Bourton on the Water in Cotswolds
So far this year I have been training about 3 – 4 times a week. With this kind of training schedule, I wasn’t really doing many recovery rides because, the recovery was on the day off (when I would just have to cycle 2 miles to work) However, now that I am training more frequently, I am incorporating recovery rides into the weekly programme.
Often I don’t plan any training schedule, but, see how I feel. On saturday, I cycled a fast 80 miles in about 4 hours (averaging 20mph) This included racing up some hills around Stow on the Wold in the Cotswolds. When I went out on Sunday, I soon realised this was going to be a recovery ride. I just didn’t have the legs to do anything else!. I averaged about 16.5 mph for 40 miles. I didn’t feel like going any faster. If I was used to training 5-6 days a week, my legs may have been less dead. But, I still think it’s good to have recovery rides in any programme.
It is said that one of the best way to recover from hard ride is to ride gently. Cycling helps to loosen up the the muscles; it also helps get the body used to riding more miles and builds up your aerobic base.
It makes you realise how fit and well trained the pro cyclists are to race for 3 consecutive weeks in the big stage races. It is interesting to note in their ‘rest days’ they usually will go out for 2-3 hours to spin their legs.
Photo by Quadilerius
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