Easy Training Fix, Most Cyclists Do this Wrong!

Most cyclists are doing this workout wrong and it's a super easy fix, in fact the fix is to go easier. I'm talking about your recovery rides. Most cyclists do them too hard or too long or a combination of both. Find out why doing this simple workout correctly is so important and could make or break your training.

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Studies I used in this video:

The views and opinions expressed in this video are my own and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of CTS, my sponsors, and/or partners.

[neilk]

“Your hard day isn’t really hard ‘coz your easy day wasn’t easy” -golden!

[codeboy_henry]

I’m a trail runner, your material is golden and it definitely transcends Cycling. Thank you!!

[dougturner]

I've definitely been doing this wrong. And at the age of 50 years, it's probably even more important that I follow this advice. Thank you!

[fatbloaterdave]

As a competitive type, I try to set goals for Recovery rides. Keep under x-bpm or x-watts. Or don't open my mouth to breath etc.

[fastleopard]

The best example is the example of your success. If you are riding that slow or easy, the rest of us should as well. Thanks for the good content

[AbdullahHafeez]

In the caption of the Video Please add the word "Recovery Ride" to be able to search conveniently. I saw this video yesterday and took alot of time to find it again to be able to share with a mate... Thanks. You are doing a great job.

[mewek]

Went for my first truly easy ride yesterday. Did 10km in 1 hour on roads/gravel roads :D Great channel by the way! Subscribed!

[ryanlahr]

A great way to get these rides in is to go with non cyclist friends for path ride for a beer or lunch. Be the antithesis of the bike bro and do a chill ride.

[trbeyond]

Guilty! Did a 30’ recovery ride on the trainer tonight and found myself adding in a little bit of effort at the end to bump up the days TSS

[xlucianx]

This is so true, you changed my life !

[erictrelz]

Very good reminder of the importance of recovery

[falklevien]

Personally, I think that every session you do should have a purpose (unless you’re just riding recreationally, of course). If I ride easy, I really ride easy. If I ride hard, I don’t ride hardish, but smash myself. And if I’m doing a recovery ride, I do it properly and make sure I have something to recover from. This kind of mindset has really helped me.

[leebackus]

I appreciate your information. I do too much training. I will do as you suggest and tone it back.

[dantana]

in my 45 years of road racing, and as an exercise physiologist working with others, recovery is the most difficult part of training to get across to otherwise smart people. They have the hardest time because:
1- they know others will be looking at their average speed and watts,
2- if the weather is nice, they want to hammer (what I call weather-dictated training)
3- after 20 minutes or so their legs start to feel better, so they have at it, or
4- they're in a small group and somebody starts some shit, either going for a sign or a hill- even though they've agreed that it's a recovery ride(until then)

[RyanVasquez]

Nailed it, thanks for solidifying what I had suspected from looking at my Strava fitness and freshness graphs. You've added quite a bit of into to that thanks!

[braddemarco]

Thanks for the video. I am guilty of not doing true recovery rides on a regular basis.

[cameronking]

Funny when other cyclists’ try racing me while I’m on my recovery rides and probably get a huge ego boost from it because “they totally smoked me.” Haha

[inphiknitfractal]

Gotta find somewhere with less hills for recovery rides...that or ride the mtb on rd in granny gears ;) (limited being on an island)

[luckylucianoS]

Pedal like you have no chain on your bike :)

[stuartdryer]

I think this is great advice. I wonder though if complete rest wouldn't be better. A recovery ride the day after a hard ride is not flushing out metabolites because those will have washed out within a few hours or less. Maybe recovery rides are good for your brain. Just fun. But I quibble. I need to watch this video once a month to remind myself. My doctorate is in physiology. I know this stuff. Intellectually anyway. And yet I make this mistake constantly. Like I said awesome advice.