Different kinds of pain need to be addressed in different ways. Taxing muscles that have not been used in awhile will cause aches. My understanding is that this is normal, and that soreness passes after several days. I don’t think anything is wrong if someone elects to take the edge off this kind of pain by taking an analgesic for a couple of days.

I have chronic pain in my neck and shoulders, and days in the saddle aggravates it. When it gets especially intense — which is maybe six or eight days per year — I take an over-the-counter muscle relaxant. I would prefer not to take it, but the drug make it possible for me to participate in my favourite outdoor activity.

There are also pains that result from bad bicycle biomechanics. Pain killers might offer symptomatic relief, but do not address the causes, such as improper fit, incorrect riding technique, or inappropriate gearing. I think it is a very bad idea to take pain killers when what's needed is to change the position of the seat or a cleat, learn a different pedaling style, or upgrade the gearing.