Road Cycling - sleep problems?

I searched the posts but could find nothing helpful. Do any of you folks have trouble sleeping after rides? I go to bed about 3 hrs after most rides (rides are 6-7:30 pm thereabouts). I'm finding that I can't sleep for a couple of hours sometimes. I'm also waking up more often in the middle of the night to whiz.

Is this sleep thing a recovery issue, or an indicator that I am not far from being a 30 year old?

have sex, that always puts me to sleep.

I usually have sleep problems too. But then I just push her out of bed and have a restful sleep for the rest of the night. :D

you guys are so helpful, I have the same question. How do you calm your body down so you can sleep?

you guys are so helpful, I have the same question. How do you calm your body down so you can sleep?
how was I not being helpful?

There are home remedies:
-- sex/masturbate
-- sleeping pills
-- meditation
-- Comedy Central/Cartoon Network :D

If those don't work, then why ya asking idiots on a forum... go see your doctor.

I didn't really think the "gotta piss in the middle of the night" needed a response. Either cut back on the fluids or just go pee and go back to sleep.

how was I not being helpful?

There are home remedies:
-- sex/masturbate
-- sleeping pills
-- meditation
-- Comedy Central/Cartoon Network :D

If those don't work, then why ya asking idiots on a forum... go see your doctor.

I didn't really think the "gotta piss in the middle of the night" needed a response. Either cut back on the fluids or just go pee and go back to sleep.
....guess I will be watching the cartoon network then :D

I was actually referring to stiffee's post, you were very helpful.

....guess I will be watching the cartoon network then :D
oh man, a new season of Aqua Teen Hunger Force approaches!

I was actually referring to stiffee's post, you were very helpful.

It was joke. Read a book, drink a warm glass of milk... I usually don't having a problem getting shut eye after a hard ride.

I searched the posts but could find nothing helpful. Do any of you folks have trouble sleeping after rides? I go to bed about 3 hrs after most rides (rides are 6-7:30 pm thereabouts). I'm finding that I can't sleep for a couple of hours sometimes. I'm also waking up more often in the middle of the night to whiz.

Is this sleep thing a recovery issue, or an indicator that I am not far from being a 30 year old?

There is life after 30! I ride in the early morning hours and still have that problem after a ride if I've increased my speed or distance significantly. I got into biking a couple of years ago and have been continually increasing my distance/speed. I've always been very fit (I work at it), but it's surprising how much more energetic I feel since I've developed the ability to do 50 mile rides at around 16 mph average speed twice a week. I know require about an hour or more less sleep than I ever have in the past (I'm 65).

What I do about it is to just go to bed later. I wait until I'm sleepy. Since I'm in the habit of getting up early, I often only get 4 or 5 hours sleep. Turns out it doesn't affect me all that much the next day until the evening where I'll just turn in earlier.

My goal is to be able to work up to metric century rides. Then I'll have even more fun when I go up to the N Georgia mountains to ride both road a single track.

Al

I searched the posts but could find nothing helpful. Do any of you folks have trouble sleeping after rides? I go to bed about 3 hrs after most rides (rides are 6-7:30 pm thereabouts). I'm finding that I can't sleep for a couple of hours sometimes. I'm also waking up more often in the middle of the night to whiz.

Is this sleep thing a recovery issue, or an indicator that I am not far from being a 30 year old?

Yup, I have the same problem. By body is still pumped full of those great drugs you get while out on the road, and I simply cannot sleep. We did a (rather hard) club ride last evening that didn't end until dark. I didn't end up getting to sleep until about 1:30am. Now I'm tired today!

your adrenaline is still pumping thats probably why you cant sleep

I absolutely have problems sleeping after a late day/evening ride. The sex recommendation is certainly a good one ;) ... I also find reading helps to tire out the brain that is still racing @100 mph.

The golf channel :)

meditation

...that and stretching works every time for me. Ohmmmmmm.

I just went to the doctor for sleep troubles. I having a hard time sleeping at night (laying in bed for up to 2 hours not being able to sleep) and I have to get up early for summer classes. During the day, I would be exhausted, all I would do is sit around and nap. Not normal for a 20 year old guy who is used to biking every day.
So at the doctors they took some blood to see if I was anemic, or had a thyroid issue, and a few other things. The test came back negative, which was a relief. She said the problem probably lies in ‘sleep hygiene’.

She said that you shouldn’t lay in bed for more than 15 min without falling asleep. If you do you just sit there thinking about how bad you want to sleep or stupid stuff like that.
So after 15 min of laying there not being able to sleep, get up, go watch some tv, read a book, mess around on the computer. But whatever you do, DO NOT do it in your bed. Your bed should only be used to sleeping, don’t read or watch tv in it. Also do not nap during the day no matter how tired you are.

I have been trying this for the past week, and it works. I have had to get up a few times after 15 min because I wasn’t able to sleep, then in the second around of attempting to sleep, I was asleep, presumably within 15 min because I don’t remember looking at the clock again.

I don’t know if this helps, just relaying a similar experience of mine.

Do you feel physically hyped up, or just can't fall asleep? There was a thread on here not too long ago where, if i recall correctly, a guy's resting pulse was staying really high long after a ride and he couldnt sleep.

Long rides late..I usually flush my leg muscles a bit, the cool down.
This prevents cramping etc from protien breakdown. AFTER doing this I eat a small meal, this helps move the blood from my legs to my stomach and I sleep well.
My insomnia is not related to cycling, but cycling sure seems to help.

>jef.

how was I not being helpful?

There are home remedies:
-- sex/masturbate
-- sleeping pills
-- meditation
-- Comedy Central/Cartoon Network :D



I especially like "Witch Hunter Robin", puts me in a deep, catatonic sleep within 15 minutes.

I searched the posts but could find nothing helpful. Do any of you folks have trouble sleeping after rides? I go to bed about 3 hrs after most rides (rides are 6-7:30 pm thereabouts). I'm finding that I can't sleep for a couple of hours sometimes. I'm also waking up more often in the middle of the night to whiz.

Is this sleep thing a recovery issue, or an indicator that I am not far from being a 30 year old?


Excersize releases endorphines and 2.5-3 hours isn't enough time to really come down from a workout. Most sports doc's don't recommend trying to go to sleep after a workout. Sometimes (if the kids will let me) I'll take a short nap after a ride but rarely will I be able to "go to bed" and sleep after a ride. The peeing thing is because you are hydrating during and after your workout. The more you get used to drinking more liquid your body should adapt.

I would try and stay up a little longer, maybe another hour, then try to go to sleep.

Hope this helps.

2 or 3 FatTire Amber Alse sleeping pills seem to do the trick for me.

She said that you shouldn’t lay in bed for more than 15 min without falling asleep. If you do you just sit there thinking about how bad you want to sleep or stupid stuff like that.
So after 15 min of laying there not being able to sleep, get up, go watch some tv, read a book, mess around on the computer. But whatever you do, DO NOT do it in your bed. Your bed should only be used to sleeping, don’t read or watch tv in it. Also do not nap during the day no matter how tired you are.

I have been trying this for the past week, and it works. I have had to get up a few times after 15 min because I wasn’t able to sleep, then in the second around of attempting to sleep, I was asleep, presumably within 15 min because I don’t remember looking at the clock again.

I don’t know if this helps, just relaying a similar experience of mine.


One of the major reasons for inability to sleep is too much sack time. When ever I have a problem sleeping I just cut down on the time I spend in bed and it cures the problem. Too many of us are sometimes obsessed with getting enough sleep. The (still) current thinking indicates that it's best to get up at the same hour every day (including weekends) and vary your bedtime to accomodate how tired you are. This will supposedly result in the best rest and the maximum energy level. It has worked for me for about three decades and I'm a light sleeper.

Naps, like a quick 15 minutes when really tired, supposedly results in sounder sleep that evening. I do it once in a while. It perks me up and doesn't seem to interfere with sleep.

Al