RECOVERY
What is recovery ?
Firstly its important to understand what recovery is and how it forms part of our cycle training program.
RECOVERY OR ACTIVE RECOVERY
What Is recovery ?
Recovery is as important as your training and involves relaxing, eating and sleeping correctly.
Doing the above in between your rides will ensure you get the very best from your cycle training or racing.
What Is Active recovery ?
An active recovery workout involves performing low-intensity exercise following a strenuous workout.
In basic terms this could be a very gentle cycle after a busy week of training, but isnt limited to cycling, any low intensity training (Such as swimming) will help with recovery
DOING NOTHING IS ALSO RECOVERY
Do you need rest days from cycling ?
Without adequate rest, you can experience burnout, a lack of energy, and decreased motivation. Scheduling rest days, and ensuring you take them, is equally as important as time on your bike.
Sleep is recovery (7 - 9 Hours per night).
Practise good sleep hygiene: Avoid caffeine late in the day also alcohol and heavy meals too close to bedtime.
Implement a relaxing bedtime routine in an environment conducive to sleep that is cool, dark and quiet.
Is eating properly recovery.
Yes, you'll carry less fat than if you sat on a sofa, but you'll get better times, as well as fewer respiratory infections and other common health issues, if you eat well. The simple fact is that a healthy mix of carbohydrate, protein and good fats is important.
THE MISCONCEPTION OF DOING NOTHING.
People think that if they are not training all the time they lose fitness or will become lazy.
The coverse is true, doing nothing and ensuring you eat well and relax will have a massive impact on your training, rest days are the backbone to consistant gains on the bike.
Training advice here
REST, REST, REST
-
This article is constructed using multiple on-line resources as well as our own knowledge.
