"Growing Pains" after long rides

[LeTurbo]

Fonts of knowledge and experience!

 

Remember that ache you got in your legs when you were a kid? I get them after a race or longish ride (41km yesterday - I know that's not far - but the legs really got sore).

 

Does anyone else get them?

 

But the real question is, is this something to worry about? Osteoporosis? Old age? A heated imagination? Second childhood? Protracted or delayed puberty?

[walkerr]

Fonts of knowledge and experience!

 

Remember that ache you got in your legs when you were a kid? I get them after a race or longish ride (41km yesterday - I know that's not far - but the legs really got sore).

 

Does anyone else get them?

 

But the real question is, is this something to worry about? Osteoporosis? Old age? A heated imagination? Second childhood? Protracted or delayed puberty?

 

I'm assuming what you're talking about is something more than just usual post-ride exertion pains i.e. stiff or aching muscles and joints? (I've had them so bad I couldn't walk or climb stairs when I've pushed too far beyond my limits).

 

Ruling out the above, have you had a pro do a bike setup check for you? Could be your overall riding position (fore/aft, and up/down in terms of seat height) is putting undue pressure on your knees, ankle joints, tendons etc.

 

If you can be sure that neither of the above is a factor, I reckon you might need to seek help to look into the exact area/cause of the pain to help relate it back to the part of your cycling motion, or maybe just overall endurance which is triggering it.

Edited March 6, 2012 by walkerr

[LeTurbo]

I'm assuming what you're talking about is something more than just usual post-ride exertion pains i.e. stiff or aching muscles and joints? (I've had them so bad I couldn't walk or climb stairs when I've pushed too far beyond my limits).

 

Ruling out the above, have you had a pro do a bike setup check for you? Could be your overall riding position (fore/aft, and up/down in terms of seat height) is putting undue pressure on your knees, ankle joints, tendons etc.

 

If you can be sure that neither of the above is a factor, I reckon you might need to seek help to look into the exact area/cause of the pain to help relate it back to the part of your cycling motion, or maybe just overall endurance which is triggering it.

 

 

That's just the thing - it's not pain like I feel after a gym session or anything. It's more of a deep throbbing ache, like the bones are being stretched - and I've read all the stuff about cyclists getting brittle bones (not that I ride that much).

 

But yes, maybe I need to make an appointment with Jeroen Swart. I'm just scared he'll tell me all my bikes are the wrong size for me ...

[walkerr]

That's just the thing - it's not pain like I feel after a gym session or anything. It's more of a deep throbbing ache, like the bones are being stretched - and I've read all the stuff about cyclists getting brittle bones (not that I ride that much).

 

But yes, maybe I need to make an appointment with Jeroen Swart. I'm just scared he'll tell me all my bikes are the wrong size for me ...

 

Yeah - I also get scared of fitting sessions in case I find out too much of what I have is "wrong"

 

One other Q was whether this is something that has developed recently/suddenly? If so, I guess there could also be an underlying medical reason.

 

I did a ski-ing holiday in US many years back, and spent the whole time wondering why I was hurting so much and so short of power compared to usual. Found out weeks later I had Glandular Fever, which was the underlying cause of the pains and lack of energy. There's quite a few bugs and other things that can affect joints etc - uric acid (aka 'gout') can be another cause, especially in fingers and lower leg. Doesn't even have to be caused by alcohol as I understand it, although that's the common cause.

 

So if this is something new, maybe get a panel of blood tests to rule out possible bugs, deficiencies etc