mattm

I could. I'd probably be a better (crit) racer because of it. Along with a bunch of local guys - they want to do well at crits so they head up in to the mountains, fail to do well at crits, then think they just need more mountains, and fail harder..

I have to climb some to get out to the coast, which is worth it, but generally I don't like climbing. The views are nice though, and descending is fun.

mattm

Not to worry, when I lead the 1/2's team rides we'll stop once (ok, maybe twice) in 100 miles, and even then I'm setting a ****ing timer! 5 mins and we're out.

If I can do it solo, we should be able to do it, and it's not even hot out right now.

mattm

That must've been a shock to the system, to say the least.. and pretty damn brave too. Kudos to you for finishing!

aaronmcd

I truly don't understand this "stopping sucks" attitude. The best part about riding is going out super far and exploring, so what really sucks is when there isn't enough time for nice stops.

I didn't train this weekend so looks like ill be in negative ctl after Thailand lol. San Jose bike party had their 10th anniversary ride Friday night so a bunch of us casual cyclists (read normal ppl who like bikes) trained down. Short ride with a big stop. Live DJ, lights, dancing, bike jousting. Stayed up late in the hotel listening to tunes on Dans bike speakers. Rode the slowest 55 miles I've ever ridden back to SF with someone who has never ridden more than 35 miles in her life and has zero desire to ever ride fast. That was amazingly relaxing until I had to zip ahead to catch an 8 pm show with my wife. Then today we had a going away thing for our friends who are moving back to Boston. So I'm basically 80% detrained by now lol.

furiousferret

I'm with @aaronmcd. If I got to ride in the Peninsula and Marin I'd probably stop every 5 minutes. We have some decent views here but you have to climb about 5,000 feet to get there.

I had planned a rest week, but the transmission on my wife's car died, so she has to use my Jeep. The 25 mile roundtrip isn't bad, but impossible to do under 50 TSS.

rankin116

No to stopping. I only stop to fill bottles and maybe grab some quick calories. Coffee stops etc are just wasted time.

TheKillerPenguin

It depends. Legit group training ride, stops annoy me. Social group ride, coffee stops are great. Render unto Caesar.

Wylde06

Thanks.

My legs are still sore today.

Might do a recovery ride on the trainer, stupid rain all day will prevent me from getting outside

topflightpro

Agreed. The coffee (or beer) will be there when the ride is over.

TexMac

Went hard last Thursday on deadlift and my lower back paid. Saturday got out and ignored group ride so I can just test the back. Felt great and ended up doing 5 hr solo ride with some few short hills. Love the fact I can ride out of my house to a small town and U-turn with no stops.

TexMac

If you live in the flats there are no views, just cowfields I don't like the 20 mile stops. I usually go 2 hrs non-stop esp if I'm solo

aaronmcd

Well sure if its only a 2 hour ride it doesnt make as much sense. But if its a 4 to 6 hour ride with a nice coastal cafe and ocean views 2 hours in I like to stop and make the trip worthwhile.

revchuck 

I go by bottles rather than time. If a solo ride is <3 bottles, I don't stop. Four bottles or more, I stop to refill at a convenient place.

In the summer, I go through a bottle in ~45 minutes, sometimes less. I get over an hour per bottle during the winter.

An exception is a charity ride with homemade munchies. Then, I stop depending on what's available to eat.

rubiksoval

I hate stops. Our group rides only have quick, short stops if it's 3 hours plus. Unless it's summer time and 1000 degrees, then it's whatever.

Everyone is expected to bring 3+ bottles, though, for long rides.

Plus it totally sucks on cold days to stop and then have to get warmed up again.

caloso

The Saturday ride I usually go on regroups but doesn't really stop. It's more or less an out and back so if you get dropped or take a natural break on the way out, you can just catch them on the way back.

What rubiksoval said: bring 3 bottles on a hot day. That's why God gave us jersey pockets.

aaronmcd

Is sitting in a nice spot outside with a snack or coffee and enjoying views/weather really not enjoyable to some people? It's not like it's taking out of riding time - I'm thinking weekends. It isn't gonna ruin a workout to split a 5 hour ride with a 30 minute break in the middle. Or is it a busy weekend life thing - need to get home ASAP?

caloso

It is for me. I have a limited amount of time to ride, especially on the weekends. Two kids with their own sports and my wife sees a lot of her clients on weekends.

tetonrider

that would depend on what the goal of that workout is. it might.

Ygduf

It's a time wasting thing. It does ruin a workout, and it does require me to warm up more than once, which literally hurts.

I also have **** to do. Especially now with kids, but even before, if I wanted to ride both weekend days then I need time between to actually recover. The stress/recover improvement plan only works with both.

mollusk

I rode today after changing out my bottom bracket. It was beyond crunchy and starting to chime in with metal on metal high notes.

I was slow, but I don't race anymore. I was so slow that what I used to do as a training ride in 1 hour and 40 minutes took me 2 hours and 15 minutes. And I don't care. I am living life in the small chain ring. And my big chain ring is really worn out. I did see a closeout on 7900 Dura Ace 53-b chainrings, so I might go for it. I was riding in my big chain ring not so long ago.

And in the last mile I got soaked and have stuffed my shoes with newspapers twice already hoping to ride again tomorrow.

Ttoc6

Shoe driers, my man. Been using them since I was a little kid in soccer. Not expensive but they are a huge quality of life thing.

Yesterday was Monday, so it was a rest day. Coworker had a birthday party and my dinner consisted of cake and cookies. No riding plus sweets!

Rode into work today and will do 1.5 to 2 hours after work. Need to get in about 140 tss. This evening the Utah Cycling association is having a party down in the city. They're providing food, so I'll probably overeat again, but what can ya do?

topflightpro

If I'm on a training ride, I don't want to stop more than I have to. I don't like carrying three bottles, but I do when necessary.

If I'm out for a stroll, fine, let's stop. If I'm in the mountains for a long weekend of riding and training and there are scenic overpasses, sure, I'll stop and snap a quick pic.

But as Fudgy pointed out, stopping for too long requires warming up again, and it hurts.

All that said, for some of the track training I've been doing lately, I warm up, do my first effort, then I go lie down for 20 min before doing the next effort. The idea is that you have to rest for about 20 min. to fully recover. I have started setting the timer on my phone to remind me as I've dosed off while lying there.

gsteinb

Is it? I'd much rather go hard for 90 minutes and then explore using the old feet Meandering holds very little interest for me personally

TMonk

For me it's a time thing, and I don't even have kids (yet). I'm type A and very task-list oriented; taking 5 hrs to complete at 3.5-4 hr team ride (flats, stops, pee breaks) just pisses me off.

mattm

There’s no crying in baseball, and no stopping in bike racing.

Seriously though, if I’m doing a long ride then I want to improve endurance, and I think stopping less is better in that regard.

With larger groups the stops just take ****ing forever, and the chances someone will flat are greatly increased. And the chances someone needs to pee are also increased. Really I hate bigger group rides.