No pain no gain?

[Banjo]

I have been cycling for 12 months now.In the first 6 to 8 months I allways had sore leg muscles particulary in the front part of my thighs.

Now i still ride about 60 to 100 miles /week but only occasionally feel any soreness in the day or two after a long ride.

Is this because i have slipped into a comfort zone which needs breaking out of for me to get any better or is it a result of my increased fitness ?

 

[swee'pea99]

The latter. Well done. Ride on...

 

[colinr]

Your muscles have just built up and adapted. Just push yourself hard and you can relive the glorious pain

 

[lukesdad]

You need to work harder man

 

[jimboalee]

Your muscles have just built up and adapted. Just push yourself hard and you can relive the glorious pain

You'll never relieve 'the glorious pain'. You will want to climb steeper hills.

 

[gbb]

I have been cycling for 12 months now.In the first 6 to 8 months I allways had sore leg muscles particulary in the front part of my thighs.
Now i still ride about 60 to 100 miles /week but only occasionally feel any soreness in the day or two after a long ride.

Is this because i have slipped into a comfort zone which needs breaking out of for me to get any better or is it a result of my increased fitness ?

Not got your seat too low have you Banjo ?

That's exactly the pain i suffered when i built a new bike, set the seat too low (the seatpost i had was not right, but i thought it'd do)...result, sore fronts of the thighs. I was a regular cyclist before that and soreness hadnt been a problem.
Got the correct seatpost..problem instantly solved.

Well done anyway..some good regular mileage there

 

[Banjo]

Not got your seat too low have you Banjo ?

That's exactly the pain i suffered when i built a new bike, set the seat too low (the seatpost i had was not right, but i thought it'd do)...result, sore fronts of the thighs. I was a regular cyclist before that and soreness hadnt been a problem.
Got the correct seatpost..problem instantly solved.

Well done anyway..some good regular mileage there

certainly not too low now but that could explain why I suffered when starting out a year ago.

 

[Captain]

I have only just got my bike and found that the front of thigh pain also.
is this seat adjustment issues or just newbie rider issue?
How could the seat be set up to avoid this?
I have mine set so that I can reach both feet to the ground with heels up but not on right up on tip toes.

Captain

 

[fossyant]

Mine still hurt all the time.................... no pain no gain........

Just judge what you did the day before....

Depends upon your own training goals................ what do you want to do....

 

[Keith Oates]

I have only just got my bike and found that the front of thigh pain also.
is this seat adjustment issues or just newbie rider issue?
How could the seat be set up to avoid this?
I have mine set so that I can reach both feet to the ground with heels up but not on right up on tip toes.

Captain

I think a rough guide for seat height is to have your leg almost straight with the heel of your shoe on the pedal at the bottom of the stroke. This may mean you will not touch the ground with the toes of both feet when seated on the bike. After trying that, small adjustments up or down will fine tune the position that is best for you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Banjo]

I have only just got my bike and found that the front of thigh pain also.
is this seat adjustment issues or just newbie rider issue?
How could the seat be set up to avoid this?
I have mine set so that I can reach both feet to the ground with heels up but not on right up on tip toes.

Captain

Good morning Captain.Sounds as if your seat is way too low.Not only will it hurt your thighs but as you increase the mileage you will get knee problems which arent easy to get rid of.

Mr Oates method works for me to get it roughly right but then I usually tweek it a few millimeters higher until i feel really comfortable.Your speed will instantly improve but more importantly your reducing the chance of a knee strain.

Keep at it mate (or should I say sir :-) )with the summer not far away nows a great time to start.

This site may be usefuill http://bikedynamics.co.uk/?gclid=CIT5vOemtaACFQkulAod7h0ZTA

 

[Captain]

Thanks for the info Banjo and Keith Oates.

I had my bikes first proper session of tweaking today and after a 40 minute or so ride I think I've cracked it. I have raised the seat up so that when the pedal is at it's lowest my leg is comfortably stretched to almost straight. I also adjust my brake and gear levers for the new angle and pumped up my tires. Today I didn't have any thigh pains, was perfectly comfortable and arrived home feeling I could've ridden all day.
I think I've learnt something today - correct bike set-up and maintenance is good.

Captain

 

[MacB]

Thanks for the info Banjo and Keith Oates.

I had my bikes first proper session of tweaking today and after a 40 minute or so ride I think I've cracked it. I have raised the seat up so that when the pedal is at it's lowest my leg is comfortably stretched to almost straight. I also adjust my brake and gear levers for the new angle and pumped up my tires. Today I didn't have any thigh pains, was perfectly comfortable and arrived home feeling I could've ridden all day.
I think I've learnt something today - correct bike set-up and maintenance is good.

Captain

don't forget the saddle fore/aft position as this is important, especially over longer distances. Various online calculators can give you an idea, I found this one pretty good as it gives you alternate setups for style of riding you plan:-

http://www.competitivecyclist.com/za/CCY?PAGE=FIT_CALCULATOR_INTRO&INTRO_LINK=NOREDIR

Ignore the competitive cyclist bit it also includes more relaxed geometry for touring/day rides. Moving the saddle back effectively increases saddle height and vice versa. I made the mistake of sodding around with bars and stems first. Get the saddle right then work forward from there seems to be good advice.

 

[jimboalee]

Park on the top deck of the multi storey car park. When you've finished shopping and have some bags which weigh a total of 20lb, WALK up the stairway back to your car.

Notice the burning sensation in your quadriceps. You don't even have your bike with you.