Hmmm.. Odd one. Went out for my first real ride on the Furai SLII tonight. Was only a pootle, maybe 10 miles, and with 3 DF buddies flanking me. Their average speed is about 3/5th of my normal commute speed on the SMGTe, very much a social ride.
As my weekly base mileage involves 3 x 35 mile commutes, plus a longer ride each fortnight (100k/ 200k), I wasn't anticipating any muscle issues. The booms look to be about the same length and the bike feels about right (if a hell of a lot lighter).
So, having ridden 17 miles home over some fairly mental hills on my normal steed, food, a quick turnaround and I'm out on the new one. Within a minute of leaving, I'm getting this really odd 'pinging' sensation in my calves. Its like the muscle is popping from the outside of my leg to the inside. Quite worrying. Went away, then started in my thighs 20 seconds later.
From my house, I travelled up a low gradient slope for about a mile, with the pinging staying pretty much constant on every third pedal rotation. Cadence was normal / higher than normal. Hill is one I tackle every day on the SMGTe and is normally no issue at all.
When I came down the other side, I stretched my muscles a little by pointing my toes and my leg cramped. I held the stretch for about 20 secs because that's what it seemed to want, and after the pinging began to subside.
I'm back now, and am aware that my legs are far stiffer than before. Stiffer than after the overnight 200 on the SMGTe in fact.
Any thoughts about what might be causing it? I use the same pedals (well, Aliums and Roc Atac S) and think the crank lengths are the same. Seat angle is about equal too... I wonder if it'll go away.
