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I did loads of squats, deadlifts and lunges on Saturday and I cycled for a few hrs yesterday. Today, as expected, my legs are feeling it!
Is there any reason why I shouldn't cycle this evening? Do i risk injury cycling with heavy, stiff legs? Am i going to feel the benefit of a cycle tonight?
Opinions welcome.
I'd go for a gentle recovery ride: Low gears, flat roads, slow speed.
More chance of injury when you have the DOMs, your body will try and find "cheat moves" to avoid the soreness.
No reason you shouldn't assuming you can actually cycle. You'll be helping them if you don't try and do any maximal contractions. So easy riding would be good.
Probably not the best idea to head out on your SS and hammer up the steepest climbs you can find though.... from personal experience,
Apparently you can't train fatigued muscles so rest or recovery spin. Debate over whether recovery rides do any actual good but I always feel better sooner if I do up to 1hr of really low intensity riding within 24hrs or so of finishing a tough ride.
DOMS isn't a sign that your muscles are fatigued (although they might be) - it's a symptom of inconsistent workouts. I'm guessing OP doesn't squat/dead regularly.
FWIW when I do lift weights I do cycle afterwards (as I ride most days) but I keep it to a recovery pace. If you don't give your legs a chance to recover then you've defeated the purpose of doing the weights really (since the improvement happens during recovery rather than during the exercise).
Personally I find it more beneficial to keep active (including riding) whilst recovering than to do nothing.
zilog6128 - correct, i haven't done weights for a few weeks now as ive been outside because the weather has been so freaking awesome at the moment.
Cycling is a great way to exercise when you have sore/tired legs. Don't batter yourself and don't expect to be too quick up the hills though!
yeah can't blame you for that! I am also taking a rest from weights for a couple of months for the same reason! I'm expecting it to hurt when I start back up again 🙂i haven't done weights for a few weeks now as ive been outside because the weather has been so freaking awesome at the moment.
When I used to train powerlifting and cycle (I've put the lifting on hold for a while) if it was just normal post training soreness, i.e. the next day, I'd not ride the bike. If it was proper DOMS I'd go for a spin in an easy gear and find it actually helped (or felt like it helped).