Thanks all
I'm not sure I can help other than make an observation on fasted rides. This is something quite beyond my comprehension. I'm sure people will be along to explain the ins and outs, plusses and minuses of fasted rides. To my simple mind it's this; you can't drive a car without putting fuel in the tank.
Based on your post two things have changed, riding less often and more fasted rides. This suggests something else has changed in your life and perhaps it is this other change which is impacting your cycling.
I believe we are all different and need to adapt our diet accordingly. It may be your body is happy to accept the occassional fasted ride but protests at this being a regular thing.
Fasted rides are apparently good for weight loss and while I don't go out of my way to do them when not doing low carb, sometimes they're necessary if I need to get out (relatively) "early".
There's always "fuel in the tank" - it's just a case of whether it's carbs or fat and whether I'm able to access it. This is what I'm trying to figure out from the symptoms; i.e. are aching muscles a sign of fatigue, lack of fuel or are they not exclusive to either..?
For example we all know that on a long, steady-state ride we'll reach a point where the muscles say "no" with fatigue no matter how much we refuel..
It's hard to tell but I think I've been riding less because I've felt more tired (although there are other factors too - weather, saddle sores, traffic...). I don't think the fasted rides in isolation have caused this, but may be causing the immediate effects on the ride and afterwards. I've not experienced this before but that was when I was already on a low-carb diet so presumably more adept at running on fat.
I've always suffered from fatigue and low energy to a point, but this seems to be even worse. Perhaps as raleighnut says it's just a sign of getting old. I'm tempted to go for a Corona test although don't much fancy the procedure and it seems false negatives are fairly common..
Dehydration?
Or just eat something before you cycle and see if that helps?
More rest days?
See GP and get blood test for medical cause?
I hadn't thought of dehydration although it's possible as I think this is more likely in the morning and I probably drink a fair bit of water with breakfast. Eating before a ride is the obvious one; unfortunately I've not had the energy / motivation to go out for a long ride just for the sake of it for a while now, so no opportunities to test this out.
I think more rest days are out as I'm not doing a whole lot currently.. still ride pretty much every day but increasingly just 10-20 mile wafts around the city; certainly not the 500+ miles weekly I was doing a few months ago.
I've repeatedly been to the GP in the past with fatigue and it's never got me anywhere.. I have suspicions about underlying issues (food allergies) but these have rarely been humoured (still waiting for an appointment with a specialist as it happens) and previous blood tests have picked up little; although it does feel like something's changed fairly recently. Could be something dietry perhaps..
so I'm wondering if riding fasted (for maybe 10-12hrs . Cycling for 10 to 12 hours fasted? You are wondering why you get knackered? Is that a joke?
Riding after 12hrs of not eating; not riding for 12hrs after not eating
I wouldn't dream of heading out for a ride without some food in me, I'd fully expect to feel truly dreadful after a few miles if I'd not had anything to eat in 12 hours.
Have a good breakfast one day and see if that improves things, I'd bet my shirt that it will.
How would you describe that dreadful feeling? I'd guess a lack of energy rather than aching muscles..?
As above eating before I go out is the obvious test, although I've not had the opportuity to try this yet...
