Post-event recovery
How ever your first event goes, it’s always very important not to overlook your recovery. In doing so you may delay the quality of your training when you return to the bike, losing valuable time in the saddle that could be used to progress your form towards the next challenge.
Don’t leave it to chance to see what you can find in the food tent after the event. Plan accordingly and make up everything that you need in advance. Mix recovery drinks and chill in a cool bag and try to consume as soon as you get back to the car. It’s really easy to start chatting as soon as you cross the line, and whilst it’s nice to share the stories of the road an hour can slip by before you know it, only to be reminded as your stomach starts to groan.
If the event finishes at the top of a climb then it’s likely you’ll flood your muscles with a final hit of lactic acid in the closing minutes. It’s amazing what a 15 minute spin in the small chainring can do to clear this before you pack everything up for the day. A good way to increase blood flow to tired muscles is by using an electro-stimulation device such as a Compex. Perfect to stop the legs stiffening up if you’re a passenger and are cramped in a car between bikes and kit bags for hours on the way home.
