Why Are My Legs So Tired After Cycling? Exploring The Post-Ride Fatigue

Is it common for your legs to experience discomfort following a cycling session? Yes, it’s perfectly normal to feel soreness in your leg muscles, and this soreness can sometimes manifest a day or two after you’ve completed your bike ride. This delayed onset muscle soreness, often referred to as DOMS, is characterized by an achy sensation that becomes noticeable within 24 to 48 hours after you’ve engaged in physical activity. While the exact cause of DOMS is not fully understood, it is a well-documented phenomenon that many individuals encounter after intense exercise. This information is as of January 16, 2023.

Have you ever wondered why you can’t feel your legs after a long bike ride? The sensation of numbness that often accompanies cycling is akin to when your arm or leg falls asleep. This phenomenon occurs when sustained pressure is applied to a specific body part, leading to a disruption in blood flow to the nerves in that region. Consequently, the affected nerve sends erroneous sensory signals to your brain, resulting in a numbing and tingling sensation. This condition is medically termed “paresthesia.” So, the next time you experience numbness in your legs while cycling, you’ll know it’s due to pressure-related nerve issues causing temporary paresthesia.