{"id":68924,"date":"2021-04-15T09:03:48","date_gmt":"2021-04-15T16:03:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.trainerroad.com\/blog\/?p=68924"},"modified":"2022-03-24T13:00:03","modified_gmt":"2022-03-24T20:00:03","slug":"recovery-for-cyclists-why-its-important-and-how-to-improve-it","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.trainerroad.com\/blog\/recovery-for-cyclists-why-its-important-and-how-to-improve-it\/","title":{"rendered":"Cycling Recovery Tips: Why Recovery Is Important and How to Improve It"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"lead\">Recovery is one of the most impactful parts of a training plan and should be prioritized by all goal-oriented cyclists. You can maximize your recovery with a dedicated recovery process, scheduled rest, and extra attention to your sleep and nutrition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator\"\/>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe title=\"Why Rest is So Important for Cyclists \u2013 Ask a Cycling Coach 196\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/obUlSOjZRlE?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" class=\"lazyload\" data-load-mode=\"1\"><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"why-do-you-need-recovery\"><strong>Why do you Need Recovery?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Recovery is a necessary part of any training plan\u2014without it, you&#8217;d never actually get faster. When you recover from the stress accrued during training your body grows stronger through <a href=\"https:\/\/www.trainerroad.com\/blog\/science-of-supercompensation\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">supercompensation<\/a>. Supercompensation begins when you introduce a training stimulus that is higher than what your body is accustomed to. When your body fully recovers from this training stress, it overcompensates in preparation for these new demands. Over time this process results in an increase in abilities.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Recovery is also what makes a challenging training load manageable. In general, your system can only handle a limited amount of stress and back-to-back workouts. Incorporating rest regularly throughout your training plan helps ensure that your workouts remain productive and that you&#8217;re not at risk of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.trainerroad.com\/blog\/overtraining-symptoms-recovery-and-avoidance-of-overtraining\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">overtraining<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"when-do-you-need-to-rest\">When do you Need to Rest?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>When you&#8217;re <a href=\"https:\/\/www.trainerroad.com\/blog\/consistency-makes-you-faster\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">training consistently<\/a> you need regular intervals of rest integrated into your training plan. On a <strong>short-term basis,<\/strong> you&#8217;ll want to get as much rest as possible in between your workouts with at least one day of complete rest during the week. The daily <a href=\"https:\/\/www.trainerroad.com\/blog\/how-to-maximize-recovery-in-between-hard-workouts\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">rest in between training<\/a> sessions is what allows you to do several hard workouts in a row, while the weekly rest days give your body a chance to recoup from the training stress you&#8217;ve accrued during the week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"at-cta\" class=\"cta\">\n    <div class=\"adaptive-training-cta-image\">\n    <\/div>\n    <div class=\"cta__copy\">\n        <p class=\"cta-title\">Adaptive Training<\/p>\n        <p><strong>Get the right workout, every time<\/strong>\n        with training that adapts to&nbsp;you.<\/p>\n        <a href=\"https:\/\/www.trainerroad.com\/adaptive-training\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" class=\"btn btn-primary\">Check Out TrainerRoad<\/a>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Outside of the regular weekly schedule, you should have a dedicated recovery week at the end of each training block. Recovery weeks give your system a complete opportunity to recover from the previous weeks in your training plan. In the<strong> long-term,<\/strong> you may want to consider taking a few weeks completely off the bike at the end of your season too. Rest in the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.trainerroad.com\/blog\/how-to-plan-your-offseason-when-to-start-and-what-to-do\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">off-season<\/a> gives you a chance to recover from the overarching physical and mental strain of training.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"properly-periodized-training-plan\">Properly Periodized Training Plan<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>In a properly <a href=\"https:\/\/www.trainerroad.com\/blog\/training-periodization-macro-meso-microcycles-of-training\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">periodized training plan<\/a>, the rest and recovery are already distributed into the structure of the plan. Following a plan with structured rest is a good way to ensure you&#8217;re actively incorporating recovery into your routine, and spending days off the bike. In a structured training plan, recovery time is integrated through <a href=\"https:\/\/www.trainerroad.com\/blog\/why-rest-recovery-and-tapering-are-necessary-to-get-faster\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">recovery rides, recovery weeks, and rest days<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"what-is-a-recovery-ride\"><strong>What is a Recovery Ride?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>A recovery ride is an easy ride usually lasting between thirty and sixty minutes. The objective of a recovery ride is to get your blood flowing and your legs moving, all while putting minimal stress on your system. Though they can feel challenging when you&#8217;re in a fatigued state, these workouts aren&#8217;t strenuous and should promote recovery. If you\u2019re following a structured training plan there will be recovery rides in the recovery weeks and occasionally during regular training weeks.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"375\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.trainerroad.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Recovery-Ride-1024x375.jpg\" alt=\"Dans is an example of a recovery ride.\" class=\"wp-image-68937 lazyload\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.trainerroad.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Recovery-Ride-1024x375.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.trainerroad.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Recovery-Ride-300x110.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.trainerroad.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Recovery-Ride-768x281.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.trainerroad.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Recovery-Ride-1600x586.jpg 1600w, https:\/\/www.trainerroad.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Recovery-Ride-1536x562.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.trainerroad.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Recovery-Ride-scaled.jpg 2048w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 1024px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 1024\/375;\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"rest-days\"><strong>Rest Days<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>The objective of your rest days is simple\u2014rest! On these days you shouldn\u2019t schedule a recovery ride or even a recovery activity. Instead, you should try to put as little stress on your system as possible. In a structured training plan, you will have at least one day of dedicated rest each week, if not two or three depending on training volume. How many rest days you take each week ultimately depends on how much rest you need, which is different for every athlete. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"recovery-weeks\"><strong>Recovery Weeks<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Recovery weeks parallel the structure of regular training weeks but have shorter workouts with little to no intensity. These workouts are usually recovery rides and are geared towards active restoration. By the end of a recovery week, you should be feeling ready to take on the next block of training.&nbsp;You should take a recovery week at the end of every training block\u2014roughly every three to six weeks depending on the plan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator\"\/>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe title=\"Are Rest Weeks Always Necessary?\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/K28NFtL0Vq0?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" class=\"lazyload\" data-load-mode=\"1\"><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"rest-vs-recovery\">Rest vs. Recovery <\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Though the two are sometimes used interchangeably, rest and recovery differ slightly in a periodized training plan. Simply put, rest refers to downtime. When you&#8217;re resting you&#8217;re giving your body a complete break from training and other strenuous activities. Recovery encompasses the adaptation process as a whole and includes the activities and practices that assist the restoration process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"important-aspects-of-recovery-for-cyclists\">Important Aspects of Recovery for Cyclists<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>In addition to taking appropriate amounts of rest, you should actively attend to the important aspects of recovery during the training process. Most important are sleep and nutrition. Your sleep and your nutrition play a big role in how well you recover and can be positively influenced by a few changes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe title=\"Recovery 101: How to Recover Better, Recovery Hacks That Work, and more (Ask a Cycling Coach 256)\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/JQYnuKV-juY?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" class=\"lazyload\" data-load-mode=\"1\"><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"sleep\">Sleep <\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Much of your body&#8217;s adaptation process takes place at night when we&#8217;re in the third stage of Non-REM sleep (NREM). This stage is commonly referred to as deep sleep. During deep sleep, our bodies release hormones that promote the immune system, cellular regeneration, and tissue repair. If your sleep quality is bad, or you&#8217;re getting inadequate amounts of sleep, you risk shortchanging this recovery process. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Consistently getting eight hours of quality sleep is one of the most impactful things you can do for your recovery, which is sometimes easier said than done. If you have trouble sleeping, you might be able to improve your sleep with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.trainerroad.com\/blog\/sleep-and-endurance-training-tips-for-improving-the-quality-of-your-sleep\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.trainerroad.com\/blog\/sleep-and-endurance-training-tips-for-improving-the-quality-of-your-sleep\/\">good sleep hygiene<\/a> and a regular sleep schedule. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"recovery-nutrition\">Recovery Nutrition <\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Making an effort to nourish yourself during recovery weeks, rest days, and recovery rides can help guarantee that you have enough fuel on board to aid your body&#8217;s physical adaptation process. What, when, and how much you eat will vary depending on your physiology and the level of fatigue you&#8217;re experiencing. If you come into your recovery week with excessive fatigue you might be eating more. If you are feeling a normal level of fatigue your eating habits may not change at all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator\"\/>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe title=\"Rest Week Nutrition: What to Eat to Recover and Get Faster (Ask a Cycling Coach 242)\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/NVYUshx08e8?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" class=\"lazyload\" data-load-mode=\"1\"><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p>Your body is healing and adapting in response to the stress of training\u2014it\u2019s your job to ensure that you have enough good fuel to do so. If possible, try to avoid dieting or cutting calories during your recovery time. You need fuel to properly drive this recovery process, and if you don&#8217;t get enough in you may not be cashing in on all the hard work you\u2019ve just completed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"recovery-drinks\">Recovery Drinks<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>One way to help ensure that you&#8217;re getting the carbs and protein you need for recovery is to take a recovery drink immediately after training. A recovery drink isn&#8217;t absolutely necessary for recovery, but it does help guarantee that you&#8217;re getting the carbs and protein that your system needs after training. A recovery drink with a 4:1 carb-to-protein ratio has what you need to replenish your glycogen stores and fuel muscle glycogen synthesis immediately after a challenging workout.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator\"\/>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe title=\"Are Recovery Drinks Really Necessary? \u2013 Ask a Cycling Coach Podcast 187\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/-76j_-vGFHg?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" class=\"lazyload\" data-load-mode=\"1\"><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"five-recovery-tips-for-cyclists\">Five Recovery Tips for Cyclists<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong>Prioritize Recovery<\/strong>: You can\u2019t get faster without recovery. Prioritize recovery with dedicated rest days, recovery rides, and practices that enhance your time spent off the bike.<\/li><li><strong>Develop a Recovery Routine<\/strong>: You can enhance the recovery process with a set recovery routine. Drinking a recovery drink, foam-rolling, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.trainerroad.com\/blog\/yoga-for-cyclists-five-poses-to-make-you-faster\/\">yoga<\/a> are a few examples of things you can incorporate into your routine.<\/li><li><strong>Nourish Yourself<\/strong>: Rest days, recovery rides, and recovery weeks need proper fuel. Nourishing yourself with nutrient-dense foods during the recovery process ensures that your body has the fuel that it needs to adapt and grow stronger.<\/li><li><strong>Prioritize Sleep<\/strong>: Improving the timing and regularity of your sleep schedule can help you feel more rested while also assisting your body\u2019s adaptation process.<\/li><li><strong>Listen to Your Body<\/strong>: You know yourself better than anyone else. If you feel like you need extra time to recover, take it! You\u2019re not going to get slower when you take the necessary time off. In fact, taking a rest when you really need it will make you faster and help you maintain your long-term motivation. <\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group key-takeaway\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"resources-on-sleep-nutrition-and-recovery\"><strong>Resources on Sleep, Nutrition<\/strong>, and Recovery<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.trainerroad.com\/blog\/how-aging-affects-cycling-recovery-and-what-you-can-do-about-it\/\">How Aging Affects Cycling Recovery, And What You Can Do About It<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.trainerroad.com\/blog\/sleep-and-endurance-training-tips-for-improving-the-quality-of-your-sleep\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Sleep and Endurance Training: Tips for Improving the Quality of Your Sleep<\/a>&nbsp;<\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.trainerroad.com\/blog\/rest-week-nutrition-what-to-eat-to-recover\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Rest Week Nutrition: What to Eat to Recover<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.trainerroad.com\/blog\/timing-your-recovery-drink-what-and-when-to-drink\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Timing Your Recovery Drink: What and When to Drink<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.trainerroad.com\/blog\/recovery-tips-and-hacks\/\">Recovery Tips and Hacks for Cyclists<\/a><\/li><\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Recovery is one of the most impactful parts of a training plan and should be prioritized by all goal-oriented cyclists. You can maximize your recovery with a dedicated recovery process, scheduled rest, and extra attention to your sleep and nutrition.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":35,"featured_media":68935,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"wds_primary_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[3916,207,446,537,538,543,588,1791,2132],"class_list":["post-68924","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-training","tag-downtime","tag-endurance","tag-nutrition","tag-recovery","tag-recovery-drink","tag-rest","tag-sleep","tag-sleeping","tag-yoga"],"cc_featured_image_caption":{"caption_text":"","source_text":"","source_url":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.trainerroad.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/68924","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.trainerroad.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.trainerroad.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.trainerroad.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/35"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.trainerroad.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=68924"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.trainerroad.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/68924\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.trainerroad.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/68935"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.trainerroad.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=68924"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.trainerroad.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=68924"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.trainerroad.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=68924"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}