I just started getting back in to riding. (Recently purchased a new Mongoose Wing Elite; good bike? Anything I should be looking out for?) I have been trying to ride everyday but it seems that 10 minutes into every ride I am burning in my legs. Should I not be riding everyday? Is there a better way to train and work up my stamina? Any input would be appreciated!

try running?
try pacing yourself?
try thinking of something other than your burning legs. its just your head telling your self that you're getting tired. its all in the mind that tells you that you don't know whats going to happen if you push yourself any further. just stay determined.

I had the same problem when I started riding on my Wal-Mart bike. The fact that our bikes weigh 45lbs really doesn't help. It takes a lot of leg power to get those bikes going, especially on any kind of climb. That Mongoose is a pretty decent bike, looking at reviews it seems the things to watch out for are the shoddy quality of the brakes, bending the rims, and bottoming out the forks. The only thing I can suggest is try to stick with some more horizontal terrain, stick to a high cadence (pedaling speed), and take it a little easier. Stamina will come with time.

I've been riding pretty consistantly for over five years now. My legs still burn from time to time.

i started running around campus and my block about 2 weeks before my bike purchase, every other day. it helps a whole lot for bike stanima and i also do some good, long stretches before i ride and run. running more and more everyday will give u more energy on your bike. and soon ull be able to go for hours with only taking short breaks on the trail.

it takes about 15 minutes for the blood vessels in your legs to relax and let the blood flow through them propperly.

/says the guy at my LBS

My legs usually burn for the first 10 minutes before I get warmed up.

Word - 20+ years for me. To the OP, perhaps an easier gear is warranted, or dial it up to 400W for 9 minutes, then coast.

I am SORRY for being a jerk.

However, I have to say, it is NATURAL to feel your legs burning after 10 minutes if you are out of shape. If you have never felt your legs burn, you have not experienced life or pain. PAIN IS GAIN, buddy. If you wanna build stamina, first make yourself burn after a longer time. I have no idea how fast you're riding, but 10 minutes at a fast speed on a mountain bike will make anyone's legs burn. If they don't burn too bad, keep going. Let the acid break your muscles down so they'll grow back stronger.

Toughen up, buttercup.

It has to do with lactic acid buildup. You see when your legs aren't strong enough and your body doens't have the energy to clear away the lactic acid buildup, your legs start to burn. Lactic acid is what causes muscle fatigue. The more endurance you build and the more leg strength you build the less pain you will feel. Most people who run competitively understand this (800 anyone?). I would say you could build up leg strength in your quads with exercise machines etc. but in truth its more fun to just go ride.

To a point, but pushing like that can also get you injured in a few ways, can pull a muscles, which if not detected can become torn muscles, which has the slight possibility of taking some bone with it. Ligaments can tear. If your legs are tired, it's also likely that more of you is tired as well, for example arms and shoulders, losing grip of the bars when cornering is a very painful experience when your arms are tired, even your head is most likely tired as well which can lead to some potentially bad decisions. If your body is not into it that day, don't go out, it's in your body's best interests to rest up.

The best thing to do is to listen to your body and not what someone tells you to do. Feeling the pain when starting out is never wise mid to late ride is fine, but from the start(the first few pedal strokes) you can hurt yourself.


For me, I have the fixed gear for when the legs are tired from using the mtb, it allows me to spin lightly without having to worry about working too hard. Always feel good the morning after riding the fixed gear. Or I lift weights, focusing primarily on the upper body.

Wow you sound like a roadie......