Originally Posted by chasm54 (Post 18112982)

KBentley has kindly provided an abstract from one research paper that gives a pretty clear indication that recovery - measured through performance the following day and reduced muscle damage - is enhanced by consuming additional protein post-ride.

As far as personal anecdote is concerned, I've never been what one might describe as an elite athlete. But I have raced bicycles, and therefore trained for it. My experience is different from yours. It's my opinion that my ability to train effectively on the day following a race or a HIIT session was influenced positively by my paying attention to post-ride nutrition. Of course most of us get plenty of protein (and everything else) in pur normal diets. But that does not mean that the timing of one's intake is immaterial; and it isn't, if you want to train systematically.