Fifty Plus (50+) - Sore thighs

Wondered if anyone else in our age group, 50's, have sore thighs after riding back to back long rides of 50 miles or more? Just checking to see if I am doing something wrong or is it something else I need to change! :troll:

How long have you been riding?

If I don't get some muscle soreness after an especially big effort, I figure I must not have worked hard enough.

How long have you been riding?

That was my first thought.

If I don't get some muscle soreness after an especially big effort, I figure I must not have worked hard enough.That was my first thought.

i feel your pain

When I would have a headache, my Italian post-doc would always tell me, "Bella, you have a headache because you have a head." You have sore thigh muscles because you have (or are about to have) thigh muscles. That's a good thing.

Only the day or two after a long distance ride. The shorter, faster 20's and 30's dont bother me. I was a little stiff the morning after the 52mi a few days ago.

No pain, no gain.

take 48 hrs off

Pain is weakness leaving your body

Detail your riding history w/pic of you on your bike and perhaps you may get some accurate feedback. It could be 'nothing' or several things.

If I ride hard for about 50 miles, I will have a little soreness in the hours after the ride. I find that walking around helps to loosen up the legs. I am good to go the next day, but I suspect that I recover faster than most. For me, doing an easy ride or walking helps to speed the recovery.

Only your thighs?! I find that my pains blend together so it is hard to figure out where they originate :)

No pain, feels good.

Fixed it.

I have been rding a ROAD BIKE since March 2011, but prior to that I was riding a Mountain for 3 years. I think it maybe riding hard on long rides of 50+ miles. Thanks all!

I have been rding a ROAD BIKE since March 2011, but prior to that I was riding a Mountain for 3 years. I think it maybe riding hard on long rides of 50+ miles. Thanks all!

Mtb to road and it is a different riding style. Same muscles used but in a different way. Upright on the MTB and riding with your head between your knees on the road bike is going to make you find muscles you never knew you had and put different levels of effort on the ones that you do know about.:innocent:

Cure for it is to increase your milage and to take rest days. So instead of back to back 50 milers--Just do a 100 miler in one day and you will not even feel like riding the next day:rolleyes:

Problem solved.

On my last back-to-back 50, I got in the shower and let hot water run on the backs of my legs for around 10 minutes. The hot water will relax your muscles. You can also soak in hot water, but the water doesn't usually stay very hot for long. I also stretch a lot on long rides, usually before, during and after. The combination of the stretching and the hot water works for me every time.

The above is assuming that you have been properly fit with your bike. If not, the improper fit would cause the problem.

You need beer +1 after first 50, repeat for the second 50, get some pie in there somewhere as well.

I had a professional fit performed at the local bike store back around April, 2011! I think from what I have read on line, I am really pushing the speed and mileage a bit. I have always done that in eveything I do. Anyways, I will give it a few more months and see how I feel. Hopefully, I just need more time and training! Thanks again all!