Does it make sense?

[gavroche]

Yesterday and this morning, I took my two grandchildren for a bike ride, just under 5 miles. What amazed me was that I was more tired afterwards than when I go for a proper ride of between 30 to 40 miles. Is it because I was constantly going from one to the other and therefore not going into a proper rhythm? Back home and real cycling again.

 

[NormanD]

Yes because of the slow pace and you not being able to work your muscles .. I suffer when a friend of ours comes out on a bike ride, we have to slow the pace right down in order for him not to tire himself out over the 18 miles and I suffer greatly back home with muscle aches and I often feel it was hard work.

 

[Deleted member 1258]

I've always found the slow rides just as knackering as the faster rides.

 

[young Ed]

i must be missing something! i don't feel any real muscle ache after a 1 mile ride or a 50 mile ride then again i do stretch on anything over about 20 miles
Cheers Ed

 

[Accy cyclist]

Maybe it was the stress of looking out for your grandchildren on busy roads or dodgy cycle routes that tired you? Cycling alone and not having that worry is more relaxing i'd say.

 

[Dave 123]

It's just the same as- I can go out and do a hard ride/ circuits etc and feel ok afterwards.
A day out with my 82 yo mum, going at her speed is a killer! ( i have a 2 week holiday with her coming up....!)

 

[Easytigers]

Maybe it was the stress of looking out for your grandchildren on busy roads or dodgy cycle routes that tired you? Cycling alone and not having that worry is more relaxing i'd say.

I'd go with this...constantly checking on them etc will wear you out big time

 

[glenn forger]

Yeah, for sure, you're watching things much more than you would if you were on your own.

 

[GetAGrip]

I was the same with my granddaughter. It was her first 20 miler on a shared track (she's 6 bless her) and I decided not to wear padded shorts. Never again! An average speed of just under 6 mph, lots of stops and sitting heavily in the saddle meant I suffered for the next day or two.
I'm taking her out a couple of times this week to train her for her BIG distance record breaking with her Mother on Friday.
Who, by the way is poo hooing the offer of the loan of my brand new three quarter padded tights .

 

[JasonHolder]

Yeah being super conscious fatigues you fast.

 

[Joshua Plumtree]

Did the Holkham Hall 100 miler on the Saturday of the May Day holiday week-end at a fast pace (for me!) and felt fine afterwards.

On the bank holiday Monday rode their 20 mile family ride with my 13 year old son and his friends and their Dads. Ave. speed about 11 mph. Felt completely cream crackered and spent the rest of the afternoon lying under one of their enormous deck-chairs fast asleep! Weird!

 

[KneesUp]

i must be missing something! i don't feel any real muscle ache after a 1 mile ride or a 50 mile ride then again i do stretch on anything over about 20 miles
Cheers Ed

I think that is one of the benefits of being a teenager to be fair

 

[Spinney]

What tires you out more... going for a 5 mile walk in the countryside or shopping for an afternoon...?

 

[cyberknight]

I think that is one of the benefits of being a teenager to be fair

Beat me to it !

 

[Salad Dodger]

As per previous posters, I agree that it's the lack of a proper rhythm on your ride with the family that makes you tired.

I well remember going out for a bike ride with my daughter, when she was aged about 8 or so. We set off, and had literally gone only 100 yards when she stopped for her first "Vimto stop"......

"Vimto stop" has now gone into our family's lexicon as meaning any mid-cycle rest/refreshment halt.