Legs stopped hurting but.........

[Davehateshills]

Now this might be totally normal when starting to cycle but it's confusing me a bit. I started cycling again about 4-5 weeks ago and at that time and indeed up until a few days ago i would arrive back from a ride with a pair of jelly legs. This is what I expected and as time goes by your legs get stronger and before you know it your a proper speed daemon right? wrong!

The last few rides that I have had I know that my fitness is improving (knocked 12 mins off a 17 mile ride today) and my legs feel so much stronger however my arms and shoulders have really started to feel it. It's like I have been lifting weights for the last half hour. I never really expected this, I haven't changed anything about the bike so was just wondering is it me, or is this normal?

 

[Crankarm]

It might be you. Are you in good health?

 

[akb]

Maybe your bike wasnt set up correctly in the first instance? I used to have problems with achey wrists when I first started. Tilted the seat a tad and has improved no ends. It took me a good year of trial and error sweet tuning my bike set up to get it comfortable for my 25 mile commute.

 

[Davehateshills]

It might be you. Are you in good health?

I would like to think that I am in reasonable shape. I managed 42 miles the other day in about 3 1/2 hours if that's anything to go by.

 

[Dave 123]

How hard are you gripping the bars?

 

[Davehateshills]

How hard are you gripping the bars?

Well its a MTB that I have converted in to a Hybrid, so the bike still has flat bars. I did have a think about putting some bar ends on however as yet I haven't so its just the normal flat bar grip.

 

[Sittingduck]

I reckon it's bike setup and your position. What exactly have you done to the bike to 'convert' it into a hybrid, anyway?

Bar ends will undoubtedly help on longer rides. Give them a try!

 

[Pauluk]

Would it be worth raising your stem a little, you may have too much of your weight going through your shoulders and arms. You can do this if you have spacers on your steer tube above the stem. If not you can get an angled stem or an adjustable stem.

However, before you do this check your saddle in is the correct position with regard to your pedal/knee position and that the saddle is pitched correctly for your comfort.

It does sound like a bike set up problem that has raised its head now that you have gained a bit more strength in your legs.

One last thing, do you carry a back pack?

 

[Davehateshills]

Would it be worth raising your stem a little, you may have too much of your weight going through your shoulders and arms. You can do this if you have spacers on your steer tube above the stem. If not you can get an angled stem or an adjustable stem.

However, before you do this check your saddle in is the correct position with regard to your pedal/knee position and that the saddle is pitched correctly for your comfort.

It does sound like a bike set up problem that has raised its head now that you have gained a bit more strength in your legs.

One last thing, do you carry a back pack?

Ok, the bike does already have a couple of spacers on the stem and it is an angled stem which means currently the bars are about in-line with the seat (height wise). I must admit that I do often find myself pushing my self backwards on the seat so there maybe an issue with the pitch.

I think I will watch a couple of the tutorials on youtube and start all over again in terms of set-up. Do you know if there are different set-up's fot different bikes/bars? I would imagine that the basic seat height and saddle position/tilt would be the same for any bike, it then just the angle of the back I suppose.

I don't carry a backpack but it could be the weight of all the Jelly Babies in my jersey pocket!

 

[akb]

+1 to bar ends. They are a great alternative hand position. I've been commuting the past few days on the MTB (for a bit of fun!) but am missing the bar ends!

 

[Peteaud]

+1 to bar ends. They are a great alternative hand position. I've been commuting the past few days on the MTB (for a bit of fun!) but am missing the bar ends!

+2

They make a massive difference.