Junk Miles

Pendejo said:

Here's the question: is there any real training value to those days when we ride but hardly stress ourselves at all? Sure, it can be relaxing and put some of the joy back into biking, and it definitely pads our weekly mileage total. But would we be impeding our progress at all to stay home on those days instead, or do some other sort of exercise?

Recovery. I cruse to work at a leasurely pace, bout 12 miles one way.

Why pad out your miles just for the sake of it ?
Slow rides are a great way to recover from that hard ride the day before but don't do them just to clock up the weekly mile.

I don't have the luxury of training every day that I would like to.
But the days that I do train are focused at lifting my TT ability ( always trying to get in a break away when I race). My recovery day are spent with the family. Got to attend to all sides of your life. Balance is the key.

PS Ask yourself why do you race?? Is it just to win! Or do you just like to know you have done your best on the day. If it's the latter you will never be disappointed.