va_cyclist

As I've been adding distance to my rides this year, I've found that my average speed isn't really changing much, but the distance I'm able to go between stops has increased. On my first couple of rides this year I could only go about 5-7 miles before a rest. Last week I did 80 miles, stopping every 20 miles. This past Sunday I did 50 and only stopped once at the 25-mile mark. I know some of you ironmen do centuries without stopping, but what's a typical distance interval between stops for the rest of you?

superdex

the 75milers this past weekend had stops every 12-18 miles apart, and they were required (check in), but I like to go 20-25 before taking a short break. I've also found that as I add mileage I get more comfy on the bike (body adjusting) and I've been slowly tweaking saddle height/position and handlebar angle to hone the fit, which has helped tremendously in being able to ride longer without stopping. And, 20-25 miles is about where my bladder takes priority

Machka 

I do lots of long distance riding and the distances between my stops varies widely depending on weather (i.e. putting a jacket on, taking tights off, getting things to drink, adding my rain cover to my helmet), terrain (I may stop and wheeze at the top of a hill for a moment), designated controls (for the brevets I ride), etc.

But given fairly ideal conditions I will ride about 50 kms (30 miles) between breaks.

OC Roadie

Most centuries have rest stops about every 20-30 miles. The more you ride long distances, the less you need them. My long rides are usually 80-110 miles and I'll stop twice for about 5-10 minutes to get water and go to the bathroom. It's normal for your body to acclimate to longer distances and need less time resting. Just don't push it too much, or you may not eat enough, get good at eating on the bike and you can go even longer.

Inoplanetyanin

Several times I rode for 75 miles before stopping, but that was in flat Saskatchewan, with the tail wind.

During relaxed touring, I stopped once I saw something worth stopping or to drink/eat, which was usually between 6 and 15 miles.

samundsen

Are you planning on adding the remainder of your tour log to the web site? I've read what you have there and find it fascinating reading... I was rather bummed that it stopped at day 30.....

jur

I prefer not to stop at all. I have found that there's hard work on uphills, but then a downhill or flat follows where I rest. Take it easy going downhill and recover breath. And take that drink and eat a bit. Then when the next hard bit comes along, you're ready again. The problem with stopping anything longer than just 2 or 3 minutes is that your muscles cool down, and then you have to get them warm again. Ouch. These days the only thing I stop for is for a pee or a 30 minute break for lunch.

twahl

Typically I'm pretty comfortable doing about 20 without stopping, but I carry two water bottles and usually haven't touched one of them at 20. There's a loop I do through parts of Manassas toward Woodbridge that's a little over 32 miles, and I often do that nonstop, and generally with empty water bottles.

Wurm

I stop whenever I can for pretty women, or at least slow down and try not to get caught gawking. I usually pretend that there's something going wrong with my shifting, or I need to make an equipment adjustment, etc.

va_cyclist

I'm all about modulating effort. It's usually not the muscles or lungs that make me stop, it's giving my arse and aching neck and shoulders a rest.

my58vw

Same for me ^^^

I can ride all day on the bike if it was not for my neck... but it is getting stronger the more riding that I do... On last Wednesday when I did 80+ I stoped 3 times, once at 40 miles (at the beach rest stop), once at about 60 miles and than at home. On solo rides I generally eat and drink on the bike, but it does feel good to get off and stretch.

Now if it was a race... stops = 0, because stoping either means... have to pee, have a flat or crash, all bad things.

timmhaan

more or less every 25 miles or if i see an exceptional resting area. like some bench that overlooks the river or something like that. last saturday i got overheated and kept hitting the wall so i stopped 3 times on a 45 mile ride. sometimes you just gotta get off the bike for a minute and regroup.

pedex

60-75 miles or every 3 hrs whichever comes first

meme

When I first picked up cycling again, I would rest a few minutes after 10 miles or so. After getting used to doing solo centuries, I can basically ride non-stop (unless you count stopping at a stop sign/light a stop). Of course, I don't like riding and eating energy bars at the same time (sometimes gives me indigestion). So these days when I do a solo century, I typically stop around the 50-mile mark and buy a sandwich at a Subway, Togos or whatever sandwich shop I'm near for about for a 20~30 minute break. Usually for rides of 50 miles or lower, I don't stop at all (unless I see something interesting). Yes, I try to vary the route so it doesn't get so boring from going the same paths all the time.