Question about recovery/leg muscle
Does anyone here actually do something specific AFTER a ride to help recovery and muscle building in the legs? I have never paid any attention to this. I ride. I shower. I drink some Gatorade. I eat a sandwich and some fruit and off to work I go.
I have read that the actual buildup of leg muscle comes AFTER the use on the bike during recovery.
Right now I am, for me, very out of riding shape. It's just barely the start of the new season in the snow climates now. Yesterday I went out on a neighborhood ride with some hills and only did 17 miles averaging 14.5 mph in the cloudy, cold and wind. Nothing pretty, but outside at least.
Last night I felt like I had ridden 40 miles averaging 17 mph. My legs were aching, I was tired, everything just seemed off. Now today, a day of rest, my legs feel great. It seems I recovered naturally OK. But my point is this....do you guys actually do anything post ride to enhance this recovery time? Is this something I should think about in the coming season?