On my first trip with my new bike, I decided to ride it to Meijer’s (regional grocery chain). After all, Meijer’s was only 3 mile away and I had made the trip several time on my old bike.
Well, I got as far as the local meat market which is about a half mile away. My thighs were screaming and my calves were bawling.
I had planned to stop there anyway but I was going to do it on the way back from Meijer’s. After getting the meat, I decided to abort the trip to Meijer’s and just return home. I got within a hundred feet of the house when I gave up riding the bike all together. The bike worked just fine but I could tell that I needed to ease into this.
Now, I work on making trips around the cemetery. That way, I am only about a quarter of a mile from home at worst. Eventually, I will make it to Meijer’s but it will take some time.
Make sure your seat is high enough. Your leg should fully extend when the pedal is in the downward position. A seat that is too low will kill the calves and thighs.