Recovery, First 30 Mile Trip and Bike Shorts

[Bethany1]

Loving my new Ridley X-BOW the more I ride it. Once you find the right bike and one that isn't constantly having problems, cycling takes on an entire new meaning and joy. For once I'm not struggling to get a bike on the rack or to get it into the car. Steel may be real, but aluminum is easier on the back. I do miss disc brakes though from my Mukluk.

Did my first 30 mile trip the other day! Took me two hours and 45 minutes and had a great time. My triceps completely gave out or I could have gone farther. The last 3 miles were agony because of it. I've struggled for the past 2 years or so just to get more than a few miles at a time so 30 miles is a HUGE milestone.

I put my road shorts on for the first time in a couple of years. Wow. What a difference from baggy mountain bike ones. My biggest gripe is no matter how much you spend on bike shorts, Lycra/Spandex is still easily ruined if you snag it on something. I had snagged them while sitting on the front porch a couple of years ago and just hand sewed the hole back up and never wore them again fearing they'd rip. I'd like to invest in another couple of pairs, but worry about the same issue of snagging.

How do you recover from long rides or is exhaustion normal after a couple of hours of riding? I get a dull headache and feel a little sick despite eating/drinking/resting afterwards.

[Eden]

sounds like you are getting dehydrated and possibly bonking - make sure you not only eat and drink after your ride, but during it as well.

[Becky]

How do you recover from long rides or is exhaustion normal after a couple of hours of riding? I get a dull headache and feel a little sick despite eating/drinking/resting afterwards.

I second the motion that you may be dehydrated. This blog post really opened my eyes about hydration and fueling.

PS. Congrats on the new bike!

[TigerMom]

Congrats on your new mileage!!! I still remember when I thought that 10miles was a lot (which was one year ago).

[Owlie]

Not eating or hydrating well before a ride is a recipe for disaster (or at least feeling crummy), I've found. And eat during a ride too. Electrolytes are important, especially as it warms up. A little caffeine post-ride helps me too.

Granted, you'll probably feel it after a ride that's significantly longer or harder than your past rides.

[Bethany1]

Here's my cross bike: Ridley X-BOW. I keep thinking it's hydration/food issues, but I eat/drink plenty. Short of buying a scale and weighing myself before/after a ride, I guess I haven't figured it all out. Just wondered if it was normal to feel really tired (not I'm going do die and puke tired) and a little lightheaded/headache after a ride or a few hours after riding. Allergy med does help some so figure it might be that.

Looking forward to my first sponsored ride on the 22nd for a quarter century up in Lincoln. Riding with a friend. Debating on the Muk or the Ridley. It's all flat so it really depends on how attention I want given the Muk always gets plenty of attention. She has a fat bike as well, so we'd really draw attention to ourselves. LOL.

[mariacycle]

Bethany - congratulations on the new bike and a great ride! On the topic of road shorts snagging, have you considered a slightly different material than the normal lycra? I wear Louis Garneau Zone 3K shorts, which are more mesh than spandex, and I haven't had them snag or pill at all. I also find the waistband infinitely more comfortable than everything else I tried.

[colorisnt]

Here's my cross bike: Ridley X-BOW. I keep thinking it's hydration/food issues, but I eat/drink plenty. Short of buying a scale and weighing myself before/after a ride, I guess I haven't figured it all out. Just wondered if it was normal to feel really tired (not I'm going do die and puke tired) and a little lightheaded/headache after a ride or a few hours after riding. Allergy med does help some so figure it might be that.

Looking forward to my first sponsored ride on the 22nd for a quarter century up in Lincoln. Riding with a friend. Debating on the Muk or the Ridley. It's all flat so it really depends on how attention I want given the Muk always gets plenty of attention. She has a fat bike as well, so we'd really draw attention to ourselves. LOL.

Even if you think you are eating enough before/after, I've found that eating DURING the ride is really good for me. It's not easy in my case due to allergies but I am bringing cheese (babybels like when I used to go on trips in Europe- they are fine for the length of a ride esp. in a trunk bag) on the bike now for LONG rides and gu or something similar can be a lifesaver. On anything longer than 20 miles, I've committed to eating. I have to FORCE myself to eat properly after. Otherwise, I seriously feel awful the next AM. That's what happened yesterday after my 42 miles. I didn't eat enough and felt it all day.

Your bike is beautiful Congrats on the mileage. Before you know it that 30 miles will come fast. And I am jealous of your Mukluk. I have wanted one for ages but have absolutely NO reason to buy one.