Sleepy after ride

michael_roadie

I've been cycling about 6 months now, on Sundays I usually do a 50 mile ride and feel ok when I get back, however when I do longer rides e.g. 70 miles I get back feeling ok again - but after an hour or two I feel incredibly sleepy. Sometimes I actually have to go to bed and catch a few winks. Short of drinking coffee when I get back (and I don't think that would help as I think I tried it once without much success) does anyone have any ideas why this happens (I can understand feeling tired but not sleepy tired) and suggestions of what to do?

Tom_UK

I get this to, I generally find its if I sit around to long after a ride so I just make sure I get up and start doing things after a hour or so. But if I do have time a hour nap isnt a bad thing and definetly makes me feel better after.

pinarellokid

Just a quick battery recharge fella don't fear it..

lotus49

Naps are very enjoyable and an efficient way of sleeping. I never grew out of having an afternoon nap when I was a toddler and that was a very long time ago. I have always found that my natural sleeping pattern is 1-2 hours in the afternoon and 4-5 at night ie about 6 hours a day. Doing vigorous exercise like cycling definitely makes me feel more sleepy but that seems to me to be a perfectly normal response and exactly what I would expect.

Just give in to it.

TheHound

I get this too. Seems pretty natural after emptying the tanks cycling you'll need to recharge.

I fight it off though and just get an early night instead.

smoggysteve

Do you eat within the hour of you getting home? Today I did 133km and was hooped when I got in. I refueled as soon as I had a shower. Plenty of protein and some carbs. Still feel a bit tired but if you put food in your body can repair quicker.

Also had 3/4 of a bottle of wine so I think I will sleep well tonight. Glad I am not at work in the morning.

goonz

Its one of the reasons I prefer riding on saturdays, I put it down to not getting my reular lay ins on the weekend as I get an early night on the eve of the ride and then wake up early for the ride when usually I'd get up around 9 or 10.

Then banging out 50-100miles and getting back home, your body will naturally want to switch off for a while. I may try and shut eye for a few hours and then have an early night which is usually enough. Always keep yourself fuelled up though very important.

elderone

I had this the first few 50 milers,now I can do a 50 and feel ok.Think my body is used to this distance,though my max is 56 miles.I think when I push it up again I,ll want a nap again until I,ve done enough bigger rides to cope easier.
Op dont worry seems a natural thing to do.

michael_roadie

Ok thanks guys.

team47b

Cytokines are released during long exercise sessions, but not during short ones, and causes sleepiness. These cytokines are also released during illness eg a cold, which is why people feel sleepy when they are sick. It's normal.

markhewitt1978

I did 60 miles yesterday and was shattered, I still feel sleepy now! At least I'm at work so can rest

goonz

markhewitt1978 wrote:

I did 60 miles yesterday and was shattered, I still feel sleepy now! At least I'm at work so can rest

Ha!

Another thing that can help I recommend to all but no one seems to want to try it (not sure why) are ice baths...

lotus49

goonz wrote:

Ha!

Another thing that can help I recommend to all but no one seems to want to try it (not sure why) are ice baths...

What, so given a choice between having a lovely relaxing nap in the afternoon or plunging themselves into a bath full of ice people choose the nap? Who would have thought it .

I have never had an ice bath and, while I don't doubt their invigorating properties, that is the way I indeed to keep it.

Out of interest, where do you get all the ice from?

Zoomer37

Hard/long ride - protein - settee - 20 min power nap

Standard

goonz

lotus49 wrote:

goonz wrote:

Ha!

Another thing that can help I recommend to all but no one seems to want to try it (not sure why) are ice baths...

What, so given a choice between having a lovely relaxing nap in the afternoon or plunging themselves into a bath full of ice people choose the nap? Who would have thought it .

I have never had an ice bath and, while I don't doubt their invigorating properties, that is the way I indeed to keep it.

Out of interest, where do you get all the ice from?

Frozen section in a supermarket or whatevers in the freezer with as cold water as I can manage from the taps.

smoggysteve

goonz wrote:

lotus49 wrote:

goonz wrote:

Ha!

Another thing that can help I recommend to all but no one seems to want to try it (not sure why) are ice baths...

What, so given a choice between having a lovely relaxing nap in the afternoon or plunging themselves into a bath full of ice people choose the nap? Who would have thought it .

I have never had an ice bath and, while I don't doubt their invigorating properties, that is the way I indeed to keep it.

Out of interest, where do you get all the ice from?

Frozen section in a supermarket or whatevers in the freezer with as cold water as I can manage from the taps.

Not sure your local Tesco is going to be happy with you jumping in the freezer section with a bag of frozen sprouts betwixt your bum cheeks.