StanSeven

This isn't that complicated. You get stronger from hard work (muscles tear down) and recovery (rest days). 28-45 miles per day for 2 or 3 days tears you down. That is unless you are used to 300 miles per week with an 80 to 100 mile weekend day.

You need rest and recovery. Ride for three days and take a day off. It's that simple.

The alternative is keep trying for a week. You'll suffer from all the classic symptoms of overtraining plus risk injury

Roody

Why do you think that ordinary cycling tears down muscle? Is there any scientific evidence of this? I'm certainly not aware of any, and I'm fairly well read.

Certainly if you're tired you should rest. But isn't the human body designed to do more than two hours a day of moderate intensity work? If you're doing your commute as a time trial that's one thing. But an ordinary commute to work should not be grueling.

angelaharms

CCrew, I gotta +1. I was riding this morning, sweating and panting on my little overpass, and it hit me. You are trying to work out! Just like me, I bet, you are riding and pushing yourself at close to your limit. I think you always do, and that is messing you up, because you're doing, as the fibromyalgia folks say "too much." While I happen to love a life that involves doing "too much," there is such a thing as too much "too much."

Or, as the dog (or was it the cat) in one of my favorite kids movies says, "It is possible to over-frolic."

What do you think?

Angela

CCrew

It's entirely possible. Certainly not a plan in my mind, but sometimes as we all know - we aren't always doing what our mind thinks we are. I rode today - and I'm certainly sitting here feeling it ! 13 miles in 58 minutes according to my Cateye. Pretty much going to have to cycle tomorrow, as most of the streets are going to be closed for the 9/11 festivities at the Pentagon and traffic will be nuts getting to my office, so I'll try to make a concerted effort to go easy tonight and tomorrow and see how it goes.

-R

AdamD

Ccrew- Are you riding with a backpack or a rack/pannier solution? I had been riding with a backpack and just got a new bike with a rack and panniers. This morning was my first ride without a backpack and the difference in how I feel is amazing. I felt like I was barely working without the backpack and when I got to work I had barely broken a sweat. Not sure if this will help you or not, just wanted to throw in another 2 cents of mine.

CCrew

Road bike I ride with a backpack. MTB I ride with rack/panniers. I switch back and forth between the two bikes, but would put the road bike as primary... although the MTB is sitting by my desk right now :-)

It's an idea... but I'm working on making it home tonight and I'll see if what I'm trying seems to help... so far it may have. Pretty much a combo of some of the suggestions above with some self analysis thrown in

-R

FredOak

I'm 53 and have found that 3 days in a row is about the max for 20 miles or greater on each day. I'll then take a day off and it makes all the difference in the world.

The one day break seems just enough for the aches to work themselves out and the next time riding just feels so much better.

But I have to agree with others that hydration, salt/potassium intake, diet and sleep all effect it greatly.