my first "long" ride ..

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spin · #1 Unread post by **spin** » Sun Sep 09, 2007 4:35 am

i guess 50 miles isnt considered long (is it!?) but i definitely started to get uncomfortable around 40 miles or so. my butt started to hurt, legs started getting heavy and my hands got tight.

i guess i just need to do this more often huh to get the muscles in tune to this distance.

is 50 miles a distance where you guys normally take a break? pull over, stretch a bit?

thoughts?

Veda · #2 Unread post by **Veda** » Sun Sep 09, 2007 4:52 am

Pull over whenever you feel you need to. You know your body and when it's starting to feel tired and you are distracted, etc. As you suspect you'll become more comfortable as you build more endurance, but you have to listen to your body and known when to take a break.

Johnj · #3 Unread post by **Johnj** » Sun Sep 09, 2007 5:20 am

I try to take a break every hour or so. Sometimes thats 50 miles, sometimes closer to 100.

ceemes · #4 Unread post by **ceemes** » Sun Sep 09, 2007 6:29 am

now a days, about 90 minutes is my max, by then my bum is going from numb to sore.....and at highway speeds, I'll burn between 1/2 to 3/4 of tank....so 90 minutes is a good time to gas up the bike, have a coffee and a smoke, and stretch out the kinks, aches and pains.

Nibblet99 · #5 Unread post by **Nibblet99** » Mon Sep 10, 2007 2:13 am

Generally My body gets tired at about 2 hours, but my attention span goes in about 90 mins, so I be sure to start looking for somewhere to stop after 60 mins

Ian522 · #6 Unread post by **Ian522** » Mon Sep 10, 2007 3:15 am

I think its best to take a pre-emptive 10-15 minute break every hour or so...even if you feel like you can keep going. I feel its best to prevent a sore arse before it starts. Once that ache in my tailbone sets in, I cant seem to get rid of it for the rest of the day...so I try to avoid any marathon riding.

Bubba · #7 Unread post by **Bubba** » Mon Sep 10, 2007 4:40 am

When you first decide to take a 'long ride', you should take longer and longer 'short rides'. This will build up your stamina and harden your butt.
It also helps you to get to know your ride better.

50 miles is a short ride to me. I've gone out on a Sunday for 5 hours plus and never got off the bike except to gas up. All depends on your stamina and your bike. If you're going to cruise, it helps to be riding a cruiser.