Avoiding/curing muscle pain after riding?

[Hog_]

So I've got a few hills on my daily commute, the nastiest of which is the one going up to my place - from the Spruit all the way up 12th, otherwise known as my Achilles Hill (geddit? ).

 

Problem is that my legs are taking strain! Muscles are sore and tired. I can feel the improvement in terms of strength, but it becomes a problem when my legs are still protesting on Sunday.

 

Is there anything I can do to avoid this? Would drinking Guinness work? Please say yes!!

 

 

 

[NC_lurker]

USN L-Glutamine

http://www.usn.co.za/products_muscle_glut.htm

 

Definitely seems to "relax" my legs after a hard session.

[Hog_]

Oh, I forgot to add:

 

I only drink water during and after the ride, and try to have an apple during the morning. I need to lose a 'few' kg, so I'm not keen on using energy drinks etc.

 

 

 

[Marius]

dO MORE recovery rides / add more rest days.

[Dr. Seuss]

 

 

eat more carbs to restore the glycogen - it wont make you put on weight if you eat it within an hour of hard exercise.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[NC_lurker]

Oh' date=' I forgot to add:

I only drink water during and after the ride, and try to have an apple during the morning. I need to lose a 'few' kg, so I'm not keen on using energy drinks etc.


[/quote']

 

L-Glutamine isn't an energy drink.

You take a half-teaspoon serving in a small glass of water after your ride & another just before you go to sleep.

Not overally expensive for a small bottle, definitely worth a try.

 

I'm not a big user of energy gels etc, but this stuff is worth a look.

 I sound like a Verimark salesperson..

[Older]

Ok, warm down after the ride.  Stretch those legs and muscles before you get cold.  If your are still in the beginning stages (first 30%) of your training program keep your heart rate for at least 90% of the time under your Lactic Threshold.<?: prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

[SwissVan]

 

Compact gearing, then spin up the achilles parts some days instead of grinding up everyday.

 

 

[Dirtbreath]

You definitely need something after your ride to recover your muscles.

 

I use a Berocca Calmag which does the trick. Also dont like those Hi GI recovery drinks.

 

An apple might not be enough. Try something like a baked potato.

[Hog_]

I think I'll try some of the artificial crap, USN / Berocca, purely because of the convenience. It's a pain trying to convince the cleaning lady at the office to make me a baked potato (she just looked at me like I'm crazy).

 

[Hog_]

 

Compact gearing' date=' then spin up the achilles parts some days instead of grinding up everyday.

 

  

[/quote']

 

Funny guy!

 

I'm already huffing and puffing up the hill in my granny gear. Don't think gears will make a difference when the rider needs the improvement

 

 

 

 

 

[SwissVan]

Compact gearing' date=' then spin up the achilles parts some days instead of grinding up everyday.

  

[/quote']

Funny guy!

I'm already huffing and puffing up the hill in my granny gear. Don't think gears will make a difference when the rider needs the improvement

 

Seriously!!!!

 

I assumed u were riding a road bike....What gearing is your granny gear? Are you riding a mtb (granny gear)??

 

Climbing hills pushing a gear that is to hard at a slow rpm is an excelent form of strength training and will cause sore muscles, but not to be carried out every day hence the suggestion to fit a compact crank (if on a road bike) so u can use the easier gears on some days.

 

 

[preez]

SwissVan makes a very good point... It's an example of active rest, you give ur muscles a bit of time to recover but at the same time still working them... A warm down, and stetch will also help you loads, as before mentioned.

[Yang]

Actually, a doctor friend of mine assures me that a beer after a ride is a good recovery drink- but only one, Boet.

[Hog_]

 

Actually' date=' a doctor friend of mine assures me that a beer after a ride is a good recovery drink- but only one, Boet.[/quote']

 

I disagree! I can't feel ANY pain after 12!

 

Seriously though, I've been trying the USN stuff since the weekend, not sure if it's making a huge difference. I also started stretching since I created this post. So I stretch every ride, and take the USN stuff 2 - 3 times a day. Legs are still sore. Maybe I need a few recovery days. I'll try a longish, slow ride tomorrow, but I know myself. As soon as I hit the singletrack, I just want to go faster!

 

Maybe I should buy a road bike...

 

 

 

[SwissVan]

Actually' date=' a doctor friend of mine assures me that a beer after a ride is a good recovery drink- but only one, Boet.[/quote']

I disagree! I can't feel ANY pain after 12!

Seriously though, I've been trying the USN stuff since the weekend, not sure if it's making a huge difference. I also started stretching since I created this post. So I stretch every ride, and take the USN stuff 2 - 3 times a day. Legs are still sore. Maybe I need a few recovery days. I'll try a longish, slow ride tomorrow, but I know myself. As soon as I hit the singletrack, I just want to go faster!

Maybe I should buy a road bike...

 

Taking "stuff" 2 - 3 times a day... your legs still sore... hmm how the kidneys/ Liver feeling ? And the wallet?

Stuff just makes your kidneys work harder and someone else rich...

 

Might be easier to ride a different route instead of hills everday