I'm back on a bike after about 13 years of not riding. While I'm loving it, my leg muscles feel very stiff and tender, like somebody has repeatedly punched my legs. Admittedly I've overdone it because it's so much fun to be back on a bike. However, because of the pain I've started to take it easy (as I should've done from the start) and my legs are starting to feel better, although they still ache.
My question is, what should I do now? Should I take a break or would it be better to carry on riding? What's a good way to ease myself back into riding without doing any damage?
I'm back on a bike after about 13 years of not riding. While I'm loving it, my leg muscles feel very stiff and tender, like somebody has repeatedly punched my legs. Admittedly I've overdone it because it's so much fun to be back on a bike. However, because of the pain I've started to take it easy (as I should've done from the start) and my legs are starting to feel better, although they still ache.
My question is, what should I do now? Should I take a break or would it be better to carry on riding? What's a good way to ease myself back into riding without doing any damage?
J
Keep on riding. Your legs will catch up. If they are sore, try to spin more (using a lower gear).
I'm back on a bike after about 13 years of not riding. While I'm loving it, my leg muscles feel very stiff and tender, like somebody has repeatedly punched my legs. Admittedly I've overdone it because it's so much fun to be back on a bike. However, because of the pain I've started to take it easy (as I should've done from the start) and my legs are starting to feel better, although they still ache.
My question is, what should I do now? Should I take a break or would it be better to carry on riding? What's a good way to ease myself back into riding without doing any damage?
J
Legs are nothing. That's just some lactic buildup -- your body is trying to trick your brain back onto the couch. It won't hurt you to work through it, you'll feel better once you're warmed up. As someone else wrote, spin in a lower gear. Bike riding isn't weight lifting. Wait until your heart, lungs, and brain hurt. THEN you're doing something.
My question is, what should I do now? Should I take a break or would it be better to carry on riding? What's a good way to ease myself back into riding without doing any damage?
More smaller or lighter rides. Maybe even some (shudder) road riding. If you burn yourself out every ride, you'll spend most of your time recovering.
Stretch a little before riding, and a LOT after. After ride snacks like yogurt and PB&J sandwich also provide enough protein to rebuild the torn muscles caused by excercising.
-- - Zilla Cary, NC USA (Remove XSPAM)
"John L." <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
Hi guys
I'm back on a bike after about 13 years of not riding. While I'm loving it, my leg muscles feel very stiff and tender, like somebody has repeatedly punched my legs. Admittedly I've overdone it because it's so much fun to be back on a bike. However, because of the pain I've started to take it easy (as I should've done from the start) and my legs are starting to feel better, although they still ache.
My question is, what should I do now? Should I take a break or would it be better to carry on riding? What's a good way to ease myself back into riding without doing any damage?
I'm back on a bike after about 13 years of not riding. While I'm loving it, my leg muscles feel very stiff and tender, like somebody has repeatedly punched my legs. Admittedly I've overdone it because it's so much fun to be back on a bike. However, because of the pain I've started to take it easy (as I should've done from the start) and my legs are starting to feel better, although they still ache.
My question is, what should I do now? Should I take a break or would it be better to carry on riding? What's a good way to ease myself back into riding without doing any damage?
J
Keep on riding. Your legs will catch up. If they are sore, try to spin more (using a lower gear).
Going form unfit to fit is always painful.
Matt
I agree and am in a similar position to you John.It's quite startling how quick things are improving though. I find it takes about 3 to 4 miles to warm up though and if I am going for it they ache bad but then things start to get better and the longer I ride the less my legs hurt - It's just the rest of me that gets knackerd then ;-) Don't know if thats just cus my legs are 41 years old and spent the last 25 years doing no more than staggering home from the pub but ???? A day or two off after a long ride is usually enough even if I got sore knees (Should have had both cartlidges done years ago).
"(PeteCresswell)" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
Per John L.:
Quoted message said:
My question is, what should I do now? Should I take a break or would it be better to carry on riding? What's a good way to ease myself back into riding without doing any damage?
This is from the psychological perspective: for me, the pleasure has to
exceed
Quoted message said:
the pain in the long run.
The pain is the pleasure, the pleasure is the pain.
My question is, what should I do now? Should I take a break or would it be better to carry on riding? What's a good way to ease myself back into riding without doing any damage?
This is from the psychological perspective: for me, the pleasure has to exceed the pain in the long run.
I'd try riding very slowly and not too long. If it becomes grueling, just stop and lay off until you feel better. But I'd wager that if you ride slow and easy enough, it'll feel all right - and maybe even hasten the reduction in soreness through improved circulation.
What I would be careful to avoid is riding harder just because I felt better a few minutes after starting the ride. You don't want injury upon injury... that's *really* bad for your head. -- PeteCresswell
The pain is the pleasure, the pleasure is the pain.
There's pain and there's pain.
I think that what somebody in good shape calls "pain" from riding hard is entirely different from what somebody who has insulted their body feels. Been both places... -- PeteCresswell
