Today I went out for a training ride, but because yesterday I just about blew my innards out with an anaerobic threshold test, I was advised to just do a short recovery ride. So, I knocked it down to the granny gear and puttered around for 45 minutes. As I was trying to keep my heart rate in ‘zone one’ on the little mountain behind my place, I began to enjoy the pedestrian pace and relaxing rhythm, and since I was riding just fast enough to stay upright I could appreciate things I don’t usually, such as sounds other than raging wind in my ears and the slowly unfolding scenery in front of me. It was a most enjoyable near-hour.

So, thank you recovery ride; when it all gets too hard during the tough season ahead, I’ll always have you to look forward to.