Recovery time

[Stuartaw11]

How long should i take to recover after a ride?? I guess this is a bit of a how long is a piece of string, but on sunday I rode 31 miles around Derbyshire so it was quite hard work but enjoyable, Sunday afternoon I felt fine, but Monday morning I was aching all over, so much so that I actually drove the 1 mile to work instead of walking! Still felt rough Tuesday, but managed a nice 11 mile ride, strangely I now feel great, is it that my body has naturally recovered or has the gentle 11 mile ride loosened me up?

 

[billy1561]

How long should i take to recover after a ride?? I guess this is a bit of a how long is a piece of string, but on sunday I rode 31 miles around Derbyshire so it was quite hard work but enjoyable, Sunday afternoon I felt fine, but Monday morning I was aching all over, so much so that I actually drove the 1 mile to work instead of walking! Still felt rough Tuesday, but managed a nice 11 mile ride, strangely I now feel great, is it that my body has naturally recovered or has the gentle 11 mile ride loosened me up?

Do you cycle regularly or was that the first ride in a while? Also you say the 31 miles were quite tough but the 11 mile ride was gentle. I find after a hard ride that an easy one the next day does ease the aches to some extent. An ice or very cold bath will help shift the lactic acid build up in the legs.

 

[al-fresco]

Derbyshire miles count double! I think the main thing is to let your body recover in between strenuous rides. That can be either be by resting or by a more gentle ride. If you don't allow any recovery for your body to rebuild and strengthen then improvement becomes slower or even stops.

 

[Stuartaw11]

I have been riding for around 6 weeks and so far done around 300 miles, within that 300 miles there have been 3 30ish mile rides and the rest are my evening ride of between 6 and 12 miles, the sunday route was quite hilly, i will try and attach the runkeeper map (its my friends account) , the last 2-3 miles were very slow, probably 3 miles an hour as we were pushing the bikes round shipley country park, i thought this would be enough cool down time

http://runkeeper.com/user/B16PPE/ac...edActivity&utm_medium=facebook&utm_source=Ref

 

[byegad]

I feel 6 weeks is a short time to build fitness. You are right that a shorter, less strenuous ride the next day helps recovery, Tour De France riders go out for a short, for them, ride on rest days to aid recovery and avoid stiffening up. As you cover more miles you'll find your recovery is faster and in 6 months time, if you keep on riding, your hilly 31 miles will not cause much discomfort the day after.

 

[BrumJim]

1) Recovery improves with fitness
2) Monday was DOMS - delayed onset muscle soreness. Can be regarded as a good thing - signs that your body is improving to meet the new work requirments.
3) A lot of programs recommend "recovery rides", i.e after a hard ride, do not sit on your backside the next day, but instead go out, but pedal as though there are eggs underneath your feet that are going to be cooked for supper that night.