Zone 2 rides are the bread and butter of any serious cyclists training regimen, but it seems like nobody actually knows what theyre doing when it comes to post-ride nutrition. I see people stuffing their faces with protein shakes and energy bars, claiming its essential for recovery. Others are sipping on coconut water and eating bananas like theyre going to single-handedly solve world hunger.
Meanwhile, Im over here thinking, Cant we just eat a balanced meal for once? Whats the actual science behind post-ride nutrition for Zone 2 rides? Do we really need to be consuming 30-60 grams of protein within 30 minutes of finishing our ride, or is that just a myth perpetuated by the supplement industry?
And dont even get me started on the idea that we need to replenish our glycogen stores immediately after a ride. If I just did a 2-hour Zone 2 ride, do I really need to be drinking a sugary sports drink the minute I step off the bike? Or can I just eat a normal meal with some complex carbs and be fine?
Im not buying the hype that we need to be shoveling food down our throats the minute we finish a ride. I think its time to take a step back and look at the actual science behind post-ride nutrition. So, whats the deal? Are we just being sold a bill of goods by the sports nutrition industry, or is there actually some merit to this stuff?
Oh, and one more thing: if I do need to be consuming a ton of protein and carbs after a ride, how come I dont see any pros doing it? I mean, Ive seen guys like Chris Froome and Geraint Thomas eating normal meals after their rides, not chugging protein shakes and energy bars. Whats the secret? Are they just naturally better at recovery, or are they doing something were not?