Lazyass

My average morning ride is 25-35 miles and I never stop. And I live in the country with little traffic and rarely have to come to a complete stop at intersections so I can rack up miles fast. My town doesn't have a stoplight.

rm -rf

I've noticed that even a 30 second stop is helpful. 30 seconds to maybe 2 minutes. On country rides, stop and check out the view and let the silence sink in. I feel a new burst of energy and mood after this.

I need a store or park stop after about 40 miles, for more water and a restroom break. A snack from the store is nice.

We've done lunch stops fairly often, but I still don't know if I like them. Socializing is good, but getting rolling again is hard. Food after the ride is way better.

shelbyfv

Can someone digest all this and tell me how often I need to stop?

wolfchild

You are allowed to stop as many times as you want. for whatever reasons you want.

andrewclaus

Group dynamics are interesting in this regard. How about the fast leader who rests while waiting for the slowest, then takes off right away? I've heard that called the "FU break."

jppe

Over the last couple years I have really enjoyed riding to a lunch stop. Usually those stops are in the 45-70 mile range. I eat lunch then continue on with the ride. My rides are generally 60-100+ miles. A lot of folks think I’m crazy eating and riding but it’s all about what you eat and how hard you ride afterwards. I couldn’t ride after eating if it were a race pace. Or at least try and ride without tossing lunch…..

Gonzo Bob

Probably about every two hours as I usually carry two 24oz water bottles and drink about one per hour. However, earlier this year I rode a 28-mile ride and had to stop at 15 miles because I had already almost finished both bottles (it was hot!). I rode a super randonneur series (200km, 300km, 400km, 600km) and then Paris-Brest-Paris (1200km) one year and I bought two 1-liter bottles so I could make it between the controls (forced stops to check in) without having to stop in between. I think the controls were generally about 50 miles apart.

Mark Stone

I'm primarily a sight-seer, so I stop from time to time to sit at a park bench to reflect or take in a view. But I know that's not what the OP was asking about lol -- so I'll say when I was younger, and "training", I would stop as little as possible. Sometimes I would do entire distances without stopping at all, while sometimes letting up a bit to rest a minute. I know this sounds trite, but I "listened to my body" -

Litespud

I wouldn't stop for anything under 50 miles if I was solo. I've ridden solo centuries where I've stopped once, and others where I've stopped 4x - it depends on how I'm feeling and the temperature (ie the need to refill bottles). If I'm stopping once on a solo, I'll get in a large coffee, something sweet, ponder my navel for 15-20 mins. Groups tend to get antsy after ~10 mins

cyclezen

Dependz... LOL!
mostly my weekday rides have been around 27-30 mi., and they never seem to start as early in afternoon as I'd like ... (recent retiree - finding solace in all the home/construction/repair projects I haven't done in the past 30 yrs... LOL! ) - so weekday, I'm always hustling to get the ride done before the mad commuter times. I may have to flip-flop the work/ride thing...
Sat - Early AM start, by myself because I can't quite consistently do the regular 'group' yet, without getting shelled early... Still a ways to go before hanging with the younguns again...
so 35 ish mi, no stops, meet the group at coffee spot, shot the BS a while, then another 15-18 on my own again, no stops.
Sun - If I get up early enough, I roll 15m nonstop to the group ride - ride starts at 8:30, 30-35 mi, After which is coffee stop, then roll back home, same 15 mi.
in my effort to get some of my old mojo back, before my recent health crisis which forced time off bike/hike, I don;t miss a day of activity - always something... more than a walk.
Riding has been #1 of activity.. every day (when not hiking/backpacking) since April.
no burn-out yet - and winter is the BEST out here !
Ride On
Yuri

jon c. 

I don't usually do more than 40 miles and only stop if nature requires.

No traffic lights on most of my rides so I often don't put my feet down until I'm back in my driveway.

canklecat

I noticed studying the Strava logs for a couple of friends who ride centuries fairly often that they stop more often than I'd realized. The Fly-By feature reveals more details about the time and duration of stops, although Strava's final overall average speed ignores stops and most pauses. Looks like they're usually stopping every 20-25 miles briefly, stopping randomly for photos, and usually a longer break for a meal.

One of those fellows rode more than 100 full centuries two or three years ago. So whatever he's doing works for him.

Riveting

Every 20 miles for 10 minutes, and sometimes more time if I need to cool down in the shade in the heat of the summer.

locolobo13 

On my morning commutes usually no stops. 5.5 mi. On my weekend ride, 25-40 mi, I stop as the mood hits me. Something interesting to look at? Stop and look, take a pic, wander around to see what else is there. Often I'm deliberately riding someplace to take photos on days off.

Biker395 

I stop quite often. For a pix, to admire the view, take a jacket off, take a drink, or whatever. Typically, I'm riding with others and we stop to regroup at the top of a major climb or descent.

rumrunn6

I'm usually fussing w/ cameras, so I stop for that
I often stop to photo some highlight like an old pencil factory
if I'm exploring, I may stop to navigate
on my MTB I sometimes stop due to a fall, meaning if I fall, I'm stopped ... lol
on long rides, I certainly stop to eat
I have been stopped by steep hill climbs, but I try not to do that & only "rest" on the descent
if I bike commute to my current office, the morning ride, about 1/2 way, requires a short pit-stop, behind a shed, at a closed office bldg.

exercion

I tell myself that I should stop periodically, and sometimes I even listen. I rarely plan stops, and so it varies wildly. Also, I cannot pass up a good photograph, so some rides I stop a lot.

Eric

Kabuki12

I usually stop at 1 hour intervals just to stretch or take in some hydration. I started stretching during my rides a couple of years ago and it works on longer rides. If it is just 15-20 miles I usually don’t stop.

GhostRider62

On my recumbent, I might stop 6 times the first hour, 3 times the second and then every 2-3 hours thereafter. On an upright, maybe once in the first 2 hours and then every 2-4 hours thereafter. Seems the bladder gets confused in the horizontal position.

My easy 35 mile ride would have been an up and back to a coffee shop but since it went out of business, there is nowhere to stop on that route. My 55 mile hilly route would have me stopped at an ice cream shop 5 miles from home. On long rides, stop when hungry or when riding with others, when they have to pee.

MNBikeCommuter

Above freezing: No stopping if under 50 miles.
Below freezing: Maybe after 20 miles to get a drink from the water bottle in the pannier.
Tandem: when the stoker says to.

Jumpski

I only stop to refill water bottles and my Camelbak when solo. How many stops depends on the distance of said ride. Staying hydrated is a challenge at times.

zacster

Since most of my rides are out and back I'll stop at the turnaround point. And if it isn't an out and back I'll stop once somewhere along the way, usually beyond the halfway point. But I'm also in NYC so there is a lot of stop-and-go during just about any ride and sometimes that's enough. Generally though, just once on any ride. If I stop a second time it is a sign that I won't make it home so I then get on the long silver limo,(that's the NYC subway)

delbiker1 

I definitely stop more often as I get old. My bladder needs relief, or my muscles and joints need a break and a bit of a stretch. I also have some digestive issues, so I try to consume smaller amounts more often. On longer rides, that can mean a fuel stop. Just a minute or so makes a huge difference regarding being comfortable. Also, I am rarely in a big hurry and not so concerned about average speed. I used to often be obsessed with getting my miles in as fast as I could, no stopping. That only happens no short rides now.

deacon mark

I am lone ranger and do not plan stops unless nature calls. I typically ride 50-60 miles and do not stop or if I do it is only for maybe 2 minutes as it is easier to stop and drink than pull the bottle riding. I too as one poster said ride in country and no stop lights and many rides never put a foot down or unclip till I get home. I once did a century and never unclipped. Food is not needed unless doing more than 75 miles.

bent-not-broken

+1