When is it smart to quit a race, century or even a tough training ride? When is it okay to battle on? Here are some questions to ask yourself when Mr. DNF is calling your name.
—How important is this event? If it’s the Tour de France and your team depends on you continuing, you can justify trying to push on. If it’s the local weekend group ride and you’re risking three weeks off the bike because a knee is killing you, turn around and pedal home (gently).
—Am I feeling discomfort or real pain? Learn to tell the difference. Burning muscles aren’t the same as injured muscles.
—Can I ride through this problem? What’s your history? If you’re susceptible to knee tendinitis and you begin feeling telltale pain, better pack it in. But if your knees are sound and you feel a twinge, you may be able to ride through it. Gear down, stand for a bit or hop off to stretch and walk for a minute.
—Am I compromising my general health? If it’s dangerous to continue — due to high heat or humidity, for instance — be smart and live to ride another day.
It’s better to stop and preserve the season than risk making an injury worse.
This article only deals with the cyclist having problems, but not with riding conditions. I have been riding for over 40 years, and participated in innumerable centuries and other rides. I have dropped out of two. One because of weather conditions, there was so much lightning and such powerful wind in the rain that it was not safe to continue riding, and the other because I was receiving so many calls from my work that it wasn’t safe for me to ride with my group. I have ridden through not feeling strong, being aggravated by the group I was riding with, and other reasons, but have just dropped out of the group and finished the ride by myself in those conditions But when it’s not safe to be on the road, I have found shelter and called for a ride home. Twice!
.
Good point! That is also a very valid and wise reason to quit a ride or event.
Don’t confuse your brain with your gonads!