What does “Recovery Ride” mean to you?
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2020
Location: Nevada County, California
Posts: 807
Bikes: Subject to change at any given moment but currently is...... Colnago Mapei, Colnago C40, Wilier Triestina Carbon, Wilier Triestina Ramato, Follis 472, Peugeot PX60, Razesa, Orbea Terra, Soma Pescadero and 1/2 owner of a Santana tandem.
Liked 796 Times
in
272 Posts
What does “Recovery Ride” mean to you?
Had a great 75 mile Ride Saturday with a good time and worked on my form, very nice ride. So today I intend to do a recovery ride ( whatever that means) and end up doing 50 miles with 2300’ climbing though it was at a more relaxed pace.
So it got me to thinking : what is a recovery ride exactly or what is it to you? Probably a very wide open question but I’ve never really thought about it before.
So it got me to thinking : what is a recovery ride exactly or what is it to you? Probably a very wide open question but I’ve never really thought about it before.
#2
climber has-been
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Palo Alto, CA
Posts: 7,510
Bikes: Scott Addict R1, Felt Z1
Liked 4,058 Times
in
1,999 Posts
#3
Clark W. Griswold
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: ,location, location
Posts: 14,619
Bikes: Foundry Chilkoot Ti W/Ultegra Di2, Salsa Timberjack Ti, Cinelli Mash Work RandoCross Fun Time Machine, 1x9 XT Parts Hybrid, Co-Motion Cascadia, Specialized Langster, Phil Wood Apple VeloXS Frame (w/DA 7400), R+M Supercharger2 Rohloff, Habanero Ti 26
Liked 4,552 Times
in
3,049 Posts
Generally a recovery ride is an easy ride to keep you pedaling but not put out a ton of effort. Something to keep my limber and stretched but nothing very taxing on the body. Usually much shorter then the previous days ride(s). Maybe it is a more fun ride but at the very least it is not a hard strenuous ride. Sitting and doing nothing isn't great after a big ride so the recovery ride helps ease the body either into not riding as much or to help keep you going enough so you can go hard again.
#4
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Bastrop Texas
Posts: 4,768
Bikes: Univega, Peu P6, Peu PR-10, Ted Williams, Peu UO-8, Peu UO-18 Mixte, Peu Dolomites
Liked 1,843 Times
in
1,181 Posts
For me a recovery ride is not 50 miles... Ha
__________________
No matter where you're at... There you are... Δf:=f(1/2)-f(-1/2)
No matter where you're at... There you are... Δf:=f(1/2)-f(-1/2)
Likes For zandoval:
#5
Sunshine
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Des Moines, IA
Posts: 17,036
Bikes: '18 class built steel roadbike, '19 Fairlight Secan, '88 Schwinn Premis , Black Mountain Cycles Monstercross V4, '89 Novara Trionfo
Liked 8,064 Times
in
4,472 Posts
I don't have a defined speed/effort/distance/time.
It's what I feel like at the time.
It's been a 60min ride with my wife at 13mph.
It's been a 2hr ride with kids at 15mph.
It's been a 90min solo ride at 17mph.
It's been a 40min ride to get ice cream with my youngest at 11mph.
It's what I feel like at the time.
It's been a 60min ride with my wife at 13mph.
It's been a 2hr ride with kids at 15mph.
It's been a 90min solo ride at 17mph.
It's been a 40min ride to get ice cream with my youngest at 11mph.
#6
Senior Member
An easy ride the day after a hard effort which provides some movement in the legs.
The evening after a marathon, I go to the gym and rotate sitting in the pool and hottub. The next day i get on a stationary and do an easy spin for 30 minutes with little resistance. Do the same thing for a couple more days. Good to go after that.
The evening after a marathon, I go to the gym and rotate sitting in the pool and hottub. The next day i get on a stationary and do an easy spin for 30 minutes with little resistance. Do the same thing for a couple more days. Good to go after that.
#7
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2015
Posts: 15,929
Bikes: 2015 Workswell 066, 2017 Workswell 093, 2014 Dawes Sheila, 1983 Cannondale 500, 1984 Raleigh Olympian, 2007 Cannondale Rize 4, 2017 Fuji Sportif 1 LE
Liked 3,932 Times
in
2,053 Posts
A "Recovery Ride" is a full-on race ride where the people who raced hard on the weekend and didn't win try to sandbag everybody by claiming "It's just a recovery ride .... my legs are wrecked" but the sand gets dumped about a mile out and pretty soon the whole peloton is blasting along .....
What it is Supposed to be, someone told me (maybe one of the many voices in my head) is a mild active period on the bike where you do not exert your muscles but just move them, as the increased blood flow helps clear out dead and damaged cells and brings more food more quickly to repairing and growing and new cells, thus speeding the regrowth period .... less soreness, faster recovery.
Sitting is great, but increased blood flow is better ... but if you actually work your muscles much, then you are using less muscle (because more is damaged from the prior hard effort) to do the same work which damages more muscle, which actually extends the recovery period.
I don't advise others to listen to the voices in my head.
What it is Supposed to be, someone told me (maybe one of the many voices in my head) is a mild active period on the bike where you do not exert your muscles but just move them, as the increased blood flow helps clear out dead and damaged cells and brings more food more quickly to repairing and growing and new cells, thus speeding the regrowth period .... less soreness, faster recovery.
Sitting is great, but increased blood flow is better ... but if you actually work your muscles much, then you are using less muscle (because more is damaged from the prior hard effort) to do the same work which damages more muscle, which actually extends the recovery period.
I don't advise others to listen to the voices in my head.
Likes For Maelochs:
#8
Over the hill
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Posts: 24,426
Bikes: Giant Defy, Giant Revolt
Liked 1,265 Times
in
718 Posts
When I was racing, my trainer said zone 1 (don't go anaerobic) for about an hour or two. The local club seems to disagree and instead defines it as trying to rip each other's legs off.
__________________
It's like riding a bicycle
It's like riding a bicycle
Likes For urbanknight:
Likes For Jughed:
#10
As above, 30-45 mins of very easy Z1 pedalling, ideally at a fairly high cadence. It requires serious discipline if another cyclist should pass you!
Likes For PeteHski:
#11
Senior Member
For me it's a full glass of water a 30 minute wait then a 20 to 30 minute ride at minimal effort to loosen-up and hydrate the legs, back and core. Longer or shorter if I feel it necessary.
#12
Resident PIA
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: City of Oaks, NC
Posts: 975
Bikes: Gunnar Roadie, Look 765 Optimum, Spesh Aethos
Liked 480 Times
in
255 Posts
Trying a recovery ride on a new bike is hard. I apparently lack discipline.
.
.
__________________
--
Shad
I knew where I was when I wrote this
I don't know where I am now...
05 Gunnar Roadie Chorus/Record
67'er
--
Shad
I knew where I was when I wrote this
I don't know where I am now...
05 Gunnar Roadie Chorus/Record
67'er
#13
Senior Member
Any ride where I have to call someone to bring out a vehicle to recover me.
#14
Senior Member
A recovery ride is only declared after being dropped on club ride on the big climb.
#15
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2020
Location: Nevada County, California
Posts: 807
Bikes: Subject to change at any given moment but currently is...... Colnago Mapei, Colnago C40, Wilier Triestina Carbon, Wilier Triestina Ramato, Follis 472, Peugeot PX60, Razesa, Orbea Terra, Soma Pescadero and 1/2 owner of a Santana tandem.
Liked 796 Times
in
272 Posts
Likes For Tomm Willians:
#16
climber has-been
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Palo Alto, CA
Posts: 7,510
Bikes: Scott Addict R1, Felt Z1
Liked 4,058 Times
in
1,999 Posts
"Gotta limit the power, I'm on a taper."
"I really shouldn't be here at all, this is supposed to be a rest day."
Etc.
Likes For terrymorse:
#17
Tragically Ignorant
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: New England
Posts: 15,612
Bikes: Serotta Atlanta; 1994 Specialized Allez Pro; Giant OCR A1; SOMA Double Cross Disc; 2022 Allez Elite mit der SRAM
Liked 9,103 Times
in
5,054 Posts
Since this is in General Cycling, I'm going to feel free to respond "absolutely nothing". Some days I ride faster than others, and I vary the distances a lot. A few years ago, my summer routine weekend was 150 miles on Saturday, 50 on Sunday. Monday was recovery day, I just didn't ride. Now my summer routine is 150 miles total for the weekend. I do several 25 mile rides after work during the week, but I try to make those pretty fast.
#18
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2021
Location: Australia
Posts: 860
Bikes: 2002 Trek 5200 (US POSTAL), 2020 Canyon Aeroad SL
Liked 709 Times
in
347 Posts
Active recovery ride (for me) hovers around an hour, flat terrain ride, power strictly Z1 where possible, 25-35 TSS.
A full recovery day I tend not to ride at all.
A full recovery day I tend not to ride at all.
#19
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Orange County, California
Posts: 1,974
Bikes: Yes
Liked 1,680 Times
in
1,145 Posts
I drive down to the beach and take a casual walk down there, 2 to 3 miles in length. I'll stop on the way down and get a large cup of coffee and a cinnamon roll to eat, too (carbo replacement).
Even during my youthful days running middle and long distance the typical recovery was to do something different (like a bicycle ride), emphasis on using different muscle groups.
Even during my youthful days running middle and long distance the typical recovery was to do something different (like a bicycle ride), emphasis on using different muscle groups.
#20
Habitual User
Join Date: Jan 2020
Location: Altadena, CA
Posts: 8,624
Bikes: 2023 Niner RLT 9 RDO, 2022 Trek Supercaliber, 2018 Storck Fascenario.3 Platinum, 2003 Time VX Special Pro, 2001 Colnago VIP, 1999 Trek 9900 singlespeed, 1977 Nishiki ONP
Liked 8,946 Times
in
4,197 Posts
As an alternate, I sometimes join the local recovery group ride where we ride an easy 16-18mph double pace line for the flat first half, then try to make each other bleed out of our eyeballs in the hilly second half. Then, we get coffee.
__________________
Platypus gravelus.
Platypus gravelus.
Likes For Eric F:
#21
My recovery ride is 4 miles on my favorite bike, in nice weather, recovering from a hard day at work, with a Recovery Beverage waiting for me at home
Likes For Gresp15C:
#22
These days, it’s the ride I do when I ran the day before. Probably an hour or so and keeping HR in zone 1 and 2. Just fun. I usually do my own rides so there is no issue with keeping up with anyone. And just as likely it would be a walk.
Otto
Otto
#23
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 4,077
Bikes: Trek Domane SL6 Gen 3, Soma Fog Cutter, Focus Mares AL, Detroit Bikes Sparrow FG, Volae Team, Nimbus MUni
Liked 2,322 Times
in
1,220 Posts
There's putzing level, which is conversational but still putting in some effort. Maybe putzing with a buddy you might get into a thing where his front wheel is just in front of yours so you speed up, and next thing you know you've set a PR on some obscure segment. That's not a recovery ride, that's junk miles, which can be fun but are not helpful for training purposes.
Then there's sub putzing level, which is moving. Spin in a low gear, and don't shift up for any reason. When you finish, you feel fresher than when you started. That's a recovery ride.
Then there's sub putzing level, which is moving. Spin in a low gear, and don't shift up for any reason. When you finish, you feel fresher than when you started. That's a recovery ride.
Likes For tempocyclist:
#25
velo-dilettante
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: insane diego, california
Posts: 8,519
Bikes: 85 pinarello treviso steel, 88 nishiki olympic steel. 95 look kg 131 carbon, 11 trek madone 5.2 carbon
Liked 3,360 Times
in
1,789 Posts
beer.
Likes For diphthong: