
Originally Posted by
aicabsolut
Lactic acid buildup is a myth.
The length of the workout is pretty irrelevant to the issue of edema. It really depends on how hard you were working. The more strength involved (sprint intervals, lots of climbing, big gear tempo rides, etc.), the more likely there will be some feeling of leg swelling and fluid retention, at least in my experience, but it can also happen whenever my legs get really fatigued, when the muscles are tight and I'm not diligent about massage, or when I'm overtraining.
Self-massage (no rolling pin necessary) helps a lot, especially with cooling muscle rubs. Even better, get a professional massage to really get at the harder to reach hams and glutes.