Sleep after 3 hour plus bike ride

John Schneider

All, 46 yrs old, I'm having diffuculty sleeping after a 3 hour plus bike rides.  This is nothing new to EN training, I was training on my own last year and had the same issue.  I'm taking Cal/Mag/Zinc pills at night, this gets rid of the leg twitchies but it seems like my body can't relax, when I lay in bed it seems like my body is clenching and releasing similar to open and closing your fist.  I don't take naps during the day.  The only way to get rid of it is to get up walk around for a while.  I've tried light stretching before going to bed.  One post I've seen said to try melatonin, I haven't tried that yet, just wondering if anyone else has/had the same issue.    Thanks in advance

Swanie

Do you ride at night? If so how close to bed time? What are drinking/eating on the bike? I have taken melatonin, it definately helps to get sleep, but instead of taking another pill, try to find out what is causing the restlessness. Try stopping the cal/mag/zinc and see if that helps.

John Schneider

Hi Steve:
I ride usually in the am, finish at the latest by 3 pm'ish. On the bike I drink carbo pro/soy protein/amino acids and electroyltes. I take 2 sportsquest motivators and 2 sportsquest v02max endurance 1/2 hour before riding.

rmiller

On the melatonin idea - my wife takes melatonin as she's an insomniac. If you try that (and it does often work for her - placebo effect or not), it comes in various doses. She's had to tinker with what dose to use that will make her sleepy, but not feel hung over and cloudy in the morning. Just an FYI.

Steve West

Try a few long rides without all the suppliments. Motivator looks similar to Red Bull and all the other 'energy' drinks, that certainly can add to the problem.

Norton

Caffeine use?

The melatonin works great for me when I'm in your situation. FYI: in my case insomnia after hard/long efforts are caused by a buggered adrenaline system; be careful.

Peter Greagg

After very searching workouts (I workout in the am), I would often have trouble sleeping.
Although it's less of an issue now but I don't know why.
I have cut back my caffeine use and maybe am becoming better at dealing with the EN style intensity.

Swanie

Posted By John Schneider on 09 Jul 2012 11:43 AM

Hi Steve:

I ride usually in the am, finish at the latest by 3 pm'ish. On the bike I drink carbo pro/soy protein/amino acids and electroyltes. I take 2 sportsquest motivators and 2 sportsquest v02max endurance 1/2 hour before riding.

Those Sportsquest product are basically "5 hour energy" in a pill. First thing to do if you want to fix your insomnia problem is stop taking those supplements. It may take a few days to get all that B complex out of your system but I am sure you will start to get back to regular sleep patterns soon.