Originally Posted by
chasm54
Not true. There's research evidence that eating protein immediately after a workout stimulates the system to begin to repair the muscles more quickly. If you want/need to recover in time to train effectively the following day, a protein shake or equivalent immediately after the ride is a good idea.
I'm not saying it has no benefit over consuming nothing, but it's the second-best option after being properly fed during the exercise. And regular food works fine for that. No need for any specialty foods, although some of my weightlifting friends in the past used special pre-workout shakes, too.