Bike Stupid? Bike Legs?

If I finish a long or intense ride I get pretty stupid for 20 to 30 minutes afterwards: forgetful, slow thinking and airheaded. I assume that this is because it takes awhile for my body to redirtect my blood flow to where it is needed, from my legs back to my brain.

Does anyone else get this malady?

It also takes about the same time to transfer my bike legs back to my land legs. I often stumble and occaisionally lose my balance shortly after a long or intense ride.

Does anyone else get this, also?

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Permalink Reply by Adam Herstein (5.5 mi) on June 11, 2012 at 2:43pm

Strange! I get the same thing when riding my bike to the bar! I keed, I keed. Seriously though, I think I have experienced this once or twice. I'm not a doctor, but the reasoning you provided seems to make sense. Either that, or it's a low blood sugar thing. Do you feel better after eating?

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Permalink Reply by Liz on June 11, 2012 at 2:58pm

I'd suggest discussing with a Dr if it happens all the time. You may be anemic, have low blood sugar, low blood pressure, or be ok as is. Probably best to get it checked out.

Edit: This weekend was quite warm, you might have been experiencing heat stress, if it only happens when its warm this may be why.

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Permalink Reply by Gene Tenner on June 11, 2012 at 2:58pm

I do not get hungry until an hour after my ride, so by then it has worn off. I do not drink and ride, so it could be a case of oldfartitis.

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Permalink Reply by in it to win it 8.0 mi on June 11, 2012 at 3:28pm

I agree about asking the Doc.

I do think getting some carbs in pretty quickly after the ride would help.

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Permalink Reply by magomawe on June 11, 2012 at 3:31pm

I'd say it is low blood sugar. When biking for hours I used to always just have no brain for a long time after. If I eat enough sugar and drink enough water, I don't have that problem. To be sure you get enough sugar, you should be eating as you ride (if you are going for more than 90 minutes). Dried fruit, nuts, gatorade, and powerbars are all good for eating while you ride. If you bike for just 40 or 60 minutes, I would still consume some juice, fruit, etc when you are done. When I don't I end up just staring off into space for way too long. Forms of sugar and water will really help a lot with bike brain.

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Permalink Reply by Gene Tenner on June 11, 2012 at 3:44pm

You can always count on good advice from Chainlink. I was at the doc's last week and everything checked out fine. But the low blood sugar is the most likely culprit. I was out Sunday for 25 miles and hydrated myself well with water, but 6 Fig Newton's probably does not cut it on the blood sugar side. U da best.

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Permalink Reply by James Kelly on June 11, 2012 at 4:12pm

A good way to help maintain blood sugar levels is to put some orange juice in your water bottle, then dilute it with water. I've also heard of folks putting a pinch of sea salt in for electrolytes. Or you can try a sports drink like Gatorade.

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Permalink Reply by S on June 11, 2012 at 4:45pm

Unless you're really working out hard (intervals or hard tempo) or going for a long 2+ hour ride, you don't really need to use an energy drink or something similar if you're reasonably healthy. Most racers don't bother with that stuff for races under 60 minutes and if you're going at lower intensities you're only really going through about 400-600 calories an hour and shouldn't have problems maintaining blood sugar at that rate. The electrolyte replacement probably also isn't needed unless you're doing a really long endurance event (4+ hours) or if it's really hot outside. Food and a lot of energy drinks already have some electrolytes in them so you need to to supplement unless you're losing a lot of electrolytes.

James Kelly said:

A good way to help maintain blood sugar levels is to put some orange juice in your water bottle, then dilute it with water. I've also heard of folks putting a pinch of sea salt in for electrolytes. Or you can try a sports drink like Gatorade.

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Permalink Reply by Megan Hauser on June 11, 2012 at 5:13pm

When my friends and I were training for a century a couple years ago, we called it "bike brain." It would always make the end of long rides more frustrating/entertaining. We ate and hydrated pretty well on rides; I always just kind of put it down to redirected circulation, like you mentioned. Although blood sugar sounds like a good culprit as well, now that you mention it.