Burning Thighs

[lesley_x]

I have recently been doing a lot of work in the gym with a personal trainer. I started this because even though I had been cycling for five years I had never really managed to get confident going over 20 miles. Plus I wasn't really getting my confidence or fitness back after surgery.

Over summer, the weather has been pants, so I've been doing a lot in the gym. But now when I go out cycling, although I can get up hills I never could before and I'm generally fitter, I get really quite intense burning pain at the front of my thighs whenever I go up a hill or exert myself. I was out today and had to sit down for 10 minutes (it felt like 10, maybe less) until it subsided. Then when I went up another hill, it started again.

Any ideas why this would happen? Have I conditioned my body for exercises at the gym and now cycling is going to be difficult? Today was possibly the least pleasant trip out on a bike I've ever had because of this. I am going to email my PT about it, but as he is a weightlifter and not a cyclist he may not know.

Cheers!

 

[fossyant]

Perfectly normal.

No pain no gain.

Somebody more technical can explain it but gym work is not the same as cycling. Yes it will help to some extent but cycling is mainly cardiovascular and some of this burning will be down to muscle conditioning and your body being able to remove lactate from the muscles.

It's normal to get this climbing. You just ride through it. How well you cope is down to training.

 

[martint235]

Pretty much what fossyant says. You're using a different muscle group than the ones you've conditioned in the gym. The gym work has made you fitter and more able to distribute oxygen through your system hence you can now climb hills you would have struggled on but you need to concentrate on the muscles you use in hill climbing. That means more hill climbing!!

 

[lesley_x]

Interesting. I'm curious as to why this would only start now. I guess I'm conditioning my legs to be able to do the gym exercises (squats, etc) but when I get on a bike I'm not conditioned for that anymore? So it hurts a lot more than it used to?

I am ecstatic with getting up some hills which have genuinely felt like Everest to me!

 

[PhilDawson8270]

How intense is this new workout?

When was the last time since starting this, that you rested the muscles and give them a chance to recover?

 

[Citius]

Have I conditioned my body for exercises at the gym and now cycling is going to be difficult?

The best 'conditioning' for cycling is going to be cycling. Anaerobic gym work is not going to be any help when it comes to an aerobic exercise like cycling. It's also possible that your riding position may be a factor, but without seeing it, it is impossible to know.

 

[vickster]

Have you tried a foam roller or sports massage? I get aching legs but I know my legs and knees have mechanical issues with tight/short muscles

If it's occasional, it's normal if it's all the time, look at causes. I get sore thighs when I walk a lot, probably because my legs are more used to cycling!!

 

[lesley_x]

How intense is this new workout?

When was the last time since starting this, that you rested the muscles and give them a chance to recover?

. Three different workouts (I normally go twice a week, shhh don't tell my PT I'm supposed to go three times) with at least one rest day in between.

A range of weights (squats, leg press, deadlifts, leg curls for the legs), upper body exercises and then HIIT either bike sprints or rowing sprints. Generally about 40-60 minutes per workout. Also a big change in diet so consuming 120g of protein per day. Which for me, is a lot! I was lucky if I was hitting 50g before.

 

[PhilDawson8270]

Maybe you need to take a break, let the muscles recover, then go back in to it.

A lot of people start routines like this. Maximum effort, lots of passion etc, then never give their body time to recover. Instead of a week off, you end up needing 2 or 3, and then people don't go back.

Keep an eye on muscle fatigue, make notes of how soon its setting in. If it continues to get worse, you seriously need to rest.

 

[Citius]

A range of weights (squats, leg press, deadlifts, leg curls for the legs), upper body exercises and then HIIT either bike sprints or rowing sprints. Generally about 40-60 minutes per workout. Also a big change in diet so consuming 120g of protein per day. Which for me, is a lot! I was lucky if I was hitting 50g before.

Sounds like your PT is trying to turn you into a power lifter.

 

[ColinJ]

Is your saddle the right height?

ITBS?

 

[PhilDawson8270]

Sounds like your PT is trying to turn you into a power lifter.

If OP is trying to lose weight and primarily lose body fat, the muscles will need protein, and be worked hard in order to maintain muscle mass while dieting.

If this doesn't happen, then the muscle mass will be used to fill the calorie deficit.

 

[vickster]

Is your saddle the right height?

ITBS?

Normally affects lateral knee not thighs I think?

Is it the outer quad or inner thigh (VMO)?

 

[Citius]

If the OP is trying to lose weight, then following a regulated diet and staying away from gym machines would be helpful...

 

[vickster]

If OP is trying to lose weight and primarily lose body fat, the muscles will need protein, and be worked hard in order to maintain muscle mass while dieting.

If this doesn't happen, then the muscle mass will be used to fill the calorie deficit.

She doesn't say she is trying to lose weight though?

Given he's a weightlifter, maybe that's all he knows how to train?