when are my legs going to quit hurting?

[SadieKate]

I will inform Raleighdon that on our way to work in the morning i am going to be even pokeyer. and sunday is the Tandem rally, where things will definitely be more relaxed.

Cool! So when it is safe call a slow race!

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

I usually take a rest day off my bike when my legs get really sore from a huge effort ride.

[Crankin]

I am going through the same thing. I think age, uh, has something to do with it. I feel like I have one or two good fast days every two week at this point. I have been riding for almost seven years...
I didn't ride for a week because last Tuesday I felt sick from alllergies during my commute. Took Wed. off. Did an intense yoga class and weights on Thursday. Rested Friday. Saturday, it rained, did another hard yoga class, with a 10 minute cardio warm up. Sunday i went on a 3.5 mile hike (easy).
Rested yeterday. This morning my legs still felt like lead. Two weeks ago I got to work in 56 minutes. Today was 59.20.
I always take one full day off, sometimes two. I ride with a slow friend once a week. Try to stretch every day and do yoga and weights twice a week. I feel like a wimp compared to others. My mileage isn't even that high!

[mimitabby]

Robyn, you are taking the same approach I am. It's easy (well, relatively)
to get high mileage when the only thing you do is bicycle. But when you lift weights, walk, jog, stairstep, etc at the same time, well, there is less time to ride the bike.
I am sure you are right that age is a factor.
I read that a 60 year old woman can only build 1/2 as much muscle as a 20 something. so we have to work harder to get where we get to.

I can't take too many days off this month since it's ride to work month but i made a conscious effort this morning to slow down and played waltzes in my head instead of Marchs today.

going home i will be alone so it will be even easier to be pokey

[Starfish]

Recovery, recovery, recovery.

Cross train swimming and only pull with your arms...get your cardio without using your leg muscles.

And, I cannot overstate how much an awesome massage therapist can do for legs that have become habitually knotted up, etc. It can take awhile to find the right one, but when you do...I find that even one massage every 6 weeks or so does wonders for putting me back together.

[mimitabby]

I have been thinking about a massage!

[Crankin]

I am all for the massage...
It's not my choice per se, to cross train, but I know I have to, so 1) I don't burn out (I've been through this before with aerobics) and 2) trying to keep my osteopoeinia at bay. Plus, I do like some of the other activities I do, but I am not addicted to them. Once we hit a stretch of decent weather, I ride 4, sometimes 5 times a week. Usually 2 are longer or harder rides and one is a recovery ride. The other 2 might be just a normal 15-20 mile loop I do alone when i don't have a lot of time. Sometimes I mtb in the summer and fall. Talk about muscles hurting.
OK, just got home from my commute, going to stretch!