If after you listened to her, you didn't agree with her menopause diagnosis (which is more than a little presumptuous!), you could have said, well, I'd still like to try a recovery drink to start with. Do you have anything here with a good mix of carbs and protein?

The recovery drink of choice is chocolate milk, btw.

I think if my legs were that tired after the hilly ride, I would have taken a day off to recover. I'm also not getting the sense that you ate enough after the ride. And, did you drink water? You only mention drinking beer, which makes me wonder about dehydration.

ETA, lots of us posting at the same time!