Legs a-burnin' (Lactic acid)

I can't imagine someone who hasn't felt their legs burn! Wow, he/she is either gifted like Lance Armstrong, or they only ride on flats at less than 10 mph!

I'm no expert, but it happens to me just the way you explain it. It burns easily at first, then once warmed up, it burns only on big efforts.

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by kerank
I'm no expert, but it happens to me just the way you explain it. It burns easily at first, then once warmed up, it burns only on big efforts.

It burns quickly at first simply because you haven't warmed up enough to get the body's lactic acid clearing mechanisms working. Including 1-2 high effort 60-second sprints in your warmup, and this will get things going quickly.

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by davef
Before any races or training rides I will warm up for 10-20 minutes.

However, if I just jump on the bike and hammer it, i.e. even 15-30 seconds, I feel the lactic acid starting to burn. After a warm up I can hammer the legs and never feel them burn again, until they just plain give up.

One of my biking buddies says he has never felt his legs burn, to which I say, "you're not trying hard enough".

Is it common to get some initial burning?

Thank you.

Welcome to bike racing😄

Thanks for the reality check guys.

Next time I go for a ride with this guy I'll hammer it real hard as soon as we get on the bikes and then check in with him to see if he has any odd sensations in his legs 🙂

davef