Recovery Day

If you're lucky enough to be able to ride every day, you are a member of a very small population. Sometimes I fall into that population and other times I don't.

One thing I have learned over the years is that your body needs some rest from time to time. If you get out for several hard rides in a row, it is best to take a day off and let your body recover. Although I have had a few road trips with continuous big rides for many days in a row, in normal circumstances, I try to make sure I take a day off after 3 or 4 hard days of riding.

Taking a recovery day allows your body to heal up the small damage that it does to itself in day to day riding. When you don't take rest days, you tend to aggravate old injuries, weaken your joints, and simply make yourself more vulnerable to creating new problems. On top of all that, it is amazing how a single recovery day can replenish your energy reserves for the next ride.