What sort of recovery after my 50 miler today?
 

Hey all! I've been putting in about 100 miles/wk since I started the season about 5 weeks ago. I've been slowly amping up the speed/intensity. Today was my first 50 miler where I was "riding" (I did a 60 miler, but it was just with my friend, very slooooow, ambling all day sort of ride) the whole way, and it had one mountain gap climb at the end (total elevation change 2000ft on the Garmin). I've put in 127 miles including this ride, but only one other "hard" ride this week.

What should be on the plate for tomorrow? Of course I'm going to listen to how I feel when I wake up, but there is a 25 mile 10mph beginner ride I'm thinking of tagging onto. Good idea? Bad idea? If I feel "up" to a ride, should I just spin on the trainer for 30 minutes to get the blood flowing?

I don't want to overtrain, but I've had days where I do nothing the day after and my legs always seem to feel worse because of it.

Thanks!

Those self-coached can only learn by experience. Sure, try going on the ride. I always do something the day after a hard ride, unless I'm so slain I can hardly get out of bed. At least do the 30' trainer spin.

I'm all for recovery days but I work shifts and sometimes my recovery day is just sleep all day and work all night. I will sometimes hop on rollers for 30 minutes. I do like a nice 45 minute cruise never getting out of small ring and nice easy pedal, feels good after a hard ride.-

It'll be hard to overtrain. I've successfully avoided it for 42 years.

How do you feel? Is your HR higher than normal? A brisk walk perhaps?

Well, the survey said a 16 mile cruise around town in the small ring, got to see some really cool neighborhoods. Feel great! We'll see how I feel on my Monday night ride tomorrow, though. :)