How can I take less breaks on ride?

[daisyj]

Thanks everyone for all the helpful tips and encouragement. There are several things here for me to try on my next ride. I'll get some practice in on a quiet road with the water bottle so I can build my confidence and try out the suggestions for tacking hills.

 

[MichaelW2]

It would seem that may not be a good idea.

http://www.ox.ac.uk/news/2015-09-14-pedalling-tour-winner-losing-strategy-most-us#

At 110 rpm, it isn't a good idea, but most newbies are pedaling at revs too low for efficiency. 60-80rpm seems to be a sweet spot for Just Riding Along. For high intensity racing, higher cadence reigns.

 

[Citius]

Ignore all the cadence bollocks. Ride at a cadence that suits you. Higher cadence doesn't 'reign' for 'high intensity racing'. There is no universal rule that says a higher cadence is better than a lower cadence, it's just an oft-quoted myth.

 

[steveindenmark]

Here is a saying I like.

"To go faster, you have to learn to go slower"

It sounds stupid but makes sense. You are pushing yourself to the point of exhaustion and forcing yourself to take breaks. You now know in your head, what is going to happen when you go out and ride and so your mind is also beating you.

The next time you go out relax and ride a lot slower. Try and finish the course without stopping and dont worry about the time. Just relax, ride slow and finish the course.

If you finish the course without stopping at least you will know you can do it. The speed will come in time.

 

[Milkfloat]

It would seem that may not be a good idea.

http://www.ox.ac.uk/news/2015-09-14-pedalling-tour-winner-losing-strategy-most-us#

Off topic I know - but 50 watts? I don't even think the most recreational of riders will only be at 50 watts. However, I do agree with others in that forcing an unnaturally high cadence is probably not a good idea, but then again mashing too high a gear and damaging your knees is not too clever either - something in between is needed. Personally - on the road I am about 90 rpm on the flat and 75ish on proper climbs.

 

[al-fresco]

All hills are easier once you know you can ride them. When you come to a hill that you can't get up without feeling that your heart is going to burst out of your chest stop and rest until your heart rate drops and then continue riding. Resist the temptation to push the bike up the rest of the way. When you get to the top you'll know that you can climb the hill - you just needed to rest. Next time you ride that way push on past the place where you rested last time, stop further up if you need to. Once you can cycle up without stopping ride that hill occasionally to remind yourself just how much easier it is and how much progress you've made.

 

[montroseloon]

Set a target for where you want to stop or do stops and gradually move the goalposts as you progress and manage to go further between breaks. I used to stop after a couple miles and going up a big daft hill and now that stop is missed as my stamina has built up so I'm sure you will get there soon. Good effort though and keep plugging away

 

[Racing roadkill]

Here is a saying I like.

"To go faster, you have to learn to go slower"

It sounds stupid but makes sense. You are pushing yourself to the point of exhaustion and forcing yourself to take breaks. You now know in your head, what is going to happen when you go out and ride and so your mind is also beating you.

The next time you go out relax and ride a lot slower. Try and finish the course without stopping and dont worry about the time. Just relax, ride slow and finish the course.

If you finish the course without stopping at least you will know you can do it. The speed will come in time.

That's the tortoise and hare principle. It's very true.

 

[Batgirl]

So much great advice in here - thanks for asking original poster I've a lot of this to learn.

 

[GuyBoden]

I've found that after a few months, my fitness improved and I automatically just keep pedalling for longer intervals. So, my advice is take it easy, it will come naturally.

I go up hills with much more ease than a few months ago, but it's not a race.

 

[Dave 123]

Ride with someone else, have a chat as you go round to distract yourself.

 

[steveindenmark]

That's the tortoise and hare principle. It's very true.

Its a quote from one of the Ladies who has completed the Transcontinental race.

 

[Sim2003]

What @steveindenmark says, take it nice and slow , you will pick up the speed naturally over time. Sing a song on the way up .

 

[HelsBells Cambs]

Thanks everyone for all the helpful tips and encouragement. There are several things here for me to try on my next ride. I'll get some practice in on a quiet road with the water bottle so I can build my confidence and try out the suggestions for tacking hills.

It's taken me a couple of months to get used to unclipping/drinking /reclipping but you do get there! And I still can't ride "no hands" like I did when I was younger. My sister says it's because as children we have less fear etc.....I just think my balance has bogged off as I've got older!!

 

[HelsBells Cambs]

All hills are easier once you know you can ride them. When you come to a hill that you can't get up without feeling that your heart is going to burst out of your chest stop and rest until your heart rate drops and then continue riding. Resist the temptation to push the bike up the rest of the way. When you get to the top you'll know that you can climb the hill - you just needed to rest. Next time you ride that way push on past the place where you rested last time, stop further up if you need to. Once you can cycle up without stopping ride that hill occasionally to remind yourself just how much easier it is and how much progress you've made.

That's helpful to know, as I thought I was doing wrong stopping half way up a particularly nasty hill. Twice I had to stop, but found it easier to do that and start again, even on the incline, than keep going. Managed it (just!) the third time though.....