Stopping during a long ride
 

How often do some of you when you are out on your longer weekend rides. I start having trouble with my feet about mile 23 and have to get off the bike to walk around a bit. Then about mile 34, something is not right with my butt, so I have to get off the bike and walk around a bit. Is this normal?

I've been riding since February and feel like I'm making progress. I'm down to 261 from 285 and I have seemed to hit a wall there weight wise, but I see and feel changes with my body. Clothes are fitting much better, waiste is slimmer, but I can't seem to break that 260 barrier.

I think its pretty normal for you to stop every once in a while on longer rides. I do. I have noticed that any time i stop and get off the bike i feel some pain from riding, i dont feel it when i am riding just while mounting or dismounting.

Also about 260# barrier, i am trying to break it right now. I have been 300lbs got down to 255 but the 260 barrier was the toughest one. then got back up to around 278 and since buying my bike about a month ago i am hovering aroun 261-263, put keep pushing change your diet up a bit and your riding pattern and you should be able to blast through it shortly. Ride really intense short rides interspersed with very long normal rides, get your body guessing again and it will start burning

If you're out riding by yourself, you should stop whenever you feel like it. You don't need a reason, and you don't have to wait for something to hurt. Take a camera with you and photograph flowers and scenery, or watch for birds or butterflies. Explore roads you haven't been down. Have fun.

Are you racing, or touring? Racing you get off the bike only when you have to. Touring you get off when you want to.

Our long rides are up to 40 miles now and we usually stop at, or a little past, the half way point to have a snack. Only thing I really have any issues with is numb butt if I don't get off the saddle every once in a while. Just standing up on the pedals for 30 seconds occasionally does the trick for me.

I live in a big city so it's just natural I stop often because of lights and signals or traffic. In that case, I generally won't stop until I've ridden 25 - 30 miles just to give my feet a rest (I too have that foot problem).

But when I do an event ride out in the country, main problem is you just keep riding and riding and riding, no natural stops. When your body starts to scream with pain that's the clue to stop and rest a second. There is no shame in a quick stop, a fast foot rub, drink some water, take in a GU and then go again.

Also with the butt thing, it's normal after about 25 - 30 miles to feel some discomfort. What I normally do is just lift off the saddle and give the bum a rest or I pedal standing up just to give other muscles a go. Normal is always going ot be what works best for you, not someone else.

I need to stop more often now than I did a couple of years ago. :(

I did notice though that when I was doing some pretty consistent riding in California, I was getting obsessed about things like average speed and stuff... I tended to ride on trails and so I was doing pretty consistent times.

Then one time I did a road ride, through an area that had several lights that I had to wait for. I assumed my average speed would be way down, and that I would be more tired at the end. However, I discovered, that the mini breaks at the lights actually helped me... my average speed increased, and I felt less tired at the end of the ride.

Who woulda thunk it????

My most humorous stop was during an organized ride when I decided I needed a rest, so I stopped on the side of the road near a cemetery and ate a raspberry newton and then got on my bike and started riding. I should have read my cue sheet, because within about 1/10 mile (down a slight hill even) around the next corner was the next rest stop. ;)