[SUNDAY] You are probably riding your easy rides too hard

Most serious cyclists ride their easy days a little too hard. A new study suggests that costs you fatigue and recovery without buying any extra fitness.

20 trained amateur runners, matched for volume, trained for six weeks either at the top of the moderate domain or 10 to 15 percent below it. Both groups improved by the same amount, but the higher group paid more in perceived effort and recovery. In cyclist terms: don't ride your endurance work at the top of zone 2 thinking it earns you more.

Study: Guimaraes MP, Foresti YF, Papoti M, de Azevedo PHSM. Neuromuscular Adaptations, Performance, and Monitoring of Endurance Training Within Moderate Domain Intensities. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research. 2026.

Watch: The Real Reason Easy Rides Feel Hard (New Study)

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Daily cycling intelligence from SEMIPRO CYCLING, produced with AI-assisted research, scripting, and synthetic voice.