why do I feel this way?
 

After going for a short ride (10 miles) I will later feel beat up inside. I will experience aches all over my body for at least one day. I eat breakfast when I get to my job. Breakfast is usually oatmeal and coffee. I am starting to drink water for the rest of the day after breakfast. lunch is usually a salad or a peanut butter sandwhich ( like them) dinner is usually whatever.
I can't place my finger on the problem. While riding I feel great. But I can not ride the next day due to an achy feeling thru out the body. I have asked my doctor about this problem but to no avail. Can anyone give suggestions?:(

Riding too hard?

The achy feeling makes me think dehydration. Whenever I get dehydrated I always feel really achy, I actually mistook it for the flu once.

Getting enough sleep? How long have you been riding? Any changes to your setup recently?

Poor fitting?

You're crazy. Eat more. When I started biking I started eating like crazy, and I'll output heat ... man, I got home hours ago and I'm still outputting more BTUs than a sorority dorm having a slumber party.

My body still aches all over.. probably because it's being pounded to death. Needs yoga. But how are you getting enough nutrition out of oatmeal and water? The peanut butter sandwich is probably the most awesome thing you're eating, lots of protein. No amount of yoga is going to replace having food readily available -- starch and fat for energy (more starch), protein to repair the muscles that are being overworked to damage.

Eat before you leave. Otherwise your body's sources of food are going to be stored fat and glycogen for energy--and this is not easy to get at cold--and stored protein for protein... and the only stored protein comes from stripping other things in your body. A piece of toast and an egg before you leave, and carry a Clif bar with you. Try that, I bet you feel better. Or eat the oatmeal BEFORE you go to work; it does have some (small) amount of protein I think... oats are pretty much loaded with starch though, and essential vitamins.

Exercise is where we break ourselves down. Rest/recovery is when we rebuild ourselves stronger.

It sounds like you are doing a very intense workout. I find that the day after I ride hard (when the endorphins wear off) I feel pretty horrible. Try dialing back the perceived exertion a notch to see if you're still as wrecked.

Consider ramping up your oatmeal/coffee routine with more protein. I mix in a 6-oz carton of low-fat, no-sugar added vanilla yogurt into mine and sprinkle sliced almonds atop. I add skim milk to my coffee (lattes).

Make sure you get a decent warmdown even if it's some brisk walking after you get off the bike; and don't settle down too long if you have a desk job. Warm showers in the evening, not long hot ones that dehydrate you.

Plenty of water through the day.

There are plenty of other little stressors - getting chased by dogs, sunburn, near-misses by bad drivers, - these too can leave you pretty tense.

Or maybe you're a newbie/returnie to biking and 10 miles isn't as short a trip as you think? Are you just going all-out on the 10 miles and then not doing anything for a few days or is this a regular pattern? Maybe someone here could help if you give a little more info.

Try adding protein powder to your oatmeal if you don't want too much sitting on your stomach before you go. There are a lot of great flavors that will add to your enjoyment. Simple and quick.

Ask an experienced rider to ride with you for an assessment.

Thanks for your suggestions guys. I will focus on drinking more water, before, after and during the ride. Ten miles is a small distance since I plan to commute to work and back starting next week. I will focus on what I consume, particulary the protein, since I am a veggie. I do have clif bars and I usually bring them with me. I plan to ride again tomorrow. Thanks guys.

All of my bikes are fitted.