"The 33"-Road Bike Racing - Race Recovery...

Something has really been bothering me lately. Today I raced, absolutly went hard, felt significant burnng, suffered, etc and felt physically tired after the race. The last couple of races I have not had significant soreness the day of the day after. I have a little bit of soreness in the morning but not much at all. Even when I go to the gym and work reps to failure I do not feel sore that much unless it is the first time doing the workout (except right after).

Is this normal? Do most people feel real sore after a race? I come from one of the no pain no gain type attitudes and it seem like I sould feel sore that day or at least more. I have the same feeling after a breakthrough type workout also. I will say though that if I get on a bike tomarrow my legs will scream and yell at anything over easy riding.

Comments?

Thanks as always...

You're still young, at your age there shouldn't be any soreness, ever! There will be plenty of that when you get old, enjoy it while you can.

Actually, soreness like what you're describing is pretty common for folks who go all out like you did, in the wind, with no real recovery, trying not to get lapped again. When you tap your glycogen (sugars in the muscles used when the heart rate is anerobic) to the depth you did, the toxic byproduct of latic acid is replaced in the muscles. The soreness is the lactic acid build up. Did you warm down after you were pulled from the race? If not you didn't give your legs time to flush it out. The simple act of getting increased blood flow to the affect areas helps flush it out. There are a couple of ways that might help you feel better. You can either do self massage, get a real massage or go out and spin tomorrow for an hour or so in a super easy gear, just to get some blood flowing in the legs and helping to flush the lactic acid out. It's not that uncommon for new and old racers alike to get those effects, but new racers feel it more often due to tapping levels of effort that are new to them.

I rode around for about 15 minutes after the race. I really did not feel anything until I sat down with a few guys from our team. I feel ok now, but will probably feel it in the morning more. I never really feel like that after even a hard workout so the feeling is new.

If it keeps up I will go and get a massage. I plan on an easy spin tomarrow so that should help. It got to a point in the race where I was so far gone that I had almost no more strength in my legs, expecially after repeatly trying to sprint up the hill repeditly...

Something to consider is what did you do prior to the race? Did you take it easy for a few days? One issue you'll need to resolve with your coach is how to balance tapering, racing, and recovery. As someone else pointed out, you're young. Age 20 years and see how sore you feel after a race :)

Ahh, To be young again. At your age, I was a student athlete (Volleyball) and can remember the greatness fo working hard, and not being sore. Now at my 30's, I worry about how much I am going to suffer when I hit 50. Enjoy it while you can. Eventually it will catch up to ya. In the mean time, do the things that us sore people have to do now(stretch, rest days) to feel better. Your body will thank you for it in about 8 years.

I did 4 TT races in 24 hours this weekend, and have no soreness today.

I did 4 TT races in 24 hours this weekend, and have no soreness today.

My first thought is that you did 4 half-assed time trials. ;)

In my humble opinion, time trials require that you leave everything out on the course. I can't imagine doing that and then turning around and doing three more races in the same day.

You may be a superman though. :)

My first thought is that you did 4 half assed time trials.

In my humble opinion, time trials require that you leave everything out on the course. I can't imagine doing that and then turning around and doing three more races in the same day.

You may be a superman though. :)

I can't tell you how much pain I endured. I came over the line, and wretched violently for quite a few minutes on two of them - the first of each day. Also, my bronchial tubes felt like someone had taken a blow torch to them. I rode my ass off, won 4 silver medals (I lost all four times to a nationally ranked cyclist who is current Ohio state TT champion), and all I am saying is that I am not sore today. I didn't say anything about not feeling fried, albeit not sore. There were two races each day.

Congrats on the medals.

All I ever won in my four year racing career was a certificate for five gallons of gasoline at a local station. Seriously.

skydive69, what event did you compete in? State games of some sort?

All I ever won in my four year racing career was a certificate for five gallons of gasoline at a local station. Seriously.
Enough to power a whole lawnmower! You rock! :p

Congrats on the medals.

All I ever won in my four year racing career was a certificate for five gallons of gasoline at a local station. Seriously.

Hell, nowadays, that's a valuable prize! :D

skydive69, what event did you compete in? State games of some sort?

Our state games are in December. These happened to be a couple of qualifying events on consecutive days that happened to be about an hour and a half driving time from each other.

This morning I felt fine, actually last night I did a quick 2 mile spin around the block when I got off work (at 2am.. crazy) and felt ok. My legs were a little sore this morning but it was not bad at all...

After school I am off for a 1 hour recovery ride... (also known as the starbucks ride :D )

This morning I felt fine, actually last night I did a quick 2 mile spin around the block when I got off work (at 2am.. crazy) and felt ok. My legs were a little sore this morning but it was not bad at all...

After school I am off for a 1 hour recovery ride... (also known as the starbucks ride :D )

You are truly addicted me lad! :D

To starbucks!? :lol:

To get a rasberry ice tea...

This morning I felt fine, actually last night I did a quick 2 mile spin around the block when I got off work (at 2am.. crazy) and felt ok. My legs were a little sore this morning but it was not bad at all...

After school I am off for a 1 hour recovery ride... (also known as the starbucks ride :D )


I believe this is the answer to your question. Not to mention the fact that you overloaded your system in your race and during your previous workouts. It's not during the overload that you build strength or endurance, it's during these types of rides and when you sleep.

You have apparently started a good training plan, keep it up.