Sore Leg
08-13-07, 06:26 AM
#1
Cries on hills
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Central NH
Posts: 1,088
Bikes: 2007 Trek Pilot 1.2, 1969 Raleigh Sprite 5
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 83 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Sore Leg
Last week I rode 24 miles, and noticed this problem; yesterday I rode 25 miles and definately notice this problem today. It's not muscle soreness, as it doesn't bother me when I rest my leg. But I notice it walking, and very much notice it going down stairs. It wasn't a problem yesterday, even though I got off the bike at 3:30, so I think it's an overstretched tendon that has tightened up today. The problem is in my left lower leg, backside, below the calf muscle and above the Achilles tendon in the ankle. It only hurts when I flex my ankle all the way up. Right leg is just fine.
Is this a bike fit problem, or a problem due to not using clips on my bike? I've noticed that my left foot seems to move around alot on pedal, while my right foot does not. I don't tend to do alot of stretching before riding; just a minute or two of stretches, and then easy for the first mile. When I get done, maybe a couple of stretches and then a hot shower. While I can tell I biked 25 miles yesterday, and I'll probably feel it a bit tomorrow when I go for my 12 mile ride, I'm by no means "hurting" anywhere else. My knees seem ok, so I think the seat is just fine; I'm 5'7" and ride a 52cm road bike, alternating between the drops and the hoods; handlebars are maybe an inch below the seat.
Oh, and I've never had this problem on my 12 mile rides either. I've only been riding about 6 weeks now, started off on 4 mile rides, worked my way up. I tend to ride an average of 15mph, so I'm not exactly pushing myself that hard. I usually ride one day, rest the next (although, I did 12 on Saturday and 25 on Sunday). Total milage is about 225 miles for these 6 weeks.
[I also seem to have some other issue with my left ankle: I went to physical therapy for a couple of months (2-3 years ago), to build strength into that ankle; for some reason, my left ankle doesn't operate like it should. I guess if you pull the heel one way, your foot can flop around all it wants; if you pull the heel the other, it's supposed to lock somehow and aid in walking. My left ankle lacks that lock. Related, maybe?]
Is this a bike fit problem, or a problem due to not using clips on my bike? I've noticed that my left foot seems to move around alot on pedal, while my right foot does not. I don't tend to do alot of stretching before riding; just a minute or two of stretches, and then easy for the first mile. When I get done, maybe a couple of stretches and then a hot shower. While I can tell I biked 25 miles yesterday, and I'll probably feel it a bit tomorrow when I go for my 12 mile ride, I'm by no means "hurting" anywhere else. My knees seem ok, so I think the seat is just fine; I'm 5'7" and ride a 52cm road bike, alternating between the drops and the hoods; handlebars are maybe an inch below the seat.
Oh, and I've never had this problem on my 12 mile rides either. I've only been riding about 6 weeks now, started off on 4 mile rides, worked my way up. I tend to ride an average of 15mph, so I'm not exactly pushing myself that hard. I usually ride one day, rest the next (although, I did 12 on Saturday and 25 on Sunday). Total milage is about 225 miles for these 6 weeks.
[I also seem to have some other issue with my left ankle: I went to physical therapy for a couple of months (2-3 years ago), to build strength into that ankle; for some reason, my left ankle doesn't operate like it should. I guess if you pull the heel one way, your foot can flop around all it wants; if you pull the heel the other, it's supposed to lock somehow and aid in walking. My left ankle lacks that lock. Related, maybe?]
