crap ride out today - no legs?

[kedab]

was going to ride my 35mile loop this morning but turned back at about mile 7. i was slow and getting miffed with the crosswinds and i just couldn't find my legs. the weather's a bit cooler and it was trying to spit with rain on occasion but they're both things i'm used to with the commute - i don't like it but it never usually bothers me as much as it did today. i was slow from the off and just couldn't get in to the ride. i did notice something on the way back that i wanted to pick some brains on...i seem to put much more pressure through my right leg? i actually stopped pedaling properly with my right just to feel the difference in my left. there's a definite difference in the power i put down through opposing pedals? i must have noticed it before. is this fairly standard for riders or is it something a bit of research/concious effort can balance out...i don't feel any more stress in my right leg after a ride so it's not hurting me as such...maybe it could help my overall performance though?

 

[Nigelnaturist]

I think we all have a stronger side, usually the side we are prominent using, when you stretch to reach something which leg/foot do you push up on more, mines the right I am right handed, if you relax into someone and they push you forward which leg do you put forward first (if its your left and your handed you my be dyslexic) normally you would put your right foot forward, I know I can put more power out with my right. Just like I grip better with my right hand. Just my observations. No medical knowledge at all.

 

[Nearly there]

I felt tired on my ride yesterday only managed 17 miles of a planned 30 once I got the head wind I was gone legs felt heavy I think it happens to all of us.

 

[Berties]

It's that time of the year,getting cooler darker in the mornings,high seasonal winds,it takes more effort to motivate
I have done the opposite sort of a reverse phycoligy ,went out yesterday for my 25 mile commute and did 50 miles because I could and felt good,and today thought I will do a few hills and a cheeky ride, and ended up circling in route 24 riding from Warminster to close to romsey smashing into 70 miles,but if you told me Tuesday I was doing the miles at the end of the week I would have laughed,just go and do what you feel and it always grows

 

[defy-one]

I did 2 x 21 mile commutes into London with a day on my feet. I feel great!!!!

 

[kedab]

thanks for this lads - i'm actually left sided - left handed and left footed - however, left handed only applies to writing, snooker/pool/tennis - if playing cricket/golf, i play right handed. i kick with my left foot but if you were to push in to me, it would be my right leg i move to balance...oh and i can only use a pair of scissors in my right hand and i play guitar right handed (though i'm such a rubbish guitarist i could play left handed and sound no worse!). biomechanics - who knows how that works eh?!

 

[Pedrosanchezo]

I recently went to go on a normal 60-80 mile weekend ride and had to turn back after 12 miles. Felt terrible and had no strength at all. Turned out it was the start of a touch of man flu. You can get by day to day with man flu or the cold but as soon as you push yourself things go downhill quickly. That's why when you hear of guys in the tour being gutted at getting stomach bugs or colds. It makes peak performance impossible and form goes south very fast.
Also if you cycle too much your body can reply in this way. The body needs rest. I mostly cycle 4 or 5 days a week and when pushing it for several days in a row, like repeat climbing sessions, i sometimes feel my body calling for a few days off. Got to feel what your body tells you.
Hope you haven't come down with something. Horrible when that happens. A week off the bike feels like FOREVER.

 

[kedab]

it may have been that i wasn't feeling 100% - the day after i went out and rode my quick loop (the run i do when i've got no spare time), just to see if i felt the same...it's only 7 and a bit miles but it seemed to untie my legs, i pushed round it in slightly bigger gears than i normally would and i felt good. think i just caught myself on a slightly dodgy morning which was frustrating cos i was really looking forward to it. ah well, you live and learn...and yeh, a touch of man flu is all it takes. i once went back to the gym too quickly after having suffered a bit and nearly passed out on the treadmill after 5 miles...luckily i got myself back to the changing room before i puked! i got a telling off from one of the fitness instructors for that

 

[Phill057]

I have found that I need to take one day off from cycling in the week. I usually leave it until a Saturday or a Sunday. I used to cycle 7 days and nothing shorter than a 15 mile run. I would find the following week that my legs would give up. So now I take one day off a week and now I have no problem with the power in the legs. A mouth full of a drink I find helps too. I would always have mild diluted orange in my flask. A mouth full now and again always helps and only a mouth full