doing more miles, when should i?

[Markymark]

Don't stop to drink. Working on eating whilst on the move too but I always struggle cracking the lobster shell with one hand.

 

[Fab Foodie]

I'd question food at this point, but agree on taking liquid with you. Food I'd carry but only eat if I felt it really necessary. Work out a route that adds a couple more miles and ride that, it'll be fine.

This ^^^^^, just take some water, don't get hung-up on the food stuff yet as long as you eat normally 10 to 20 miles should be readily doable on just water or diluted apple juice or similar for instance to be tastier. No extra or magical food required.
Your body should have more than enough food stored. Many of us would happily do 40 miles on water alone at a conversational (a speed at which you can still talk comfortably) pace.

 

[Coggy]

Don't stop to drink. Working on eating whilst on the move too but I always struggle cracking the lobster shell with one hand.

Why not stop to drink ?

What's the problem with that ?

 

[Butty1972]

Catch a train, with your bike, to somewhere 20 miles away... then you have no choice but to ride 20 miles :-)
And drink... always drink... before you get thirsty too...

 

[Markymark]

Why not stop to drink ?

What's the problem with that ?

Nothing really but I'd be drinking continuously over the hour (eg every 10 mins) rather than waiting 30 mins or so. I also try and stop only every 80-90 mins to keep the legs moving and not lose momentum (not literal momentum)

 

[vickster]

I stop about every 5 minutes around here, more if the lights are against me! Plenty of opportunity to drink, not that I do much

 

[Coggy]

Nothing really but I'd be drinking continuously over the hour (eg every 10 mins) rather than waiting 30 mins or so. I also try and stop only every 80-90 mins to keep the legs moving and not lose momentum (not literal momentum)

I have no intentions on ever becoming a pro rider. I ride for fun. I usually stop about every 15-20 miles. If I feel thirsty then if it's safe to do so I'll have a glug on the move or if I feel the need I'll stop. I find a three minute stop does wonders for me.

 

[Markymark]

I have no intentions on ever becoming a pro rider. I ride for fun. I usually stop about every 15-20 miles. If I feel thirsty then if it's safe to do so I'll have a glug on the move or if I feel the need I'll stop. I find a three minute stop does wonders for me.

Nothing pro about me but I find I do much better drinking throughout rather than waiting a hour to drink as I'd hate to go more than 20 mins without fluid if on a long ride and I'd not want to stop that often. I'm not sure drinking that infrequently is that good for you though I'm no expert

 

[vickster]

Surely it depends on the individual and of course the weather conditions

I certainly wouldn't need a drink during a 4 mile commute unless it was 90 degrees and all up hill, probably not after the 7.5 miles home, but I'd want a nice cup of tea in front of the telly once there

 

[Markymark]

I commute 10 miles and don't drink. But, if I'm doing 50+ I drink all the way through.

 

[vickster]

The OP's not doing 50 miles though

 

[Markymark]

No but the principal is the same. The OP is struggling with a distance and I think drinking a little throughout whilst on the move will help. Waiting to stop to drink is fine for distances you find easy but not for those you think are far.

 

[vickster]

Over 4 miles? 20-30 minutes? He isn't old, nor very overweight given his height

I expect he is just new to cycling, may live somewhere hilly, perhaps not using his gears optimally, bike may not be set up for optimal efficiency etc. A Trek 7.4 is a good road going flat bar, so it shouldn't be that he is killing himself on an old MTB with flat tyres (assume he's pumped them up). Probably just needs to cycle more and not over think as others have said

 

[Paulus]

great advice, thank you all.Vikster i am 45 years old, about 16 stone and 6ft 1 (yikes i feel like im arranging a date !!). I tend to just jump on the bike and go. Mainly riding on roads. I have a Trek 7.4FX hybrid bike.
I think next tuesday im just going to go for a longer ride and plan a halfway stop. I seem to think stopping is cheating !!

Stopping half way on a ride is not cheating. It is what cafes were invented for. A cup of tea/coffee and a small bun is just the job.

 

[Fab Foodie]

I did 50 the other week. In total drunk about 5.5 Litres and peed about a thimble worth !

What?
I did 65 miles on the Whistable Night ride and drank less than 1.5L on the ride and a mug of tea. At the seafront finish brekkie I had another mug of tea. Then 6 pints of beer after breakfast. Then 0.5L water on the coach home.
If you think you need 1L water/10 miles you're doing something wrong somewhere ....


Sorry, but I think there's a lot of ill-informed krap about water and food etc. on this thread.