A recovery ride has nothing to do with "spinning at high cadence."
What most people call recovery are really aerobic workouts - done at too high of an intensity and too long to be recovery.
Recovery rides are very short, low intensity rides. 45 minutes just breaking a sweat is enough. All you want to do is stimulate blood flow, bring fresh, oxygenated blood to the muscles to help aid recovery.
Sleep is the number one way to recover. Take a nap.
Take two Advil for sore legs.
Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness WebMD
-Tim-