Quote Originally Posted by nikkoblu2 View Post
I will ask my trainer this question, but I'm wondering...when I first started riding my quads used to burn, burn, burn. I guess they're stronger now, but I find my IT band is more apt to be tire and be tender after the ride than any other part of my leg. Normal progression?

Also, after switching from a hybrid to a road bike I'm finding the muscles down my neck into my shoulders incredibly sore and tight. I'm sure this is from the new body position - leaning over and looking up -something else I'll develop a tolerance for?
I have had my share of IT band problems. This is not something that you want to ignore. I recommend rolling out your IT band with a foam roller after EVERY ride. This will hurt like heck, but is very effective at breaking up the adhesions that are causing pain.

Also, make sure you aren't turning too big a gear, build your mileage up slowly, and don't do too much intensity without a solid enough fitness base. I think my IT band problems were caused in part by not heeding this advice well enough. It is easy to go out too hard one day, realize you body wasn't ready for it, realize you have some muscle strength imbalances and maybe some biomechanical issues you have been ignoring, or weren't aware of, and then a chronic problem starts to set in.

I was lucky. I ended last season with an IT band problem, trained all winter on it, but was super careful. Still had some pain on my long early season rides, talked to my fitter regularly, started listening more and more to my body, started an intensive periodized training plan, and as I built strength/fitness, the pain was GONE! I raced and trained most of the spring/summer pain-free.

Good luck.