Originally Posted by
thomm124
I just wanted to get some input from some other 50+ guys. I ride between 70-100 miles per week which includes the weekends. Saturday I ride with the local group which is lead by the area cycling team. I only do 40 miles with these folks, but we do a lot of 28-30 mph range. Even though I rarely have to pull, it really does a number on my body. It seems to take me 3 days to completely feel "normal" again. Does this about sound right?
I'm 54 btw.
Tom
No, it does not sound about right. However, a lot of 28 to 30 mph is a new high water mark.
Usually, we see the 20 mph solo rides and 22-24 mph group rides and climbing 15% grades at 15 mph.
The goal of training / riding is to select a level of effort from which one can recover. If one is racing or trying to go very hard in fast groups because that is what you want to do, then a couple of days of recovery is somewhat normal.
What does not add up is your weekly mileage, claimed speed and experience. Riding with a group that has a lot of fast efforts and I am sure a lot of accelerations may tear you down too much. You may be better off with more mileage and less intensity.
Having said that, if you are surviving with this group and enjoy it, then I would not worry too much about the extended recovery
