cooling down

neeb
neeb Posts: 4,473
edited February 2010 in Training, fitness and health
How long should you do it for, at what sort of effort, and how important is it? I usually wind down gradually for a couple of minutes until my HR is about 65% of max, but I get bored after that and usually stop. I've heard that you should do it for 10 mins, is this really necessary?

Comments

  • Pokerface
    Pokerface Posts: 7,960
    I always see good cyclists cooling down after races/TT's/track events, etc

    Usually on rollers or turbo beside their car.

    I assume it gives the body a chance to move around some lactic acid and prevents things like cramping.

    It's important - however I never do it myself. I get bored like you do.
  • Brindy
    Brindy Posts: 45
    thats what music is for, and at events chat to people when you cooling down
  • shockedsoshocked
    shockedsoshocked Posts: 4,021
    10 minutes at about the <70% is what I've been recommended, followed by a decent stretch.

    In basic terms the cool down removes the lactic acid that's been built up, which is reconverted into a substance called pyruvate, which again is reconverted into glucose, to go back into your liver/muscles/blood, which makes your legs feel better the next day (hopefully :lol:)

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cori_cycle
    "A cyclist has nothing to lose but his chain"

    PTP Runner Up 2015

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