New here, leg ache and my work commute

[gillelive]

Thanks for all the advice people much appreciated. I took it a bit easier on the way home tonight but had to deal with another head wind, why is this always on the way home!

I find that after a mile or so back on the bike the muscles relax and all is well, it's later when I am home and sat watching a bit of tv that the aches start but I am not worried I am sure it's just down to the muscles being stretched and building strength. As the days go by the ache is less but I will be taking some of the advice you have given.

I did check my ride height again on the way home and no problem there, all appears well and the set up and advice given from my lbs has been good, I have every confidence in them.

 

[Chrisc]

Thanks for all the advice people much appreciated. I took it a bit easier on the way home tonight but had to deal with another head wind, why is this always on the way home!

I find that after a mile or so back on the bike the muscles relax and all is well, it's later when I am home and sat watching a bit of tv that the aches start but I am not worried I am sure it's just down to the muscles being stretched and building strength. As the days go by the ache is less but I will be taking some of the advice you have given.

I did check my ride height again on the way home and no problem there, all appears well and the set up and advice given from my lbs has been good, I have every confidence in them.

As you said in your op, it's just down to using muscles that have been snoozing for a few years. They get grumpy when you try to get them to do a bit! If you bike shop is OK and have set things up you'll be fine.
Although the aches subside to nearly nothing, after days where you've pushed a bit harder than usual or done more than your body really wanted you to they will be back. You just accept it as part of getting healthier, fitter and faster. And like you, I raced everywhere when starting...mostly still do. If you're riding alone you've only yourself to beat! It gets worse once you buy something like a garmin 500...

 

[accountantpete]

By no means do I want to hijack this thread, but it probably doesn't warrant a new thread. The OP states aching in his legs & calf muscles. After a ride, I regularly feel aches from the muscles which make up the quadriceps, but I've yet to notice any aching in the calves. I'm wondering if I may be over exerting on my quadriceps and not enough on my calves. Any advice on this?

It depends on your foot position - if you angle the toe downwards then you bring the calf more into play just like standing on tip-toe. Personally I prefer my feet flatter and more relaxed.

 

[crumpetman]

It depends on your foot position - if you angle the toe downwards then you bring the calf more into play just like standing on tip-toe. Personally I prefer my feet flatter and more relaxed.

It's irritating me somewhat that the other cyclists I see seem to have bulging calves and yet nothing seems to happen with mine. My thigh muscles have definitely got bigger but I don't feel anything much going on with my calves. Even out of the saddle going up hill it's usually my breathing that lets me down rather than my legs.

 

[Globalti]

Cyclists' calves don't do as much work as the thigh and buttock muscles and cyclists are notorious for stiff, inflexible calf muscles, I'm told.

To the OP, some stretching for a few minutes after riding will definitely help. I have been riding for 23 years and have managed to ignore all advice to stretch. Recently I suffered an overuse injury to my knees and a physio told me that stretching would help so I started to heed her advice and miraculously it is working; the knees are getting better.

The stiffness you are experiencing is the damage caused to the muscle fibres so bear in mind that the improvement actually takes place during the three or four days after exercising when the muscle fibres repair themselves. It would really help if you gave them a chance to recover, a week off cycling and plenty of good food works wonders and you'll be amazed at how strong you feel when you return to cycling. Check out your thighs and bum, I bet they are more meaty now than before you started cycling; at least you won't end up like some of those blokes you see in their forties who have big bellies and no bum muscles!

 

[Peter10]

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It depends on your foot position - if you angle the toe downwards then you bring the calf more into play just like standing on tip-toe. Personally I prefer my feet flatter and more relaxed.<br /><br />

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Thanks for the reply. I wondered if it had anything to do with my saddle position or technique. I might make a conscious effort next time I'm out to point the toe down, just to work the calves.

 

[Fab Foodie]

Hi

Some thoughts...

Great bike-fitting/set-up stuff here:

http://www.peterwhitecycles.com/fitting.htm

Secondly, your bicycle is probably not the best for cycling into headwinds due to the upright MTB riding position and probable wide bars, so 13 mph might be a pretty severe workout over 10 miles!

Clipess pedals and proper cycling shoes also improve pedalling efficiency. Single sided SPD types would be a good starting point.
Make sure tyres are road-types (smooth) and properly pumped-up, £25 or so on a Joe-Blow Sport track-pump is money well spent.
Locking-out the suspension is also highly beneficial.

Finally, your body will adapt to the effort.