I rode our 400k this past weekend. Total time of 20:44 with riding time of 17:30, so off-bike time of 3:14.

Discussions on the ride in our group:
- two strong riders ordered a meal at a midday control, a slow service store/restaurant. The rest of us went on since we just wanted a snack and didn’t want to wait. We ate at the fast food restaurant at the next stop with quick service. We appeared to gain a little over an hour in the exchange.
- The 400k riders weren’t as concerned about sleep time at the end of the day as the 1000k riders (same course), and agreed on a meal stop with 42 miles to go. We spent about 30-45 minutes there at a Burger King, guessing.

Time management is much more of an issue on multi day rides as you realize every minute stopped is a minute less sleep.

Mark W

My off-the-bike time on 200-km ride is all over the map. From a min of 40 or 45 minutes to as much as almost 4 hours. It depends on the day, the weather, the time needed to eat, whether or not I'm in good or not-so-good cycling shape, the ride partner(s) and how they are feeling, and most importantly. The worst experiences, but perhaps not the most off-the-bike-time, have been on days when I was coming down with a cold or other health issue.

"We three arrived together at the control in Spring Hope (43.5 miles) in 2h49. Receipts and signatures acquired. I adjusted my saddle (earlier in the ride, I had mentioned to Ian that the week previous, although I was suffering from fatigued legs due to being ill with a cold, I had felt at one with the bike the entire day, but this morning, although I was apparently riding well, I felt as if my butt was sitting heavy on the saddle). As my legs were starting to tighten up a bit after I completed the saddle adjusments, I rolled out, knowing Ian and Tim would catch me momentarily.

"While still on the decline away from Spring Hope headed toward the underpass beneath controlled access US-64, those two went around me as if I were motionless. I picked up my pace, but soon they were out of view. I settled-in on the flat of Macedonia Rd for a comfortable and peaceful solo completion of my appointed round. I had to stop for a couple minutes at the turn onto Bend of the River Rd to check the instructions (sign missing, follow the arrow that indicates NC-58 is 5-miles to the left).

"Confident I was on course, I was enjoying my ride, wondering when I'd meet the returning fast-twosome. Three miles from Elm City, I turned onto W. Langley Rd, expecting to see Ian and Tim at any moment. A mile later, and I was sure I would see them any second. I was 100% sure on each pedal stroke the last mile into Elm City: Ian and Tim, any time now. They were still at the control when I arrived at 4h25.

"After the guffaws of "how long was our nap?" and a similar comment or two. Tim and Ian acknowledged that they had been discussing the fruitlessness of hammering an inconsistent 19-mph pace and needing more time at the control, compared to riding a steady-17-mph pace and being a bit quicker through the control. They concluded that it wasn't worth the extra effort; and that all they had gotten out of the last section was ... they were tired.

"Subsequent to the ride, I checked the cue sheet and did some calculations. It is 21.5 miles from the suggested Spring Hope control to the suggested Elm City control. At 19-mph, it takes 8 fewer minutes to cover the distance as compared to 17-mph. If the 19-mph riders take 8-minutes-more at the control than the 17-mph rider --> the 17-mph rider will leave the Elm City control first.

"To complete the circle: I did pull out first as we left together. And Ian and Tim tacked-on to me for awhile."