Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > Road Cycling
Reload this Page >

Sleeping Pills before a race?

Search
Notices
Road Cycling “It is by riding a bicycle that you learn the contours of a country best, since you have to sweat up the hills and coast down them. Thus you remember them as they actually are, while in a motor car only a high hill impresses you, and you have no such accurate remembrance of country you have driven through as you gain by riding a bicycle.” -- Ernest Hemingway

Sleeping Pills before a race?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 06-29-16 | 08:55 PM
  #26  
exmechanic89's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 2,617
Likes: 10
From: Richmond VA area

Bikes: '00 Koga Miyata Full Pro Oval Road bike.

Originally Posted by derath
I wish I got 7 hours of sleep like, ever.

-D
Lol, seriously..
exmechanic89 is offline  
Reply
Old 06-29-16 | 09:56 PM
  #27  
f4rrest's Avatar
Farmer tan
 
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 7,985
Likes: 30
From: Burbank, CA

Bikes: Allez, SuperSix Evo

This thread was asleep for 10 years.
f4rrest is offline  
Reply
Old 06-30-16 | 01:40 AM
  #28  
Senior Member
10 Anniversary
 
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 4,628
Likes: 943
From: Ontario, Canada

Bikes: iele Latina, Miele Suprema, Miele Uno LS, Miele Miele Beta, MMTB, Bianchi Model Unknown, Fiori Venezia, Fiori Napoli, VeloSport Adamas AX

Originally Posted by Edge38
Any depressant will affect your performance in a bad way. Depending what/how much you take you might be able to overcome it. But you will be at a disadvantage. But very poor sleep the night before is even worse.

If you must then try to find something with the shortest half life possible, and take the lowest effective dose (and do everything else right, of course).

Hard physical activity will effectively accelerate your metabolism and deleterious effects of Rx with it, however, so long and/or late day races are better than early and short ones.
Thread was TEN YEARS OLD and I'm sure the OP found a answer/solution long ago. LOL

Cheers
Miele Man is offline  
Reply
Old 06-30-16 | 03:58 AM
  #29  
Senior Member
20 Anniversary
 
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 16,767
Likes: 85
I used to think these zombie threads weren't useful when revived... but really, they are. Or, for the posters having a go about it, maybe they could start a new thread discussing the merits of taking sleeping pills before race day. Because I don't recall seeing one recently.

It might also be classified as bullying a new member who has joined the forums as a result of a search engine inquiry. Great way to scare off new members by reprimanding them when there is a thread already in Road Cycling about whether the forums are dying or not.

As to the subject, I don't and wouldn't take a sleeping aid. In some ways, thinking actively about tomorrow's events can heighten awareness. Many are the randonnees I have started where my sleep the night before has been short-ish or broken, and I've still be awake 200 or 300km later and riding quite strongly.
Rowan is offline  
Reply
Old 06-30-16 | 11:30 AM
  #30  
Nachoman's Avatar
well hello there
20 Anniversary
 
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 15,491
Likes: 390
From: Point Loma, CA

Bikes: Bill Holland (Road-Ti), Fuji Roubaix Pro (back-up), Bike Friday (folder), Co-Motion (tandem) & Trek 750 (hybrid)

I can deal with one sleepless night, even two. But three sleepless nights in a row is my limit.
Under those circumstances I definitely would take a sleeping pill the night before almost any competitive event.
__________________
.
.

Two wheels good. Four wheels bad.
Nachoman is offline  
Reply
Old 06-30-16 | 12:29 PM
  #31  
Senior Member
 
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 1,939
Likes: 181
From: Newport Beach, CA

Bikes: S works Tarmac, Felt TK2 track

Originally Posted by Nachoman
I can deal with one sleepless night, even two. But three sleepless nights in a row is my limit.
Under those circumstances I definitely would take a sleeping pill the night before almost any competitive event.
Same here, 3 nights no sleep it's time to do something. My spouse who has more serious sleeping problems was advised by 2 MD's to get a marijuana permit. YMMV
popeye is offline  
Reply
Old 07-01-16 | 08:34 AM
  #32  
Shuffleman's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 1,296
Likes: 2
From: Florida

Bikes: Colnago CLX,GT Karakoram,Giant Revel, Kona Honk_ Tonk

Originally Posted by zzzwillzzz
no on the pills, in my opinion. some more races and you'll get over being (as) nervous beforehand. from what i've heard/read physical ability drops very little with a lack of sleep. it's more of the mental concentration that suffers. bike racing doesn't take that mental ability (any cat V races proves that), just be like pavlov's dogs- don't start salavating 'til you hear the bell ring... (and the announcer scream 'one lap to go, one lap to go...')
I do not agree with this at all. I was a high school and college athlete in multiple sports. I always had trouble sleeping the night before a game. Some people, myself included, have trouble turning off their minds. I visually play the game in my head and can't stop it. I am 47 now and I run a lot of local races. I always have trouble sleeping the night before. Ambien, not CR though, will not last long in your system. I take it and can honestly say that if it puts me down for 3 hours or 5 hours, I am not groggy from it. If you take Benedrl it is much of the same.
Originally Posted by derath
I wish I got 7 hours of sleep like, ever.
i can certainly understand that.
-D
Originally Posted by John Wilke
Gee you must be the ONLY person that has had a hard time sleeping the night before a big race.

Don't sweat it, it won't affect your performance. If you're in shape you'll do fine, if you're not in shape, then the extra few hours of sleep ain't gonna help you anyway !

jw
Now this I totally agree with. It would be great to get a complete nights sleep but in the end don't fret it. Your adrenaline will kick in and all will be fine.
Shuffleman is offline  
Reply

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off



Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2026 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.