Mike Tyson has given me a pounding!

[SpokeyDokey]

Today I went out for a slightly over 9 mile ride - the fourth ride I have done since I got my bike a couple of weeks back.

This was a significantly harder route for me than the preceeding 3 rides and it included about 1.25 miles of climbing at a (to me) reasonably steep angle ie 350' over that distance - I know this will be laughable to some but I am where I am with my cycling. It also included about a quarter mile of much steeper hill where I could only keep going by getting out of the saddle.

I'm 56 years old and returning to cycling after a 10 year injury induced lay-off.

I am fairly fit as I do a lot of hill walking/climbing eg two Saturdays back my hill buddy and I covered over 17 miles with 8300' ascent/descent in just shy of 9 hours - would've been quicker tbh but the last hour or so was a steep descent in the dark using headtorches - slows you down a bit.

However, I have just had my post-ride shower and I feel like I have truly been battered by Tyson - my legs/hips/back/arms ache.

It is not like a massively painful ache - in fact it feels pleasant-ish in a kind of 'I've just done some decent exercise' way.

Can I just ask - is this normal for a newbie ie just getting used to using muscle groups in certain ways or have I got something wrong on the technique front? Or am I just not as fit as I thought?

 

[simmi]

However, I have just had my post-ride shower and I feel like I have truly been battered by Tyson - my legs/hips/back/arms ache.

It is not like a massively painful ache - in fact it feels pleasant-ish in a kind of 'I've just done some decent exercise' way.

Can I just ask - is this normal for a newbie ie just getting used to using muscle groups in certain ways or have I got something wrong on the technique front? Or am I just not as fit as I thought?

I'm 43 and other than a numb bum have not found it too bad
What killed me was a 2.6 mile run on Sunday, my quads are still aching now

 

[Chescadence]

Today I went out for a slightly over 9 mile ride - the fourth ride I have done since I got my bike a couple of weeks back.

This was a significantly harder route for me than the preceeding 3 rides and it included about 1.25 miles of climbing at a (to me) reasonably steep angle ie 350' over that distance - I know this will be laughable to some but I am where I am with my cycling. It also included about a quarter mile of much steeper hill where I could only keep going by getting out of the saddle.

I'm 56 years old and returning to cycling after a 10 year injury induced lay-off.

I am fairly fit as I do a lot of hill walking/climbing eg two Saturdays back my hill buddy and I covered over 17 miles with 8300' ascent/descent in just shy of 9 hours - would've been quicker tbh but the last hour or so was a steep descent in the dark using headtorches - slows you down a bit.

However, I have just had my post-ride shower and I feel like I have truly been battered by Tyson - my legs/hips/back/arms ache.

It is not like a massively painful ache - in fact it feels pleasant-ish in a kind of 'I've just done some decent exercise' way.

Can I just ask - is this normal for a newbie ie just getting used to using muscle groups in certain ways or have I got something wrong on the technique front? Or am I just not as fit as I thought?

Hi,

I'm also a climber/mountaineer in North Wales, as well as an avid road cyclist. What you're experiencing isn't all that uncommon-providing you're in a comfortable position and your bike fits. I think, trying to substitute your "hill" fitness to cycling fitness if very difficult; I was extremely hill fit when i started cycling, but a simple 5-10mile ride would crucify my legs.

My advice, keep at it and the different fitness type will come. Though you are using similar muscle groups, you work slightly different areas in slightly different ways. Though, due to your fairly high base fitness, you should see quick improvements if you regularly get out.

Good luck,
Chester

 

[Kins]

Today I went out for a slightly over 9 mile ride - the fourth ride I have done since I got my bike a couple of weeks back.

This was a significantly harder route for me than the preceeding 3 rides and it included about 1.25 miles of climbing at a (to me) reasonably steep angle ie 350' over that distance - I know this will be laughable to some but I am where I am with my cycling. It also included about a quarter mile of much steeper hill where I could only keep going by getting out of the saddle.

I'm 56 years old and returning to cycling after a 10 year injury induced lay-off.

I am fairly fit as I do a lot of hill walking/climbing eg two Saturdays back my hill buddy and I covered over 17 miles with 8300' ascent/descent in just shy of 9 hours - would've been quicker tbh but the last hour or so was a steep descent in the dark using headtorches - slows you down a bit.

However, I have just had my post-ride shower and I feel like I have truly been battered by Tyson - my legs/hips/back/arms ache.

It is not like a massively painful ache - in fact it feels pleasant-ish in a kind of 'I've just done some decent exercise' way.

Can I just ask - is this normal for a newbie ie just getting used to using muscle groups in certain ways or have I got something wrong on the technique front? Or am I just not as fit as I thought?

I walk many miles with my 2 sheep dogs but still find riding a bike taxes the muscles completely differently than walking. I think it is because the muscles are being used harder for longer periods of time than when walking. I can walk 10 miles no problems with the dogs up and down hills, 5 miles on a bike really gets the muscles buzzing. I think its just conditioning the muscles to a different form of exercise and they will settle down after awhile.

Sounds like your doing great though!

 

[PpPete]

However, I have just had my post-ride shower and I feel like I have truly been battered by Tyson - my legs/hips/back/arms ache.
It is not like a massively painful ache - in fact it feels pleasant-ish in a kind of 'I've just done some decent exercise' way.

Can I just ask - is this normal for a newbie ie just getting used to using muscle groups in certain ways or have I got something wrong on the technique front? Or am I just not as fit as I thought?

Entirely normal - you'll always feel like that... This time after 9 miles, next month after 20 miles, by middle of 2013 after 50 miles..and so on. er can I discreetly point you this way ->>> http://www.aukweb.net/ be warned though, it is horribly addictive

 

[Chescadence]

Entirely normal - you'll always feel like that... This time after 9 miles, next month after 20 miles, by middle of 2013 after 50 miles..and so on. er can I discreetly point you this way ->>> http://www.aukweb.net/ be warned though, it is horribly addictive

Definitely, there'll always be a number that makes you feel like you did when you first started out- I sort of like a satisfying ache though.

 

[lulubel]

Sounds normal to me too. Just give your body time to recover between those kind of rides, and you'll be fine.

I'd been a road cyclist for quite a few years before I took up mountain biking, and I couldn't believe how it nearly killed me at first. I'd come home, and it felt like every muscle in my body was aching. It still does after some rides.

 

[simmi]

It seems to me if you have a well tuned body and then try something different your muscles react whereas if your body is decidedly untuned like mine was it's not so bad

 

[SpokeyDokey]

Thanks for the replies fellow cyclists!

The bike fits good and feels great - had it fitted by very good local LBS.

Guess I'll just keep plodding away without over doing it!

 

[Deleted member 1258]

Today I went out for a slightly over 9 mile ride - the fourth ride I have done since I got my bike a couple of weeks back.

This was a significantly harder route for me than the preceeding 3 rides and it included about 1.25 miles of climbing at a (to me) reasonably steep angle ie 350' over that distance - I know this will be laughable to some but I am where I am with my cycling. It also included about a quarter mile of much steeper hill where I could only keep going by getting out of the saddle.

I'm 56 years old and returning to cycling after a 10 year injury induced lay-off.

I am fairly fit as I do a lot of hill walking/climbing eg two Saturdays back my hill buddy and I covered over 17 miles with 8300' ascent/descent in just shy of 9 hours - would've been quicker tbh but the last hour or so was a steep descent in the dark using headtorches - slows you down a bit.

However, I have just had my post-ride shower and I feel like I have truly been battered by Tyson - my legs/hips/back/arms ache.

It is not like a massively painful ache - in fact it feels pleasant-ish in a kind of 'I've just done some decent exercise' way.

Can I just ask - is this normal for a newbie ie just getting used to using muscle groups in certain ways or have I got something wrong on the technique front? Or am I just not as fit as I thought?

Even after more than 40 years cycling I can still get aches after rides that are longer/ harder than normal, I did this ride on my fixed and it had some steeper hills than the ones I've been doing lately, the following day I had legs that were a bit dead plus aching thighs.

http://www.cyclechat.net/threads/sun-18th-nov.116164/page-5

As time goes on the distance you do before the ache sets in will get longer.

 

[SpokeyDokey]

Even after more than 40 years cycling I can still get aches after rides that are longer/ harder than normal, I did this ride on my fixed and it had some steeper hills than the ones I've been doing lately, the following day I had legs that were a bit dead plus aching thighs.

http://www.cyclechat.net/threads/sun-18th-nov.116164/page-5

As time goes on the distance you do before the ache sets in will get longer.

Thanks for that - pretty part of the world there!

 

[Crankarm]

Today I went out for a slightly over 9 mile ride - the fourth ride I have done since I got my bike a couple of weeks back.

This was a significantly harder route for me than the preceeding 3 rides and it included about 1.25 miles of climbing at a (to me) reasonably steep angle ie 350' over that distance - I know this will be laughable to some but I am where I am with my cycling. It also included about a quarter mile of much steeper hill where I could only keep going by getting out of the saddle.

I'm 56 years old and returning to cycling after a 10 year injury induced lay-off.

I am fairly fit as I do a lot of hill walking/climbing eg two Saturdays back my hill buddy and I covered over 17 miles with 8300' ascent/descent in just shy of 9 hours - would've been quicker tbh but the last hour or so was a steep descent in the dark using headtorches - slows you down a bit.

However, I have just had my post-ride shower and I feel like I have truly been battered by Tyson - my legs/hips/back/arms ache.

It is not like a massively painful ache - in fact it feels pleasant-ish in a kind of 'I've just done some decent exercise' way.

Can I just ask - is this normal for a newbie ie just getting used to using muscle groups in certain ways or have I got something wrong on the technique front? Or am I just not as fit as I thought?

Yes. You need to get the miles in to build strength and stamina in your legs. Hill walking and cycling are distinctly different activities which use different sets of muscles.

 

[number3]

I'm also new to cycling but I do have a running background. I noticed that after my first couple of rides (10 miles or so) my neck and between my shoulder blades ached, mainly ride position and using muscles that I don't need for running. Now I've done over 80 miles in the last couple of weeks as well as my running and I'm not getting those aches any more. It's just a case of getting used to a new group of muscles getting used (no problems with the leg muscles obviously).

 

[Rayvon]

You cant beat the ache and the buzz, just wish it was light nights