Dead legs after a coffee stop?

Seeing as we're in the "Bike Cafe", I thought I'd ask a question about coffee stops.

I ride a nice easy route of about 50kms some Saturday or Sunday mornings, with a coffee stop at about halfway. However, following the stop (usually of about 15 minutes) my legs just feel dead for the last half of the ride. The course is flat and easy, and well within my level of fitness. Sometimes I don't even have a coffee so I don't think that's the cause. Anyone have any ideas why this is happening - or any hints to make sure the second part of the ride is as good as the first?

Don't take such a long break. 15 minutes is more than enough time to completely cool down IMO, not that there's anything wrong with that. If you take a 15 minute long break the muscles begin to cool off and can be even harder to get warmed back up since they are already a little tired (and lactic acid will build up in the muscles) from the first half of the ride. If you take a break to re-fill your water bottle and use the restroom and nothing else you will probably be fine. Also be sure to stay completly hydrated before and during the ride or your muscles will stiffen up.

Dan.

hi there, 50kms is not much, in fact its just a plod.. what you must do is to ride 50 kms 3 times a week, and get fit... sitting around doing nothing for 6 days is just too long..if you just want to plod about just do that, at least you are getting a lot more air into the lungs...oh try deep breathing exersize, force as much air as you can into your lungs, then hold it there for 10 secs, easy mmmmmmmmmm try it,,do this 10 times??? all problems related to bike riding is down to lack of air into the lungs,, bon courage.

I agree that it is most likely the length of the break. The muscles have enough time to cool down. Although, coffee is of course a dehydrative agent. I have a cup of coffee in the am around two hours before any ride, but I couldnt do it during a ride, since I'd likely need another pit stop. I'd also suspect I'd feel really dehydrated. Be sure to stay extra hydrated if you do have the coffee.

hi there, i think that unless you are completely unfit, riding 50 kms should be a doddle to any fit and well person,,, as a bike rider since 1957, still racing and winning at 59,, i still think that its just a matter of lack of miles..to me a coffee stop is part and parcell of a good sensible ride..just get in more miles. bon courage.

Different people's muscles cool down and warm back up differently. I find that even if I've been putting up a lot of miles, I still feel like I'm riding a lead frame after that long of a break. I usually warm back up after another 15 minutes though. Next time, get the coffee to go, and you won't have to stop for that long.

hi there, yes you are right, but if its summer and nice and warm say 65/70ish, (do you use C in the USA yet?), its back on the bike and away you go.. if its cold, it does take a few miles (kms) to get going.. i still think that 50 kms (30miles) is just a doddle and not really contributing anything except a jolly good day out on the bike, bravo....all the mumbo jumbo of lactic acid/ heart rate/the bonk/dehidration ,does not come into the subject, but thats me,, a 350/400 kms per week man.(all year round) bon courage.

I find that if I an going to stop- I need to drop my cadence before hand and spin slowly for about ten minutes. This seems to cool me down a little more slowly and I don't stiffen. Course, I would never stop for vile coffee...only beer!
Course- beer is the number one cause of dead legs...oh well!

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may the wind take your troubles away...

hi there quite good, but as said before, 50 kms is childs play, all the mumbo jumbo scientific stuff just does not add up... you get more tired if you ran up and down a staircase in the local superstore a couple of times. ps one with a couple of etages..


bon courage..

Just to be fair, distance is relative. Childs play to some might be a major accomplishment to others. Not everyone has the time to spend fourteen hours a week on the bike. Pace matters a lot more than distance anyway. Look at any pro rider after a 50k time trial.

hi there point taken, i suppose with 48 years biking in my legs, 50 kms is childs play.... i still maintain that tired legs after a nice cup of coffee is down to just being plain unfit... what i say is, if 50 kms is your distance well done keep at it..but scientific mumbo jumbo is a waste of time.. , tired legs are part and parcel of a bike rider.. bon courage.

Probably right-
Ride that trip every day and it will become easy...because the fitness level has increased

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may the wind take your troubles away...

Biensur, but not all of us have 35 hour work weeks

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"You drink wine that you may be intoxicated; and I drink that it may sober me from that other wine." -Kahlil Gibran

bonjour.. i am retired , i threw the towel in at 49, me and my wife sold up in the uk, got off our backsides and rode to france, bought a old ruin of a barn, spent 9 years doing it up sold it, bought then 2 then then 3 .. now i just ride around with nowt to do. before that i worked a 80 hr week for a american industrial giant, but still got in 250 miles per week and won numerous events on the road and TT. how!! I got up at 5.am did 2 hours then went to work, got home at 7pm bite of marmite and out for another 2 hours. easy when you have the MOTIVATION... i have many stories to tell.. no-one one can prove to me that they do not have the time to get fit... for you ,if you work, dump the car in the garage and RIDE to work, use the car for the school run..and going out to the races at the weekend... bon courage.