Strong riders know that the secret to going fast lies in going slow. – By Whit Yost
Scott tries to keep his heart rate below 125 bpm on his easy days, about 65% of his max heart rate. If you don’t ride with a heart rate monitor, think in terms of RPE (Rate of Perceived Exertion). During recovery rides, Scott keeps his RPE at a 2 or a 3 on a scale of 1 to 10. Clearly, he’s not riding to set any land speed records—and neither should you.
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Spin it Out
Easy rides are the perfect way to reconnect with the kid inside who used our first bikes to explore new routes. On our ride, Scott took me on a dirt road and a “secret” path through a field—places we’d never see on a hard day. In Italy, cyclists use the phrase “fare una passeggiata in bici” to describe their easy rides. It basically means “going for a walk on the bike”—a perfect description of what professionals and experienced cyclists are shooting for on their easy days. After all, you’ve got to walk before you can run, right?
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