Southern California - Treating Sore Limbs

Just wondering ... what does everyone use to nurse your body after a long hard ride? Tiger balm? Icy Hot? Ice Pack? or just plain rest? Or none of the above?

Biofreeze (used to use Tiger Balm but too greasy and smelly).

Just wondering ... what does everyone use to nurse your body after a long hard ride? Tiger balm? Icy Hot? Ice Pack? or just plain rest? Or none of the above?

Sit in a cold bath for a few minutes...it sucks...but really seems to work on my legs...they dont seem to get as stiff and sore

A massage is best, but gets expensive.:rolleyes: Ive been using the Biofreeze and stretching.

I just eat protein and rest. I also try to do recovery rides even if I don't feel like it the next day. Oh, and a Thai Massage once a month. I love those as they walk on your back and stretch you along with an incredible massage.

i ice..Allot....about 20 minutes on 2 hours off for the rest of the day...then i have my wife use a roller and roll the muscles with it back and forth....it helps release allot of pain out, it hurts like a MOFO at first but gets better after a couple of rolls....then i stretch for like an hour before i go to bed...

get up the next morning and stretch...but, flexibility is key so we should all be stretching everyday anyway. ME point about the massage is good to...if you got the cash 1-2 a month will do wonders for muscle recovery.

Recovery rides, stretching, and The Stick. It's a wonder device.

BTW, that would be a real recovery ride. 45 min - 1 hour, flat, slow speed.

Recovery rides, stretching, and The Stick. It's a wonder device.

BTW, that would be a real recovery ride. 45 min - 1 hour, flat, slow speed.


flat...do you live in Socal...flat is pretty much non existant...:D

flat...do you live in Socal...flat is pretty much non existant...:D

Touche' I live on the westside, so I usually do the beach path before 9am from Temescal down to Venice and back or something like that.

tiger balm if really really sore.

I just ignore it, and it goes away in about 2 or 3 days. LOL


And Advil.

eat some food and sleep.

Stretching before and after rides helps a lot. I also use a foam roller on my quads, hamstrings and calves. It can be painful, but it's a good way to get a massage for free. You do all the work.:)

Lots of fluids and a nice recovery ride.

"Pain is weakness leaving the body" Just laugh at it as you feel it go.

"Pain is weakness leaving the body" Just laugh at it as you feel it go.


you obvoiusly weren't around yesterday at the end of my ride...i am sure some rich people on Solidad were freaking when i let out a battle cry (scream of pain) towards the top...there was no laughing as the "pain" left my body that's for sure....just total anger:mad: , one for the burning eyes from sweat, another for me inability to maintain on the climb...

Did the last climb on Giro with a twinge on my knee ... is that a bad thing?

you obvoiusly weren't around yesterday at the end of my ride...i am sure some rich people on Solidad were freaking when i let out a battle cry (scream of pain) towards the top...there was no laughing as the "pain" left my body that's for sure....just total anger:mad: , one for the burning eyes from sweat, another for me inability to maintain on the climb...

You Sadistic B@$tard. Besides you should never take advice from someone who uses his dog for a picture. What were you thinking!!!! Pain is painful. :)

the best choice would be to get a good massage. Other then that, I would say a passive rest day right afterward, combined with staying off your feet as much as possible, hydrating and some of the self massage techiques people have mentioned here.

One area of the body that is very important to the bio-mechanics of cycling are the hips. Specificlly the gluts, hip flexors, spinal erectors and the TFL (tensor facaie latae). these call all be worked using a tennis ball or some other sort of firm object you lie on and slowly let the muscle relax in trying to conform to the pressure of the object. This can take anywhere from seconds to a few minutes to get the muscle to release. When the muscle does release using this method, the pain or sensitivity keeps increasing like the pressure is also increasing, but it's not. It only feels like that until it releases.

Anyway, the basic principles of massage apply to the hip area, its just that they are hard to work on effectly by yourself and this is the only way I have found to do it for myself.

Or if you want to treat yourself to something that will make you question why you are paying money for this..lol, come on by, I won't hurt you that much:) That way you can see for yourself what the pros get every time they either race or ride.

oh yeah, massage like this sort of blurrs the lime between pain and pleasure, you know, sort of like cycling in general:)

Do you have any specific areas with muscle soreness?

For me, I haven't experienced one that lasts overnight for a while. I normally just drink a recovery drink after a ride; but that's just to get some base amount of protein because I am not consistant with my regular meals. Then get an early sleep (that's normally automatic since I wake up early for rides).

Do you have any specific areas with muscle soreness?

For me, I haven't experienced one that lasts overnight for a while. I normally just drink a recovery drink after a ride; but that's just to get some base amount of protein because I am not consistant with my regular meals. Then get an early sleep (that's normally automatic since I wake up early for rides).
My right knee ...

My right knee ...

My suggestion is to amputate the extremity in question :D

My suggestion is to amputate the extremity in question :D
Yea, that'll be an improvement! :p Turn into the bionic man, and power up the hill like nobody's business.

Yea, that'll be an improvement! :p Turn into the bionic man, and power up the hill like nobody's business.

Awwww Ron I can tell you're not feeling well today. I think it started to fall apart for you when you began your Saturday Night Fever / Pulp Fiction dance on your bike... ;) when we were pulling out of Bay Meadows.

Awwww Ron I can tell you're not feeling well today. I think it started to fall apart for you when you began your Saturday Night Fever / Pulp Fiction dance on your bike... ;) when we were pulling out of Bay Meadows.
Well, what do you expect. I couldn't make my bike dance ... total disappointment :p

Biofreeze (used to use Tiger Balm but too greasy and smelly).
Dumb question ... where do you get biofreeze? I looked on the web site, and they say they only sell to various PT's.

Dumb question ... where do you get biofreeze? I looked on the web site, and they say they only sell to various PT's.

I get mine from my massage therapist. Hmmm. She was the one who introduced me to it. However, I have seen the small one use packets at cycling events. You may have to go to a spa / massage boutique and get it from them.

hot tub-jacuzzi

I've been using ice pack for several days, plus something called Salonpas, and it seems to be working out better for me. I guess I should also be taking Glucosimine supplements ... I ain't getting any younger.

hot tub-jacuzzi

+1 but alas my new place does not have one....so it's Ben Gay extra strength for me.
But don't over use it cuz it'll kill ya!
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