Quads Hurt like heck
 

After the 37 mile pretty flat ride yesterday, my quads are toast. :(

I think it is conditioning and building new muscles and also think its because I am a big guy and I need more muscle to move me.

Even after just doing 10 miles of flats with a little hills my quads hurt.

Is it fatigue, or pain?

Also, aren't you continually changing the fit, including new shoes and pedals? A fit change may cause some discomfort at first.

its like when you lift weights and the day after your really feel it.

Rest until it feels good.

Take some walks to get the blood flowing (massage is also good).

Fruit, esp. kiwi,pineapple and papaya are good for healing.

The rule of thumb is add 10% miles/week.

37 mi was a new personal best for you right? I'm always sore the day after I push it further than I have before. As long as it is just sore and not something more serious I wouldn't worry about it.

Yes. It was also on roads with more grade to them than the rail trail, and after a week of not riding. I think Iron Chef is worrying over something that's normal.

Check your saddle height and cadence, make sure you're hydrating.

def check your cadence, hi cadence spinning shouldn't really make the quads hurt, they should just feel "dead" the next day as if you don't have a lot of juice in them. IF you are mashing the pedals you are creating a high level of force production and digging deep into your muscle fibers.

Is your normal ride a 37 mile ride? Were you trying to do this at a faster pace than normal?

If this is your normal ride then it may be an adjustment problem especially if you recently changed something.

If you were pushing yourself then some of this is to be expected. As an example, if you were to do 100 push-ups today and tomorrow, if this weren't a normal exercise for you then your arms would ache and you may not be able to reach your mouth with your hand without pain. If this is the case then you need to do some light workouts till your muscles get acclimated to the higher level of exercise.

Feels like the day after I lift and haven't lifted for a while. Just sucks its the quads since you feel it when you walk, take the stairs, ect. Maybe I am over thinking it but I just want to make sure I am doing things right and not risking injury.

You've got to watch out riding with Neil_B, he'll put the hurt on you!:p

That's normal when you push yourself. I am feeling the burn right now as well, after completing my fastest half-century ever yesterday, on hilly terrain. In time the feeling will grow on you. It will let you know that you achieved something magnificent. This is a good thing.

I should write a book: "How I learned to stop worrying and love the burn".

Iron Chef is gonna put the hurt on me!

neil: We are drafting off you next time.

I'm in the same boat, or was. I found my diet was a huge factor in this. I'm riding around the 60 Km mark right now and slight grades were destroying me. The 42-22 gear ratio is not helping in this matter. Anyway, I have been making my own shakes befor a ride and it's made a massive difference. During the ride I have a water bottle with Hammer Gel to sip on. I still get the burn but no were near as much, and recovery at the top of hills or grades is quite quick. I could not believe how much of what you consume, makes such a difference. Immediately after my ride I have a protien shake. Apprently my former regime of Coca Cola and cheeseburgers were not of much benefit.

shim: guess the pizza and milkshake didnt help. lol