I can't lift my leg up. Is this a good or a bad thing?
 

Last weekend my geared bike was at the LBS for a tune up so I rode my fixie for about 80 km over hilly terrain. It's a 42x16 and my cadence varied from 20 to 170+.

It was a real adventure for someone like me. Until that point I only used my FG occasionally, for commuting to work on a flat 10km route.

I destroyed myself. My muscles (hamstrings more than quads) are so sore that I can barely lift my left leg up.

Is this a good or a bad thing? Will this type of treat make me stronger, or am I just setting myself up for injury? If it helps, I don't feel sore ligaments, just muscles.

You got the rhabdo bro go to the hospital

Jk
Or not Jk, what color is your pee?

Normal :)

I mean it feels like it's a good thing but it goes against the common wisdom of high cadence. That's why I'm asking.

If it's bad the day after, terrible the next, getting better beyond that... you're fine and getting stronger.

If it doesn't get better, or even keeps getting worse, you're screwed :)

htfu

:thumb:

It is getting better. 8-)

Yep. Wait into you get into weightlighting and have a heavy day of skull crushers or other tricep killing workouts.

I've woken up to find it almost impossible to lift my arms up to wash/dry my hair.

Don't jump in with crazy miles without building up to the miles unless you want to risk injury and suffer needlessly. I'm old, and if you want to be an "old cyclist" use common sense and build endurance as well as intensity over time. Three weeks of building and fourth week recovery is a good model. Then proceed to build again. Saturday I did over 5 hours through rollers and in Texas heat. First Saturday in October I will do a century with about 4500' of elevation but no really hard climbs. The "kids" in their 30s and 40s are amazed when I pass some of them on the hills on a fixed gear. There's no short cut to fitness and speed and attempts to short cut the process usually ends in injury or burnout. Have fun.:)

PAIN IS WEAKNESS LEAVING THE GOTDAMN BODY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

If you aren't in pain that just means you haven't pumped hard enough and you are a "guuurly mahn" according to AHHHHHNULD who is the worlds foremost expert in "paahmping"!

Seriously though don't kill yourself ; )

how do you spin at 170 rpm?

...90 mm cranks with titanium hips?

Eat a TUMS every four hours for two days and drink plenty of fluids. You can hurt yourself. This is your body telling you that you went a little too hard too fast.

Get an e-bike. Problem solved.

... 83 gear inches = 42 mph at 170 rpm. That's pretty high gearing, no?

Is that adding power, or passively allowing the hill to spin one's legs?

If you are a male dog and need to pee, there is likely a problem....

otherwise, muscle pain is a bummer but usually not a huge issue. Joint pain can be more of a long term issue. Like others have said, build up to things.

Stretch and stay hydrated?

Go to a spin friendly gearing?

42x16 is 69 gear inches.

by



(I calculated the rpm afterwards when I saw the top speed from the gps)

Curious to know how long you were sustaining that top cadence.

2.83 revolutions per second. Seems fast.

How do you mash at 170 rpm? I find that at those RPMs, all I can do is spin. (I've been close to 50 mph many years ago riding fixed on a 42-17. That is much faster than 170 rpm. Don't believe me? Ride down Joaquin Miller into Oakland, CA from Skyline. Do it without resisting the pedals. But pay up your health and life insurances before you start.)

The OP's gear is 42/16 X 27 = 71 inches. 170 rpm = 32 mph. (A very useful rule of thumb for in-you-head gear calculations like you might do while riding: 42-17 on a normal 700c wheel ~= 67' gear ~= 20 mph and 100 RPM.)

Ben

Step through frames :thumb:

But in the past, when I had Hip/Leg troubles :50: I'd lay the bike on the ground, step over it and then pull it up underneath ME.

He's got a 69" fixed gear and coasting downhill at more than 34.9 mph he calculates RPMs exceeded 170.