Whats the point of even calling it active recovery if youre just going to saunter along with your family on a bike ride or walk? Are you really going to try to convince me that strolling along at a snails pace with your kids is going to help your legs recover from a 50-mile ride? And dont even get me started on the whole zone 1 nonsense - if youre not breaking a sweat, are you really doing anything beneficial for your body? I mean, Ive seen people walk faster to get to the fridge for another beer.
Is it just a myth perpetuated by cycling coaches who want to sound like they know what theyre talking about, or is there actually some science behind the idea that a casual family bike ride or walk can aid in recovery? And if so, whats the optimal pace and distance for this mythical active recovery to actually be effective? And please, spare me the listen to your body and do what feels right nonsense - I want actual data and research to back up your claims.