 miles from home, but I never stopped. Maybe it was a dumb thing to do for the body... If it happened again, I would stop. But then, I would just try as hard as I could to keep moving, even if I had 40rpm in the lowest gear.

Now I will occasionally get off of the bicycle to adjust my clothing (hat, gloves, shoes, socks) or bicycle. I ride far more casually now.

Under 40 miles i see no need to stop unless nature calls. You can stock enough water and food on your person. 50 or more i stop to refill on water and a snack just to stay on the up and up. Rationing water blows.

I stop for social reasons. Our group gets out sat. morning and get in 30 to 60 miles. We usually stop half way in the ride to shoot the breeze. Sure we shoot the breeze while we ride, but it's nice to sit at stinson beach for 10 minutes. We're not racers, and we don't have anything to prove. We grab a gaterade, go to the bathroom, eat a powerbar, talk about what dumb thing our president just did, who got some new brake shoes, etc.

I agree with the 'just getting warmed up after 20 miles' thing. no need to stop until I'm out of water (which is usually between 30-35 miles) or the nature calls thing (as folks have already mentioned). I always carry nibbles in my jersey if I'm going over 25-30 miles and just munch on the road (but the compulsory water stop/s is/are a good time for chewing too). here in the desert, you make your water stops and make sure your water bottles will get you to the next stop.

better to drink plenty before you're thirsty, bring eats if you're out much more than an hour (seems to be a good rule of thumb), and stand to get off the seat plenty even if you don't have ball bearings ;).

It totally depends on what you're trying to accomplish on your ride. If you're just out to have fun, take a break when you want. If you're riding with a group, stop when the group stops. If you're training for ultra-distance, stay on that bike till you get home.

***** brag warning *****

I once rode just over 100 miles in weather that never got above 40 degrees without ever leaving the bike. One stop for nature's call was done straddling the top tube.

I don't stop under 50 miles. Unless it is a social group stop.

I dont drink water, eat, or go to the bathroom unless Ive gone at least 250 miles in a snow storm at 25 degrees umm......in rush hour traffic. Yeah. Oh and Im really well hung. ;)

Today, I rode 75 miles in the mountains and I stopped 4 times: once to watch the ocean and another time just to take in the view.


Wow. Right now, Oak Park sounds like paradise.

-chris

Wow. Right now, Oak Park sounds like paradise.

-chris


Oak Park has a great location set in a valley surrounded by mountains. The main roads (Kanan - Westlake Blvd.) and various mountain routes lead through the Santa Monica mountains and to Malibu and the ocean. Once you get to the mountain roads, the traffic is almost non-existant. Except for the occasional coyote you have the road to yourself. The town itself is a small town and not what you would expect for a Los Angeles suburb.