The point of a recovery ride?

Good question...

Basically, without getting too technical and using scientific terms (cause I'm not that kind've girl), a recovery ride is something you do after a hard ride.

If you have had a hard ride (pushing your muscles so they are really working) your body builds up lactic acid - which in itself is not bad thing, but too much is hard for your body to deal with. A gentle ride the next day will assist your body to disperse the lactic acid.

Also, whenever you exercise you muscles tear in tiny ammounts as they respond to what you are asking. This is why when you do an unacustomised exercise (like helping the neighbour shift house, or gardening, or running up stairs) your body hurts the next day. Usually that pain is not an indication that that you should never to it again, but rather an indication that your body is responding to the new expectations and gearing up for the next time.

So a recovery ride allows your muscles to be used, but doesn't place extra stress on them as they respond.