Fried Legs!

[Squeaky]

It's been about 3 weeks since I started commuting to work. It's 20 miles each way so most of the time I alternate (bike am, drive pm & vice versa), and some days I do round trip. I don't bike 2 days a week, but I do ride horses on at least those days, so my recovery time is minimal.

Am I expecting too much by forcing my legs to get over it already? It's not like I didn't do any leg exercises before biking, so I don't feel like it should be taking this long to acclimate to a 20 mile ride. Maybe I'm not giving the sport proper credit...

Should I cut back to every other day to get ready for a century in a week and a half? Or, do you think it'll be enough to just not bike the 2 days prior? What would you do?

[Cassandra_Cain]

Hi Squeaky

Hmmmm, so let me ask....how much were you riding, in weekly miles, before you started commuting? and how many are you riding now?

If you increase too fast then it is going to be a problem w/recovery.

The bottom line remains though, if your legs are tired, then your body hasn't recovered yet. If it doesn't recover then you can't get stronger. So when my legs are tired/sore/hurting, I don't ride (save for super easy spinning maybe).

[Squeaky]

oh, um, oops. I started commuting immediately upon getting back into biking. So I'm doing the same mileage as day 1, with a couple of days recently doing round trip. I guess I do need a break, but it's soooo hard to stop, especially with the century looming. I feel like after that I can back off a little.

[Squeaky]

oh and, weekly miles started at 100 and after this weekend will be at 150.

[mimitabby]

Squeaky, it took me a long time to be able to comfortably ride 20 miles.

You have to build muscle. Riding horses, hiking use those muscles in different ways from turning pedals.

I think you are very ambitious!

[Cassandra_Cain]

mimi's point is well taken, it does take a while...

going from 100 to 150 is a big jump, like what, 50% higher?

I'd actually say to taper some before a century, unless you do them all the time...you want your body as fresh as possible.