Longer rides - how many times to stop?

[merlin321]

Hi, I`m planning on doing the Exmouth Exodus ride in August which is just over 100 miles. Although I commute on a 20 mile round trip every day and have done about 3,000 miles in the last six months, I have never ridden more than 40 miles in one go.
I am going to start to do some longer rides to build up the the Exodus but as I have only done all my previous journeys in one go, I have no idea how to approach a 50, 60, 70 mile rides.
Is there a set distance to stop at or just see how you feel?
Any advice on this is welcome.

Cheers.

 

[byegad]

For me it works like this. I CAN do 40 miles none stop, but if I'm covering longer distances 20 miles or less between stops is about right. A longish stop for a meal leaves me almost as fresh as I would be on a new day!

 

[asterix]

'must be personal IMO. My preference is to keep going and if I take a break, I don't stop for long.

Certainly I never stop at the top of tough climbs but always keep going in low gear for a bit first to refresh the muscles' blood supply and avoid cramp.

 

[ajb]

I would rather keep going, if I do stop it's for no more than 4/5mins, enough time to have a leak, fill bottles etc, if I stop longer than that I stiffen up and find it very hard to get going again.

Alan.

 

[ianrauk]

Alan makes a good point, I also keep riding, only to stop for a couple of minutes at a time. But do always stop for a little longer for snack/sandwich etc

 

[snakehips]

merlin,
When I first did the Dunwich Dynamo in 2007 I was basically just a commuter on about 10 mile per day round trip. I did a few 40 , 50 , and one 60 mile run in preparation, all without stops. On the Dun Run (which is about 120 miles) there is one organised stop at just over half way. I believe most people do the ride with just this one stop (except maybe for the odd 'comfort break')

 

[jimboalee]

How to tackle a 150 km Brevet Pop.

There will be a start and finish ( at the same place ) and three controls.

I know you are not on a 150km Audax ride, but a Populair this distance will have stops at about 25 miles apart. That is equivalent to two hours riding.

My strategy is to ride slow and take short stops. Long enough to get the card stamped, cram in a couple of cakes and swig a can of coke.
Short stops avoid the muscles cooling too much.

And do some stretches between bites of cake.

 

[chris667]

And above all else, don't worry.
If you're a 20 mile a day commuter, you'll have no trouble with a 100 mile ride.

 

[HLaB]

When I done the Etape Caledonia (81 miles) last year I didn't stop once. I quite regularly do rides of 50 or more not stopping, having said that today I stopped after about 35miles for a Banana. With 100mile rides although I always feel like I need it I usually try to stop half way to have a banana.

 

[JonGW]

Did my first 100miler on Saturday, A very hilly one too!

Me and my mate are beginners, We stopped probably every hour for about 5mins max. for a check of time/map, and to grab a bit of flapjack, then stopped for some lunch and a rest at the half way point.

It's actually not as hard as you may think, Took us 8 hours though, but I fooked up my knee with about 15miles to go riding up a hill, so I had to pedal with only 1 leg!!

Few tips-
Take some lights
Don't go to Shropshire or Wales!
Take money for a train just incase you don't think your going to make it, you can just hop on the train home.

 

[merlin321]

Great, thanks for all the advice.
Fruit, fluids and flapjack it is then.
I get every other weekend off of work, so if the weathers not to British I`ll start doing longer rides on Saturdays, recover Sundays and back to work for Monday.
Cheers again.

 

[yello]

Carry enough on you (water & food) to not stop. Stop if you want to or need to. There are no rules really. You should be able to do a 100 without (significant) stops; i.e. red lights, 'rest' stops, etc.

 

[TVC]

For me it's not about the stops, it's about keeping the fuel going in. If you wait till you feel hungry/thirsty then it's too late. On a long ride (80-100) I cram down a mars bar 15mins before the start (having had a proper high carb breakfast), then I'll be into my first banana before 20 miles are up and keep grazing as I go.

 

[longers]

For me it's not about the stops, it's about keeping the fuel going in. If you wait till you feel hungry/thirsty then it's too late. On a long ride (80-100) I cram down a mars bar 15mins before the start (having had a proper high carb breakfast), then I'll be into my first banana before 20 miles are up and keep grazing as I go.

That's what I try and do, dried apricots are perfect for easy munching as you ride.

I did get some sundried bananas once and they were quite horrible .

 

[IJCymru]

Did my first 100miler on Saturday, A very hilly one too!

Me and my mate are beginners, We stopped probably every hour for about 5mins max. for a check of time/map, and to grab a bit of flapjack, then stopped for some lunch and a rest at the half way point.

It's actually not as hard as you may think, Took us 8 hours though, but I fooked up my knee with about 15miles to go riding up a hill, so I had to pedal with only 1 leg!!

Few tips-
Take some lights
Don't go to Shropshire or Wales!
Take money for a train just incase you don't think your going to make it, you can just hop on the train home.

What wrong with shropshire or wales . I dont have much choice about cycling there lol. The hills make it fun, I think I would be bored living somewhere flat.