• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Become a Premium Member
  • About

Road Bike Rider Cycling Site

Expert road cycling advice, since 2001

  • Pinterest
  • Facebook
  • Bikes & Gear
  • Training & Health
  • Reviews
  • Cycling Ebooks
    • Ebooks Training
    • Ebooks Skills
    • E-Articles Training
    • E-Articles Nutrition
  • Member Area
  • Newsletter

Quick Tip: When is It Time to Quit a Ride or Event?

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.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Fritz Mueller says

    July 23, 2020 at 11:42 am

    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!
    .

    Reply
    • Road Bike Rider says

      July 23, 2020 at 1:46 pm

      Good point! That is also a very valid and wise reason to quit a ride or event.

      Reply
  2. Hanker says

    July 23, 2020 at 1:21 pm

    Don’t confuse your brain with your gonads!

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Search

Recent Articles

  • Anti-Aging: VO2 Max
  • Tackling an Epic Climb – Mt. Lemmon, Tucson, Arizona
  • Move Around Before and After You Eat
  • Cycology Cycling Apparel Quick Review

Recent Newsletters

Newsletter Issue No. 1054

Newsletter Issue No. 1053

Newsletter Issue No. 1052

Newsletter Issue No. 1051

Newsletter Issue No. 1050

Footer

Affiliate Disclosure

Our cycling expert editors and writers choose every product we review. We may earn an affiliate commission if you buy from one of our product links, at no extra cost to you. This income supports our site.

Follow Us

  • Pinterest
  • Facebook

Privacy Policy

Still Haven’t Found What You’re Looking For?

Copyright © 2023 · Magazine Pro on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

 

Loading Comments...