Recovery sessions: what are they, how to do them and what are their benefits?
A recovery bike session sounds simple, right? But you'll be surprised how many of us aren't doing them properly. Nik Cook explains… and provides the session breakdown you should be following
A recovery session, as the name implies, should enhance or facilitate recovery. In doing so, it should not add any additional fatigue. But many people don’t stick to these simple rules, instead overdoing it and adding on pointless mileage.
As you’ll discover, we’re just focusing on bike sessions here. So here’s the how and why you should do a recovery session.
Is it worth doing a recovery run session?
It’s arguable that, unless you’re an extremely efficient runner, due to the impact associated even with very easy running, that a recovery run can’t meet these criteria. And, if recovery is the focus, then you’d be better spending the time doing some stretching, hitting the foam roller or simply putting your feet up.
How to do a recovery ride
A recovery ride is more doable and there’s no doubt that, after a long day’s travelling or the day after a big ride or run, a gentle spin can put a bit of life back in your legs.
To achieve this though without adding unnecessary fatigue and/or junk miles does take a surprising amount of discipline and often some ego management.
It should be 30-60 minutes long and has to be super-easy. That means pancake flat and strict zone 1 for both heart-rate and power.
You should be imagining that your cranks are made out of glass and, if you push them too hard, they’ll snap. Grannies on shopping bikes should be overtaking you and you should be spinning your legs in the small chainring.
Be honest, can you see your ego handling doing a ride like that? Judging by how many ‘Recovery Rides’ you see uploaded to Strava that are predominately zone 2 or even zone 3, I’d argue that for a lot of triathletes – not.
Such sessions definitely won’t be facilitating recovery and all you’ll be adding to your training are meaningless kilometres and unnecessary fatigue with practically zero training effect.
Where to do a recovery ride
The controlled environment of the indoor trainer can make achieving a genuine recovery ride more doable but again be wary of that ego creeping in.
Will you be able to resist chasing that virtual wheel or upping your pace for a sprint section or KOM? Using Erg Mode set to hold you in zone 1 is probably the best solution if you don’t think you can trust yourself.
Even with all the recovery ride boxes ticked, the niggling question does still remain, ‘Could I be doing something better with this time?’ Some drills in the pool? Maybe a bit of yoga or Pilates?
Training time for most triathletes is precious and, in most cases, the answer to this question is yes so, before taking the ‘recovery ride’ option, just check-in and maybe do something else instead.
Top image credit: Getty Images
Nik Cook
Freelance bike writer 
