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First ride after rest days?

Posted: Wed Mar 20, 2013 11:23 am
by Xplora
I'm finding I often don't feel like the blood is really "happening" through the muscles on the first ride after the "big ride", whatever that might be. I did 116 on Saturday, and didn't ride more than 5kms each day until this morning.

What is the experience of others? I often am able to power on with the second - 4th rides afterwards...

Re: First ride after rest days?

Posted: Wed Mar 20, 2013 1:48 pm
by boss
Invariably after 3-4 days off, I am ready to kill it. It's not uncommon for me to set PR's on that first ride.

I've discussed my routine elsewhere on here and I reckon you've read it, but for the benefit of anyone else who comes along and reads this + without getting to into it, I usually do a fairly hard 10 days (550-650km, 5 days non-commute riding [commute is 6km]) in the hills and then have Friday-Monday off (just commuting and riding BMX) and get back into it on Tuesday.

Having said that I haven't been pushing myself to do major distances, 100km for me is fairly comfortable and it doesn't hurt me too greatly. Just makes me sleepy. I suspect if I was to do a 150km or 200km effort it might take me 150km-200km to ride.

I guess age and physique and years on the bike all come into it... I'm 27, pretty slim and while I'm new to riding 'big' bikes (I think 6-7 months now), I have ridden BMX freestyle since I was 12.

I don't pay much attention to my diet and tend to eat whatever, I should probably eat better.

Re: First ride after rest days?

Posted: Fri Mar 22, 2013 9:11 am
by Puffy
Could be as simple as not stretching properly. After a big ride if I don't stretch right after, and the morning following they give me grief. They ache for a chouple of days esp. when walking and riding is laboured. After that sort of workout the muscels are contracted and tight, stretching pulls this out and freshens them up. With the stretching I feel no aching the following days and riding is normal. It takes a bit of time to do properly, which is a pain when riding before work but it is worth it. It feels great afterwards.

This guide book is the method I use, written by "Human Performance Centre";

http://www.stevehoggbikefitting.com/sto ... ts-manual/

Re: First ride after rest days?

Posted: Sat Mar 23, 2013 12:30 pm
by Metor
Normally after a big ride I don't really have problems the next day. After a (few) restday(s) I am stiff and notice lack of power. It is simply because the body is still in recovery mode. Just one ride will wake up the system and you should be better/stronger then before the rest days. :wink: