Legs knackered by gardening

samoff

Grrr. I've been really putting in the miles (by my standards) and reckon I'm fitter now than for ages. Then, a week before the White Rose sportive, I spend the weekend gardening. Lots of digging and turf-lifting. Now my ham-strings (if that's what they are) are absolutely killing me. Two questions:

1 - How can this happen? Have I developed legs that are absolutely no good for anything other than cycling? It felt fine at the time, and lifting/digging can't be that different to pedalling, can it?

2 - What do I do now? I'm currently spraying them with deep heat. The left is a lot better now, but my right is still very tender. Is it allright to ride a bit or should I give it a rest?

allthebest

sam

<font color="purple"><i>Lean on me, I won't fall over. I'm hard as steel and stone cold sober</i></font id="purple">

Unknown

Well, the first mistake was doing he gardening. But since it was probably unavoidable then I suppose that we can forgive you. Anyhow, your points:

1 - Yes, your legs are only pretty much good at only cycling. The muscular changes that you've had as a result of the cycling are specific to that activity. Pedalling only takes place over a limited range of motion, and so doesn't really stretch the muscles and tendons to their limits. The unusual gardening activity causes micro-damage to the muscle tissue, and the release of various substances over this local area. At the time it's not really noticable, but certainly is later, hence it's name of delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS).

2 - As for treatment the best sort of thing is probably rest. Deep heat won't really do anything as all this is doing is bringing the blood towards the surface of the skin causing a warming feeling. You could try applying ice packs to the painful area, as well as some light stretching.

As for the Whit Rose I don't suppose you'd be riding too much this week anyway, so maybe some light rides towards the end of the week to see how things feel.

"The trouble is, all year I haven't had the ability to go faster than possible" - Chris Boardman.

chuckles

Hi Samoff, I think you need to work on your aero tuck while operating the mower.

Chuckles

binlinus

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by samoff</i>


2 - What do I do now? I'm currently spraying them with deep heat. The left is a lot better now, but my right is still very tender. Is it allright to ride a bit or should I give it a rest?
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote">

Hi

Go for a gentle ride for an hour then stretch afterwards. Go for a walk and stretch afterwards. Make sure the stretching is gentle. Walk gently up and down stairs, then stretch afterwards. Only stretch when your muscles are warmed up.

Don't do any more gardening. Who do you think you are? Monty Don?

Bin

dbg

You could try decking over the garden

Stuck on a Giant

Samoff, you're not alone - 105 miles on Saturday, a bit of aching in the front of my thighs but nothing too much. 4 hours gardening on Sunday, backs of thighs siezed up on Monday morning!

samoff

Thank for the advice.
I'll be adding some stretching to my excersice regime from now on.

I'm not having this - I don't want to be a on-trick pony who's no good in the real world. The idea was to get fit enough to do anything that came up - whether thats adventure races or gardening.

<font color="purple"><i>Lean on me, I won't fall over. I'm hard as steel and stone cold sober</i></font id="purple">

chuckles

Hi Samoff,

Your muscles are aching because they are not used to being used in the ways that you are now using them. If I suddenly start doing a new type of exercise that I am not used to I will ache for the next few days, everyone is the same even the very fittest athletes in the world.

In future eat lots of meat and pasta or rice after any significant exertion and get rest. Some very gentle recovery type exercise could be good to get the blood pumping a little faster but nothing more than brisk walking I think. The extra protein and carbohydrate will allow you body to repair itself and refuel more efficiently than if you do not 'pig out'.

Also make sure you get plenty of sleep. A nice milky drink before bed will also help you sleep more soundly and give you an extra protein boost.


Chuckles

hevipedal

The answer to this is easy - don't ever do any more gardening.
I let my son and daughter in law (with grand children) move in with us and said they can have the garden just don't expect any help from me........

<b><font color="red"> Hevipedal </font id="red"></b>
Phrase of the week - <font color="red"><font size="3"><b> I've got a bike. You can ride it if you like.
It's got a basket, a bell that rings and
Things to make it look good.
I'd give it to you if I could, but I borrowed it.
</font id="red"> </font id="size3"> </b>
51yrs old and Proud of it - Made it to 87kg 2 more to go for the target.
Pedal to Paris Sept 2007

chuckles

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by hevipedal</i>

The answer to this is easy - don't ever do any more gardening.
I let my son and daughter move in with us and said they can have the garden just don't expect any help from me........

<b><font color="red"> Hevipedal </font id="red"></b>
Phrase of the week - <font color="red"><font size="3"><b> I've got a bike. You can ride it if you like.
It's got a basket, a bell that rings and
Things to make it look good.
I'd give it to you if I could, but I borrowed it.
</font id="red"> </font id="size3"> </b>
51yrs old and Proud of it - Made it to 87kg 2 more to go for the target.
Pedal to Paris Sept 2007


<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote">

You sound like a harsh man Hevipedal, don't all parents 'let' their offspring move in with them? It certainly wasn't something I considered as an option after my daughter was born.

I may give her the "Don't expect any help from me" line too, but will probably wait until her first birthday.


Chuckles

hevipedal

I've just edited to make it clear - or in other words DOH, missed a bit out........................

both son and daughter have moved out, son has moved back with his brood, daughter at university so just spends my money.
If she's going shopping with my wife she asks her "is the credit card coming?"
she thinks it hilarious..................

<b><font color="red"> Hevipedal </font id="red"></b>
Phrase of the week - <font color="red"><font size="3"><b> I've got a bike. You can ride it if you like.
It's got a basket, a bell that rings and
Things to make it look good.
I'd give it to you if I could, but I borrowed it.
</font id="red"> </font id="size3"> </b>
51yrs old and Proud of it - Made it to 87kg 2 more to go for the target.
Pedal to Paris Sept 2007

AlexPcp

I ride/turbo 3 or 4 times a week and crack off 60 mile rides in the Surrey hills no problem.

Played cricket a few weekends ago and bowled 8 overs. For the next 3 days I was barely able to walk and my wife had to put my socks on for me! Cycling and cricket don't mix, folks.

chuckles

Sorry hevipedal I was kind of winding you up a bit there, I knew what you meant. [;)]


Chuckles