Cycling legs missing

[rich87]

I've been training for a JOGLE ride in May this year and therefore putting in some solid mileage since christmas.

I completed the Man of Kent 200 audax on 27th march, a 207km relatively flat ride. My training usually comprises of high intensity 20 mile rides during the week and 70 - 100 mile intensive hill climbing at the weekends with a mid-week circuit class thrown in. I also go for a swim every now and again to loosen up/ relax.

During and after the MoK ride on the sunday I was finally feeling some big fitness improvements, feeling stronger and faster on the hills and flats. I was still feeling fresh after the 200 odd km's. I went swimming a couple of times in the days after the audax as my legs were feeling quite tight and felt really good in the pool to so i was thinking my overall fitness has definitely stepped up a notch. i set a new PB time on the high intensity midweek ride that tuesday as well.

However, from the circuit class on the thursday onwards my legs seem to have deserted me. I did three rides on the friday, sat & sun the weekend just gone, covering 185 miles but my legs just feel so weak all of a sudden.

they don't seem to have the power to push on or power up the hills anymore. they ache continuously even just going up stairs now.

any idea what's happened? not sure whether it's just a lack of sleep, dehydration, or what?

 

[oldgreyandslow]

You're knackered! Lay off the bike for a few days or if you can't bear to do that take a very gentle recovery ride at low intensity/medium to high cadence

 

[Baggy]

Yup, sounds like you've overtrained!

A couple of days of no exercise or as oldgreyandslow says, very gentle exercise will help your muscles and immune system recover - and it might also help if you have a sports massage to help loosen the tightness in your leg muscles and get rid of the lactic acid that's making them ache.

 

[italiafirenze]

you can't nail it every day of the week, you need recovery, that's when your muscles and respiratory system actually do their improving, during the rest periods.

it's probably the number one cause of injury in new athletes, failure to recover.

i know it can be hard to sit around doing nothing when you feel like you could be training but if your body is telling you to stop with a loss of power, then you're already well past the overtrained point.

I would say have a good week's rest with only gentle riding at most; then make sure you include a couple of rest days or gentle recovery rides in your weekly routine.

best of luck with your Jogle.

 

[Rebel Ian]

Well I'm doing LEJoG a couple of months after you and have done nowhere near that sort of mileage and even I'm feeling a bit worn out. Take a rest man.....best prep you can do after the miles you've put in!

 

[e-rider]

for me the first signs of a virus are off-days on the bike - 2-3 days later I always come down with something.

 

[zigzag]

have some rest (few days), eat protein rich food, go for a sports massage (if you can afford). when ache in your legs turns into a pleasant tingle you will be almost recovered. you can start doing low intensity rides then and after day or two get back into full intensity training.

 

[rich87]

thanks for your help guys. after feeling such a gain in fitness i was wanting to press on and make further improvements and resting feels like a backwards step. don't want to get back on the bike and find all the improvement has been lost.

will give the resting a go.

i've got a physio on the support team for the JOGLE ride, will see if she's free for a sports massage.

 

[Glover Fan]

Resting will be the biggest improvement you could ever hope for.

I rarely cycle more than 3 times a week even though I feel I could. Muscle development can only ever occur when relaxed.

 

[Tynan]

um yes, a bit more theory in with your practice

 

[fossyant]

You do need rest days, if legs are dead give it a rest or ease up if you are commuting.

 

[Rebel Ian]

The strongest I've ever felt was when I did a ride two weeks after completing London to Paris. After getting back from France I didn't touch the bike for two weeks until a 45 mile ride and after loosening up felt as strong as an ox!