Stopping on a "long" ride

[Paul_L]

Did my first 30 mile ride today. First 12 miles was mainly uphill involving several 6-10% stretches. Then 2 miles of sharp eye watering descent, followed by 16 miles of flat ish roads on the way back. The flat miles however were mostly into a headwind.

Admitedly i probably got my pre ride food and drinks a bit wrong and left if late to eat my one banana on the ride, but after 24miles i was knackered. So i stopped at a cafe for 10 mins and got a sugary bun and bottle of lucozade in me and then headed off again feeling much revived for the last 6 miles.

It might seem a bit of a strange question, but is this acceptable behaviour!!!! should my long ride be a continuous one, or are short stops normal practice.

What's the drill here?

 

[Will1985]

Doesn't really matter IMO unless you are training. Are you regularly eating and (more importantly) drinking on the bike?

Your undercarriage will also thank you for the breaks, so it helps to insert the odd short stop particularly since you have increased the mileage.

 

[Paul_L]

cheers Will, i am training for the White Rose Challenge around the Yorkshire Dales in June. I've entered the 50 mile route but am considering switching to the 80 mile route.

It's a charity ride not a race so i don't think stopping is a problem on that one, and there are refreshment facilities dotted along the routes so they are anticipating people stopping.

I only have one bottle cage on my bike and i definately need another or even a camelbak, as by the time i'd stopped my mouth felt very dry. Probably could have taken an energy bar with me in my saddle bag so some lessons learnt for me.

You're right on the saddle comfort area by BTW!! Also helps to stretch out the knees ad calves i found too.

Without the headwind i think i'd have done it all in one, but that said i enjoyed the break.

 

[jimboalee]

After about an hour, your body has used about 600 kCals. Depending on the intensity, and your's sounded an energetic first hour, this can rise to nearly 1000 kCals, almost all of it your glycogen.
That's most of the contents of your blood and liver, so I would expect you to be feeling depleated.
Without support cars and team-mates to pass you food and drink, the only thing you can do is stop at a shop.

On a flat course after a good breakfast, travelling a moderate pace, refuelling would be after two hours.

My 100 km Audax strategy is to stop for about 10 minutes after 90 minutes riding.
Even if the distance between controls is 32-35 miles on a 200 or 300, I will stop midway for 5 mins or so.

 

[jimboalee]

cheers Will, i am training for the White Rose Challenge around the Yorkshire Dales in June. I've entered the 50 mile route but am considering switching to the 80 mile route.

It's a charity ride not a race so i don't think stopping is a problem on that one, and there are refreshment facilities dotted along the routes so they are anticipating people stopping.

I only have one bottle cage on my bike and i definately need another or even a camelbak, as by the time i'd stopped my mouth felt very dry. Probably could have taken an energy bar with me in my saddle bag so some lessons learnt for me.

You're right on the saddle comfort area by BTW!! Also helps to stretch out the knees ad calves i found too.

Without the headwind i think i'd have done it all in one, but that said i enjoyed the break.

On that ride, you'll probably need to drink 4 litres of water. A steady 0.75 litres per hour would be my aim. That means stopping to refill on the hour, every hour.
And emptying your bladder.

 

[Paul_L]

Cheers Jimbo, two excellent replies there.

More stops it is then.

For some reason i told myself get to the high point of the route yesterday (between 12 and 13 miles), and then reward myself with a banana and a drink. Looking back through the times, this was after 1hr 10m.

From your first post it seems that i did this on my pre ride fuel, so the banana had to get me back home. With the additional energy required from the headwind i "popped".

Ah, well it's all about learning lessons i guess and i had a really enjoyable ride AND learnt some lessons.

 

[HLaB]

D So i stopped at a cafe for 10 mins and got a sugary bun and bottle of lucozade in me and then headed off again feeling much revived for the last 6 miles.

If you enjoyed that (which I am just thinking about it ) stopping is fine. My self, I'm security paranoid and like to eat on the go, only stopping for a few minutes on rides over 50miles for a banana/ cereal bar sometimes or eat on the move but it doesn't matter what you do as long as you enjoyed it.

 

[epicurus.]

Did my first 30 mile ride today. First 12 miles was mainly uphill involving several 6-10% stretches. Then 2 miles of sharp eye watering descent, followed by 16 miles of flat ish roads on the way back. The flat miles however were mostly into a headwind.

Admitedly i probably got my pre ride food and drinks a bit wrong and left if late to eat my one banana on the ride, but after 24miles i was knackered. So i stopped at a cafe for 10 mins and got a sugary bun and bottle of lucozade in me and then headed off again feeling much revived for the last 6 miles.

It might seem a bit of a strange question, but is this acceptable behaviour!!!! should my long ride be a continuous one, or are short stops normal practice.

What's the drill here?

You've answered your own question. I bet the second time you do it it will feel easier.

Nothing wrong with stopping for a rest though. It's supposed to be fun.

 

[jimboalee]

When a stage start is 10:00, the riders are up at 6 ish stretching out and taking a prelim' tootle around to get the joints moving.
Then they are in the Breakfast hall for about 3000 kCals.
Then some more stretching at the stage start, where they might ride round or take a few minutes on the rollers.

The stage starts 'neutralised' for about 10 or so km before the 'Depart Firme'. This acts as a further 'warm up' proir to getting up to speed.

All I can remember is that food cannot be taken on until 50 km is covered, and cannot be taken on in the final 50 km Confirmation please.

In the first 80% of the stage, if it is flat, the riders will be moving around the group catching the draught of the others. It might be at 26 - 30 mph.


I sat in breakfast at the Kiltarnan Country Club, Co Dublin on the morning of the 1st stage of the 1998 TdeF with the USPS team ( Lance was there ). They ate like it was their last day, but two riders ate much more. These two were the ones who would chase a breakaway, if necessary.


It was a fantastic day. I had ridden the stage (188 km) on the Saturday before watching the Prologue. I found the Wicklow Gap a bit tricky, but that stage was deemed 'Flat' by the race organisers.
Seeing what the USPS team ate, I didn't eat enough by half on Saturday morning. Mind you, I averaged just over half their speed - with a few stops for food and photos.

 

[MacB]

depends on the ride, going hard I'd aim for a stop every 90mins and easier every 2 hours. At my current abilities both of these would result in approx 24-25 miles, in reasonable conditions and not excessively hilly. I've not yet mastered the art of eating and drinking on the go and, to be fair, actually quite enjoy a stretch. Definitely get a second bottle cage, rode a long way at the weekend and my bikes have now been fitted with second cages. I found I was rationing myself or running out and looking for shops.

 

[Randochap]

Depends what you're trying to accomplish. Isn't it nice to stop for refreshments?

Unless you are in an event and the clock is ticking, who cares? Enjoy your ride and reward your efforts.

 

[Soltydog]

The experts will probably say you need to consume x amount of carbs per hour & x amount of fluids per hour
I think it varies so much with each cyclist & you need to try things out & see what suits you best.
If it suits you then it is "acceptable behaviour"

I did 101 miles yesterday, riding for approx 7.5 hours, consumed 2 litres of pure orange/water mix, 1 coffee, 1 flapjack, 1 peanut butter sarnie & fish & chips. Probably not enough fluid for some, but it's acceptable to me

How's Shipley nowadays? Lived on Shaftesbury Ave as a kid & until 5 years ago lived in Wrose

 

[JamesM]

What was your route? Did you go up Hollins Hill and over the moors?

I'm at the Shipley end of Baildon and haven't found time for any long leisure rides yet. I ride to work in Leeds along the canal when I can.

 

[Paul_L]

What was your route? Did you go up Hollins Hill and over the moors?

I'm at the Shipley end of Baildon and haven't found time for any long leisure rides yet. I ride to work in Leeds along the canal when I can.

I'm in Nab Wood.

Went up through Wilsden - Cullingworth - Haworth to Oakworth. Then over the tops via Slippery Ford Lane to Cowling and back via Sutton - Eastburn - Keighley and on the old road through Crossflatts and Bingley. Did a loop down through Saltaire to Fox's Corner and back up via the Branch pub and Moorhead to make up to 30.

The cafe i stopped in was Dave's Village Bakery in Crossflatts! Not very scenic but they do good buns!!

This route took me 2h33 riding time at an ave of about 12mph.

If this sounds like your pace / distance i'd be happy to meet up for a ride, as it's a bit of a mental battle on your tod.

 

[Big T]

Does anyonme else find that they get "cafe legs" when they stop. I usually stop around halfway round a 50 or 60 mile ride for a cup of tea and a bite to eat, but after a 20 min stop my legs are stiff and it takes afew miles to get going again.