Dead Leg Days
lost_in_thought
Posts: 10,563
So, earlier this week I had an attack of dead legs. Cycling seemed a lot more like hard work, legs didn't seem to want to play at all, felt heavy and, well, dead!
I've noted that other posters occasionally suffer from the same or similar, and just wondered what might cause it?
I have a mental list of options:
1. overexertion - not really consistently applicable
2. dehydration
3. lack of carb intake - doubtful, I'm not exactly doing a lot of exercise
4. lack of sleep
5. lack of stretching
Any thoughts or solutions welcomed!
I've noted that other posters occasionally suffer from the same or similar, and just wondered what might cause it?
I have a mental list of options:
1. overexertion - not really consistently applicable
2. dehydration
3. lack of carb intake - doubtful, I'm not exactly doing a lot of exercise
4. lack of sleep
5. lack of stretching
Any thoughts or solutions welcomed!
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Comments
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For heavy legs! Are you French?0 -
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lost_in_thought wrote:So, earlier this week I had an attack of dead legs. Cycling seemed a lot more like hard work, legs didn't seem to want to play at all, felt heavy and, well, dead!
I've noted that other posters occasionally suffer from the same or similar, and just wondered what might cause it?
I have a mental list of options:
1. overexertion - not really consistently applicable
2. dehydration
3. lack of carb intake - doubtful, I'm not exactly doing a lot of exercise
4. lack of sleep
5. lack of stretching
Any thoughts or solutions welcomed!
I think you need to post a recent picture of your legs so that we can make a full assessment and give you a proper answer.Food Chain number = 4
A true scalp is not only overtaking someone but leaving them stopped at a set of lights. As you, who have clearly beaten the lights, pummels nothing but the open air ahead. ~ 'DondaddyD'. Player of the Unspoken Game0 -
I had no idea it was a gallic malady... and I doubt that moisturising would help!
But seriously. I want rid of it, heavy legs, dead legs, whatever... what am I not doing, I wonder?0 -
All I can tell you is that Marmite, yes, Marmite cure Resless leg Syndrome.....And the French suffer from Heavy legs (personally, I think it is because they are lazy :-))0
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lost_in_thought wrote:
I had no idea it was a gallic malady... and I doubt that moisturising would help!
But seriously. I want rid of it, heavy legs, dead legs, whatever... what am I not doing, I wonder?
Seriously. You're still building up after a serious injury, need more rest/recovery days0 -
My legs have been heavy after the weekends ride but I figured that 85 miles and 8500ft would leave me that way. I think I could have helped myself more by re hydrating better after the ride and perhaps more food to replenish the depleated stocks. I think in reality I just need to admit to myself that my legs don't recover quite as quickly as they used to.Short hairy legged roadie FCN 4 or 5 in my baggies.
Felt F55 - 2007
Specialized Singlecross - 2008
Marin Rift Zone - 1998
Peugeot Tourmalet - 1983 - taken more hits than Mohammed Ali0 -
Last nights head wind didn't help either!Short hairy legged roadie FCN 4 or 5 in my baggies.
Felt F55 - 2007
Specialized Singlecross - 2008
Marin Rift Zone - 1998
Peugeot Tourmalet - 1983 - taken more hits than Mohammed Ali0 -
Feltup wrote:My legs have been heavy after the weekends ride but I figured that 85 miles and 8500ft would leave me that way. I think I could have helped myself more by re hydrating better after the ride and perhaps more food to replenish the depleated stocks. I think in reality I just need to admit to myself that my legs don't recover quite as quickly as they used to.0
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Just MTFU or WTFU you choose :twisted:Rule #5 // Harden The Feck Up.
Rule #9 // If you are out riding in bad weather, it means you are a badass. Period.
Rule #12 // The correct number of bikes to own is n+1.
Rule #42 // A bike race shall never be preceded with a swim and/or followed by a run.0 -
Loads of times I think I'm being lazy/tired/etc and then suddenly realise there's actually a decent amount of headwind.0
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I get the same from boozing.0
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lost_in_thought wrote:
I had no idea it was a gallic malady... and I doubt that moisturising would help!
But seriously. I want rid of it, heavy legs, dead legs, whatever... what am I not doing, I wonder?
2) Stretch
If that fails:
3) Enlist male sucker to massage legs with arnica oil once a week (sounds like you'll have enough volunteers)David
Engineered Bicycles0 -
Rest days LiT, rest days. I aim to have 1 day off the bike per week. Rest is as important as riding.
- 2023 Vielo V+1
- 2022 Canyon Aeroad CFR
- 2020 Canyon Ultimate CF SLX
- Strava
- On the Strand
- Crown Stables
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I tend to have it a couple of days before a period, my legs just dont work properly, even when walking and running etc.0
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moonio wrote:I tend to have it a couple of days before a period, my legs just dont work properly, even when walking and running etc.
:shock:Food Chain number = 4
A true scalp is not only overtaking someone but leaving them stopped at a set of lights. As you, who have clearly beaten the lights, pummels nothing but the open air ahead. ~ 'DondaddyD'. Player of the Unspoken Game0 -
jashburnham wrote:Rest days LiT, rest days. I aim to have 1 day off the bike per week. Rest is as important as riding.
Hmmmm. I feared as much.
Is there no alternative? Massive amounts of Isostar? Doing some different exercise eg swimming?0 -
lost_in_thought wrote:jashburnham wrote:Rest days LiT, rest days. I aim to have 1 day off the bike per week. Rest is as important as riding.
Hmmmm. I feared as much.
Is there no alternative? Massive amounts of Isostar? Doing some different exercise eg swimming?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Overtraining
eg: http://www.sportingperformance.co.uk/Ae ... aining.htm0 -
lost_in_thought wrote:jashburnham wrote:Rest days LiT, rest days. I aim to have 1 day off the bike per week. Rest is as important as riding.
Hmmmm. I feared as much.
Is there no alternative? Massive amounts of Isostar? Doing some different exercise eg swimming?0 -
exactly how far are you commuting :?
even with 2 days off a week most i know are strugging by the fifth day0 -
doog442 wrote:exactly how far are you commuting :?
even with 2 days off a week most i know are strugging by the fifth day
Its not the distance. Its because she pushes a gear so large her big ring has its own orbit. :shock:Food Chain number = 4
A true scalp is not only overtaking someone but leaving them stopped at a set of lights. As you, who have clearly beaten the lights, pummels nothing but the open air ahead. ~ 'DondaddyD'. Player of the Unspoken Game0 -
sounds painful
drugs dont kill people..fixies do0 -
jashburnham wrote:Rest days LiT, rest days. I aim to have 1 day off the bike per week. Rest is as important as riding.
Unsubstantiated though this is, my rowing coach used to say that we all have physical cycles. Womens' most obvious ones result in a murder every 4 weeks or so, but everyone have some weeks where you think you might snap the chain, and others where you fear being overtaken by a child on a trike.
Don't worry about it - just go with the flow. Rip the chain off when you can, spin when you can't.
Peace.0 -
(to the tune of "stars and stripes forever")
EPO EPO EPO! EPO EPO EPO-OH! EPO EPO EPO! EPO-OH! E-P-O!0 -
After being ill, my legs are still building up to what they were and I can't quite maintin the power over the week yet... I cycled 40 miles today (3 13ish milers and my legs are fricked they were beforehand... it's frustrating
Saturday might be my first Richmond park lap set, least it'll be an easy time to beatPurveyor of sonic doom
Very Hairy Roadie - FCN 4
Fixed Pista- FCN 5
Beared Bromptonite - FCN 140 -
Today, for the first time in a long time, I felt fatigued both on the way to work (not so uncommon) and on the way back. It may have just been the headwind in the home leg (and I still managed a very respectable 26.30 rolling minutes) but something didn't feel right. So I'm actually staying off the bike tomorrow, much to my chagrin, and hoping that a long ride on the weekend will be both more useful and a lot more fun than one day's commute when I might have overdone it.0
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Hmmmmm... this is all interesting stuff...
I don't think I'm doing enough right now to be overtraining, but I suppose I'm not as fit as I was last year. Curses. Must... regain... fitness.
I'm only doing 80 miles or so a week on the commute, plus varying weekend mileages, last weekend's being zero (forgot speedplay shoes), and I had dead legs on monday... And the gym 2 or 3 times, and Pilates which barely counts as exercise... I'm one of those who doesn't feel they've had a workout unless they're sweating like an inappropriate simile.
Carbs/protein within 15 mins, hey? Well my protein intake has been a bit down as I'm trying to drop the weight I gained over xmas, so I'll increase that again. And I bought some high5, but that's for longer rides, not commuting.
I'm going to try the adequate hydration, increased protein and lots of stretching... and have a day off the bike this weekend. Or just pootle with the family.0