Chocolate milk has been shown to be a good recovery drink...more palatable and a lot less expensive than sport-specific alternatives (e.g., Endurox).

Even though I enjoy chocolate, after a hard effort chocolate mile really doesn't appeal to me. Instead, I usually have a 12 oz glass of orange juice, with a scoop or two of vanilla-flavored whey protein.

I follow that up within an hour or so with a decent meal.

Note: this is *not* for everyday 25-35 mile rides. I usually only have a "recovery drink" if I've done a long ride (>50 miles), or done a bunch of hill climbing intervals.