Recovery Ride Meaning in Cycling

A recovery ride is a very short and easy bike ride taken the day after a hard workout or race. The main goal is to spin the legs lightly to increase blood flow without adding any more stress to the body. This helps flush out metabolic waste and reduces muscle soreness more effectively than sitting on the couch. During a recovery ride, you should be able to hold a full conversation without getting out of breath. If you feel like you are working hard, you are going too fast. These rides are usually less than an hour long and stay on flat roads. For example, a professional racer might go for a gentle thirty-minute spin around town the morning after a grueling mountain stage. It is a mental break as much as a physical one. Using a low gear and a high pedaling speed keeps the pressure off your joints. It is the secret to staying fresh during a long season.