Originally Posted by geist
I sometimes get what I can only refer to as "the superman effect". I go out for a normal Saturday ride for an hour and a half and it ends up being a two and a half hour ride. When I get back I fell like I could go right back out again. Sometimes, during a normal ride I get a spike of energy, when everything seems to be working better than it does normally without spending any effort.
Well basically when you are warmed up.....you ride better. The hardest of any ride is the first few miles....after that your muscles are warm and spinning is easier.
In fact after most rides I feel good enough to lift weights.....The increased cardiac output from the ride lets me get better circulation to big muscle groups (chest/back) when I'm lifting.