Ok, I've been struggling with this for a bit so I'll put it to you ladies.

In June I started picking up my milage a bit. I went from riding twice a week to 3-4 times and I'm up to 100-125 miles a week. Regardless of if I'm riding 15 miles or 50, my quads feel like lead when I'm done.

I ride 2-3 times during my lunch during the week, averaging between 12-15 miles. I eat a cup of yogurt before I ride (since it's lunch time and I'm starting to get hungry) and drink plenty of water in the morning and I bring 20oz with me. I stretch before I ride but admit to poor stretching afterwards because I'm hurrying to get back to work.

My Saturday ride is my long ride. I stretch better before and after (even using "the stick"), eat 300-400 calories for bkfast and 100 calories per hour on the bike, not including my energy drink. I struggle to down 24 oz/hour of beverage on the bike, I'm usually a little under and I take one electrolyte tablet per hour. My recovery drink is a glass of chocolate milk regardless of my time on the bike.

I'm training for a century. I'm up to 50 miles for my long ride. I'm planning a 60 mile ride this weekend (organized ride) which is a 10 mile mileage hike and I'm expecting to be sore. My questions are these:

Why do my quads feel like lead regardless of my ride length?

Am I taking in enough calories on the bike for my long rides and before my lunch rides? I am still trying to drop 10 pounds so I'm thinking this might be an issue. You're gonna ask me how many calories I'm taking in per day right? I need to log a few days again to make sure, but I believe I'm around 1800.

About 3-4 hours after my long rides I'm wiped out and ready for a nap! Is this normal? I don't remember feeling like this last summer. This is only my second year riding and my longest ride ever is 64 miles so I'm getting up to my PR. I was a little heavier last year but I felt I rode stronger then and didn't have these issues.

Any advice would be appreciated. TIA!