Thigh pain like bruising

[mtb_babe]

Occassionally in the past after a road ride I have experienced very sore patches on the outside of my thighs about the level of the bottom of my bike shorts.
Due to an upcoming biking holiday, I have started this week on a harder biking schedule (not that hard, but then I'm not that fit), and have been out biking for the past 4 days.
At the end of each bike ride this week (3 road rides and 1 mtb ride), I have experienced the same pain immediately after I stop biking. After todays ride (an hour longer than the previous rides), not only were my thighs extremely painful, but there is swelling in the same spot.
Is this normal or have I done something wrong?

[KnottedYet]

Could be something is slightly off with your positioning on the bike, and it's irritating your iliotibial bands.

Do you have someone who can check your bike fit and your riding posture?

[ClockworkOrange]

Perhaps get checked out by your GP.

I get a similar problem, going from the hip (the bony bit) to my knee but it can be painful just in the middle of the thigh, this is all along the outside of the thigh.

I have been diagnosed with Greater trochanteric pain syndrome. Check it out on the internet, see if it is similar to what you get.

Very painful at times.

Hope you get sorted out.