Comments on: Let’s Talk About the Recovery Ride

By: Martin Poynter

Martin Poynter — Mon, 24 Sep 2012 17:55:00 +0000

I have been getting in a recovery ride every week, usually the day after my long Saturday rides. No more than 25% of the distance of my long ride, at an easy pace using my perceived rate of effort.

By: ladyfleur

ladyfleur — Sat, 01 Sep 2012 15:48:00 +0000

My tips for type-A riders who have trouble with keeping a chill pace on a recovery ride:
(1) ride with a friend or spouse who is slower and ride their pace
(2) ride a different route than you do when you train so you don’t go into auto mode and ride hard
(3) ride a different bike that you don’t associate with racing, like that old mountain bike
(4) don’t wear your kit, wear baggie shorts and a t-shirt or something casual
(5) check your ego in the garage–confident riders don’t chase down Freds that pass them.

Here’s my idea of a perfect recovery ride. http://ladyfleur.wordpress.com/2012/08/16/bike-commute-diaries-post-ride-recovery/

By: Charles

Charles — Thu, 30 Aug 2012 13:53:00 +0000

Thanks for making my point. Glad we agree.

By: Darryl is Loving the Bike

Darryl is Loving the Bike — Thu, 30 Aug 2012 02:17:00 +0000

Yes, Jennifer….I may be white on the outside, but inside there is a rasta man trapped deep inside my soul.

By: Vitaly Gashpar

Vitaly Gashpar — Thu, 30 Aug 2012 02:16:00 +0000

And the fact that professional racers do them as part of their routine means they are not training hard enough? Training hard is important, but it’s also important to train smart. One can train the way you describe, and that will make a rider stronger. However, learning to intelligently recover, will allow the body to work at much higher intensities and get to that level of fitness much faster, with less risk of overtraining.

By: Darryl is Loving the Bike

Darryl is Loving the Bike — Thu, 30 Aug 2012 02:15:00 +0000

I usually stay out of the conversations of our “let’s talk” posts so that our readers can build things up without me….but I just had to say thanks for the cute comment. Hahahahaha. Thanks Karen.

By: Charles

Charles — Thu, 30 Aug 2012 01:57:00 +0000

I am uncomfortable with the term recovery ride or run. Ideally it is to help get rid of sorness after a big event or hard ride. I get that but not for everyday training. I think it is an exscuse to go easy and not try to match some numbers like a 20 mph avg today. Also if your training is consistant you will not be so sore after a run or ride that you need a few days and easy runs to come back.That means you are not training enough and pushing too hard when you do. I like base heart rate zone 2 training over recovery and almost the same thing but one is a training aid the other is not.

By: Jennifer Hilton

Jennifer Hilton — Thu, 30 Aug 2012 01:32:00 +0000

Love the shirt ! IRIE Is the rastafarian word that has been absorbed into the Jamaican dialect of patois and it means you are feeling good, feeling happy! Love Jamaica, love that jersey!

By: Chicago Bike Injury

Chicago Bike Injury — Wed, 29 Aug 2012 21:03:00 +0000

The recovery ride is an important part of developing into a stronger cyclist with better performance. There are varying thoughts on what works best but I’ve always found that a 45 minute ride at 65% of my regular performance is best following a couple tough rides.

By: Karen

Karen — Wed, 29 Aug 2012 21:02:00 +0000

I liked the video, Darryl you are so cute. I haven’t yet focused on a recovery ride but I’m wanting to learn more about it and what works best. I’d appreciate any advice you have for me on this topic.