Training & Nutrition - Just started cycling. Abs are killing me!

Hi all,

Today was the first day my buddy and I added cycling to our exercise routine. We normally work out for an hour, sometimes a shade longer. Today we rode 45 minutes, and I spent a few minutes getting accustomed to my new 18 speed after he left. Before today I was strictly coaster brakes and/or IGH.

I'm a little sore all over, the good level of sore I expect to have for a few days after starting a new routine. Then there are my abs. I feel like I've been extra rounds with Mr. Balboa. Does this sound normal, or the result of bad form/posture? Is there any particular stretching I can do to lessen this pain? And is it ok to ride again tomorrow, or should I wait a day or three? My past experience with soreness is that if I tough through it the first week, it subsides.

i've always heard that a light exercise will help relieve sore muscles, if my legs are sore i'll usually still go out for a slow "recovery" ride at a leisurely pace and that seems to help. but i don't remember ever having ab pain like you describe, even when i first started riding. what kind of bike do you have, did you get professionally fitted or just do it yourself? a bad fit and poor posture can be surprisingly rough on your joints, a lot of people just assume that since cycling is low-impact that it's near impossible to injure yourself... my right knee begs to differ.

OP, are you sure it isn't just a sideache/side stitch? I'm only asking because other people come in here occasionally and ask "Why does my side hurt?"