Recovery advice

[philinmerthyr]

After doing 4 rides in the last week covering 102 miles (20 miles monday, 16 miles wednesday, 20 miles Saturday & 46 miles yesterday) my thighs are aching today.

I've had a night off tonight but want to go out tomorrow night. If my legs feel tired tomorrow should I do a short ride (15 miles) or rest?

I'd welcome advice from those of you more experience. I'm keen to up the mileage but don't want to overdo it.

 

[Supersuperleeds]

How long have you been biking? If this is your first week you have done absolutely amazing and probably should have a couple of days off. If you have been riding for a few months or more at the sort of mileage you have done this week then you should be fine doing 15 miles tomorrow, though there is nothing wrong with a couple of days rest either way, my deciding factor would be when you are looking to ride next (after tomorrow) and how far.

 

[mattobrien]

Listen to your body, you'll know when you need rest and when you are good to go.

By the sounds of it a day off is in order.

 

[fossala]

Have a very slow cycle, active recovery. I'm finding it very good.

 

[philinmerthyr]

I've been riding since October. Done 70 rides covering 1,300 miles. I'm upping the mileage as training for the London 100.

I'm currently over 20 stone so need to ride more and eat less at I want to lose weight as well as be able to ride longer. Getting up Leith hill and Box hill after 50+ miles will need some serious training.

 

[vickster]

Do stretch all of your leg muscles properly after riding, should help

 

[Sittingduck]

Easy recovery ride to spin out the legs,I reckon... Might be worth doing the odd quad stretch, post-ride too.

 

[Rob3rt]

If you do a recovery ride, slam it in the granny ring and spin about very easy. Most people who do recovery rides are wasting their time, they aren't riding easy enough to promote recovery, yet they aren't riding hard enough to result in training adaptation, massive waste of time. A recovery ride should be embarrassingly slow.

 

[Kies]

Agree - granny ring and almost spinning out. I try and show my friend this, but he immediately goes to the top ring and says i'm going slow :talktobrickwall

 

[Licramite]

take a day of cycling, but get some exercise, swim or walk, will stop you stiffening up