Recovery ride

[harrow1977]

Hi

So in August, I started cycling to work (approx 12 miles each way) on certain days. At the moment, I'm doing it a couple of days a week and then getting the Underground a couple of days a week. Mainly because after a couple of days cycling, my thighs hurt a bit and I give them a rest.

I've been reading about recovery rides and how they can help.....some sites recommend swapping the day off for a recovery ride where you ride very slowly to loosen your muscles and get rid of waste (not sure what means!).

What are opinions, folks?

 

[fabregas485]

Hello, by the looks of it your are also based in Harrow :P

I know only a little about recovery rides but if you were to ride everyday, you are not giving your muscles any rest.

 

[Biker Joe]

I believe that the idea of a recovery ride is just to keep the muscles active, to help against the muscles stiffening up and giving them time to carry out muscle fibre repairs.
As far as I understand it, muscles fibres under stress suffer from micro tears that need time to repair themselves.
A recovery ride keeps the muscles active without putting too much stress on the muscles. Giving them time to recover.
It doesn't have to be a ride. Any activity that moves the muscles will have a similar effect. This could be going for a walk or some gentle leg exercises.
I'm no expert on this subject. It's how I understand it.

 

[Kies]

A recovery ride is done on a very very easy gear and just spinning away. Most people start jumping up the gears before long so negate the affects of a recovery ride.
On the days you do commute are you really grinding those gears and going for the fastest times? I would suggest easy up on the pace and spinning the pedals a little faster. Also try and use easy gears for the last mile of your journey in and out. It will help your legs get rid of some lactic acid

 

[boydj]

A recovery ride is done on a very very easy gear and just spinning away. Most people start jumping up the gears before long so negate the affects of a recovery ride.
On the days you do commute are you really grinding those gears and going for the fastest times? I would suggest easy up on the pace and spinning the pedals a little faster. Also try and use easy gears for the last mile of your journey in and out. It will help your legs get rid of some lactic acid

Very true - you can't work hard every day, you need to have some easy days in there to give your body a chance to recover.

Also, if your thighs are hurting I'd have a check at your saddle height - it may be a bit on the low side.

 

[sreten]

Hi,

Say you plan to ride to work on Monday. Last did it on Friday and could feel it on Saturday.
Its Sunday. Go out on a long hard ride and then do Monday and you'll know it on Tuesday.
However if you go out on a nice relaxed ride for about a hours pedaling on the Sunday
to loosen you muscles up and simply don't try too hard at all you'll feel better on
the Tuesday after the Monday than not riding at all on the Sunday usually.

Saddle height is important for efficient pedaling, doing 24 miles a day.

A plan is get used to Tues and Thurs, Then Mons, Weds, Fris,
then Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri, and finally the full on bike commute.
Check the weather and wind and just avoid the awful days.

rgds, sreten.