I bought a lemond (half steel half carbon) bike three weeks ago and took my very first road ride in my life. I went 20 miles with a few hilly areas. I averaged 12 mph.
when I got back, other than for burning I had no extreme soreness, My butt was fine after 2 days even. The next day though, I had this weird twinge soreness running, from outside of left leg calf, up to almost the back of the knee. It doesn't reach to the area directly behind the knee.
It's 139 miles later and the sore twinge is still there. When walking I don't feel it at all. When jumping rope I don't feel it at all. I feel it a little on stairs. Every now and then when riding I will notice it. Once I get off the bike I tend to notice it more
When I feel it riding is when I'm pulling the pedal back and up. To simulate the soreness/cramp I have to have my leg in a 90% angle and then try to squeeze my leg together to a 70-50% angle. Then I feel the twinge. I can go all day and not feel it unless I get into a situation where I have to do that.
Tell me if my Assessment of the situation might be logical.
* For this frame size 53 I have a long crank arms 172mm (i think). This leads to more compression when pulling the leg up. As a complete newbie I was not "spinning fast" (not that I was being encouraged by the longer crank arms) I was also in the big gears more (this I was being encourage by with the longer crank arms)
So my equation starts out (slow cadence) + (hills) + (longer crank arms)= More muscle compression.
* I was fitted by I Bike shop mechanic, and I had a friend kinda double check him. But what I noticed, and my buddy notice also on one ride was that I wasn't getting enough leg extention, and this was going to be a problem sense I tend to ride toes down.
Over two weeks I've raised my seat a full inch and 1/4, and now I feel like I'm getting enough power out of each stroke, and I'm still stable while pedaling, and my knees are not locking when fully extended.
* Consider also, that I don't use those tendons that way, And my muscles were stronger that they were limber, since I didn't stretch and it was my first ride (in my life) and my complete equation looks like this
(slow cadence) + (hills) + (longer crank arms) + (saddle too low) + (not stretching) + (strong muscles weak tendons) = More muscle compression, and calf/ tendon strain.
Does that make biker sense to ya'll?? And now what do I do?
Here's what I've planned. I bought a trainer, and plan on just practicing spinning in an easy gear, for the next few weeks.
Should I not be on the bike at all?
Since ,even when riding it's noticeable only now and then, is it a pain that I will ride through?
Disclaimer:
I pose these questions not looking for a "medical" opinion. They are posed to get an "experienced riders" opinion. And I really do appreciate any and all responses. Hopefully the post wasn't too long. I just wanted to cover all the bases.
Thanks again.