Cycing Training and Sex Drive
- Thread starter Carrera
- Start date
Yes, this is true. But Bannister only trained for an hour or so, compared with his competitors who were training for hours at a time. When he advises not to exhaust yourself, he probably refers more to time spent training than actual intensity.
I found this about the treadmill:http://vnews.ironmanlive.com/vnews/1006373497
“My Dad is a neuroscientist and he's always been interested in mind mechanics and the role of the pituitary gland, endorphins and the brain/body connection,” Bergland says. “He actually did a research sabbatical in Oxford England when I was a kid, and converted the old treadmill that Roger Bannister had used in training to break the four-minute mile. My dad used it to test sheep for their brain/endocrine activity during exercise. Which I thought was really cool, because he just told me about the Roger Bannister connection last year, when I was telling him some specifics of my training, in particular that I do 20-30 mile runs on the treadmill almost every Sunday during the winter.”
I found this about the treadmill:http://vnews.ironmanlive.com/vnews/1006373497
“My Dad is a neuroscientist and he's always been interested in mind mechanics and the role of the pituitary gland, endorphins and the brain/body connection,” Bergland says. “He actually did a research sabbatical in Oxford England when I was a kid, and converted the old treadmill that Roger Bannister had used in training to break the four-minute mile. My dad used it to test sheep for their brain/endocrine activity during exercise. Which I thought was really cool, because he just told me about the Roger Bannister connection last year, when I was telling him some specifics of my training, in particular that I do 20-30 mile runs on the treadmill almost every Sunday during the winter.”
frenchyge said:Huh?
I thought you said he ran himself to failure on the treadmill.
Guys, just to get this discussion back on track, what is the consensus? Does intensive cardio training lower libido or is this just a figment of my imagination? Do the stresses placed on your body, caused by riding hard on the bike for 2 hours or more (at a high RPM) cause testosterone to fall in any way? Or am I being silly to compare my own situation with the likes of Peter Winnen who rode the TDF?
I have been training very very hard over the last 2 or 3 months but with no signs of over-training. Progress on the bike had been pretty good. I'm more alert, feel good in myself, quick reactions, no visible depression and all the better for cycling training. But libido has fallen. It's like there is no reserve, especially during a few hours after a hard ride.
A friend of mine told me his doctor told him that endurance training lowers libido. What is the consensus among you all? Fact or fiction?
I have been training very very hard over the last 2 or 3 months but with no signs of over-training. Progress on the bike had been pretty good. I'm more alert, feel good in myself, quick reactions, no visible depression and all the better for cycling training. But libido has fallen. It's like there is no reserve, especially during a few hours after a hard ride.
A friend of mine told me his doctor told him that endurance training lowers libido. What is the consensus among you all? Fact or fiction?
I checked my pulse one morning whilst I was doing some tedious work in a chair. I felt really crappy and tired and like my head wasn't there - a feeling I often feel. Anyway it turns out my pulse was something like 34-35 bpm (it sooned picked up when I saw I was almost dead!). I think I need to see a doctor because since then I've felt my pulse when I've not felt right in the head and its always less then 40 and a bit erratic (as in irregular gaps between beats). After I get back from cycling in the evening my pulse is really high 50-60 all night long and I'm usually really hot too which is what you would expect given that one's metabolism should be quite high after rigorous exercise. I cant sleep either.
Back to the original post. A few months ago when my racing season started (I race single seaters not bikes) I was doing lots of cycling, lots of testing of the car, tryng to make sponsors happy and find bond money. Without really thinking about it I had no interest in women which is unusual for me let me tell you
I thought I had become old and impetant all of a sudden and that I was just generally becoming less interested in sex. It had increased my fitness training and added about a third onto my cycles which may have had an effect.
Anyway I would say I was back to normal now (where's that porno ) but there was a definite period where I had no sex drive what-so-ever and I really noticed it. I still do the same amount of racing, testing, cycling and looking for money as I did before but its no change in my lifestyle like it was when the season was starting. So maybe a change in your routine like adding miles will harm you.
I thought I had become old and impetant all of a sudden and that I was just generally becoming less interested in sex. It had increased my fitness training and added about a third onto my cycles which may have had an effect.
Anyway I would say I was back to normal now (where's that porno
) but there was a definite period where I had no sex drive what-so-ever and I really noticed it. I still do the same amount of racing, testing, cycling and looking for money as I did before but its no change in my lifestyle like it was when the season was starting. So maybe a change in your routine like adding miles will harm you.
You're probably O.K. Indurain's resting pulse was only 28 and he's still alive and kicking at age 40. I get irregular beats too. Believe me, I'm an expert on pulse-taking as I'm always doing random tests. You get these rapid beats and then all of a sudden it slows down. I also correspond with you on the high pulse after rides. Even a nurse once told me my pulse was very high once but I'd been riding hard.
MichaelB said:
With me it happened gradually - not something I noticed too much. But now I think about it, I recall that when I used to attend the gym, I could be in the middle of a session and see a lady walk in with hot pants or something to show off. I was doing some leg-extensions on a machine once and some lady in skimpy gear bent down to do some lateral raises. So, I got an instant reaction, if you know what I mean - a healthy dose of lust.
But now this simply doesn't happen -or very rarely. Mentally there is the same strong attraction but physically there ain't a lot happening. To me it definitely feels like a lowering of the hormones or depletion but this is something I need to find out.
Plus, I have real trouble sleeping. After a hard training session I can't sleep. This is the biggest thing I noticed since switching to endurance training. I have to take tablets in order to sleep when I'm off night-shifts.
A friend keeps telling me his doc told him exercise does lower sex drive but this is news to me. I never heard of that. And there's a chance it could be the night-shifts I do, not the training. I don't get the same quality of sleep as I live on a main road and try and sleep while there are dogs barking and road-works going on. When you throw in the cycling as well, I guess it's little wonder something may have to give.
Hopefully it's just a phase.
But now this simply doesn't happen -or very rarely. Mentally there is the same strong attraction but physically there ain't a lot happening. To me it definitely feels like a lowering of the hormones or depletion but this is something I need to find out.
Plus, I have real trouble sleeping. After a hard training session I can't sleep. This is the biggest thing I noticed since switching to endurance training. I have to take tablets in order to sleep when I'm off night-shifts.
A friend keeps telling me his doc told him exercise does lower sex drive but this is news to me. I never heard of that. And there's a chance it could be the night-shifts I do, not the training. I don't get the same quality of sleep as I live on a main road and try and sleep while there are dogs barking and road-works going on. When you throw in the cycling as well, I guess it's little wonder something may have to give.
Hopefully it's just a phase.
MichaelB said:Back to the original post. A few months ago when my racing season started (I race single seaters not bikes) I was doing lots of cycling, lots of testing of the car, tryng to make sponsors happy and find bond money. Without really thinking about it I had no interest in women which is unusual for me let me tell you
I thought I had become old and impetant all of a sudden and that I was just generally becoming less interested in sex. It had increased my fitness training and added about a third onto my cycles which may have had an effect.
Anyway I would say I was back to normal now (where's that porno
Testosterone drops during exercise and rises during recovery. But if you aren't sleeping enough you won't recover. Make getting enough sleep your first priority, and that means less time on the computer. (Sleeping with pills won't help much.)Carrera said:
If a hard exercise session stops you sleeping, then ride hard for less time and allow yourself longer to wind down.
Two other things; are you still going down the gym as well?
Has the Dr. done a t' test yet?
Carrera, I am not sure how you feel about herbal supplements or supplements in general, but I have been experimenting with a couple since my work stress has intensified. Training stress I can regulate, but my work stress is regulated by others and right now my company is in a very prosperous time.
I have read your posts as well and it's not just your training you have a lot going on without training and much of that could be the culprit to a lower libido.
I have been experimenting with these two supplements.
5-HTP http://altmedicine.about.com/cs/herbsvitaminsad/a/5HTP.htm
a derivative of the amino acid tryptophan. Same stuff that is in turkey meat and the same stuff that is known to make one drowsy.
Valerian Root http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m3225/is_8_67/ai_100572099
I take both of these supplements just before bedtime and I have been sleeping pretty good with no groggy feelings in the morning like some of the chemical sleep aids create.
I have read your posts as well and it's not just your training you have a lot going on without training and much of that could be the culprit to a lower libido.
I have been experimenting with these two supplements.
5-HTP http://altmedicine.about.com/cs/herbsvitaminsad/a/5HTP.htm
a derivative of the amino acid tryptophan. Same stuff that is in turkey meat and the same stuff that is known to make one drowsy.
Valerian Root http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m3225/is_8_67/ai_100572099
I take both of these supplements just before bedtime and I have been sleeping pretty good with no groggy feelings in the morning like some of the chemical sleep aids create.
You know, I just slept for 11 hours. Last night I went on a long bike ride and felt pretty good. I was back in time to watch Ullrich's poor performance in the TDF on T.V. But my own training session was fine after the few days I took off and I noticed I was climbing in bigger gears and not suffering so much.
I was up till about 4.30 a.m. and then went to bed. The alarm had been set for 12.00 p.m. but, soon as I switched it off, I must have dozed off again. I was horrified when I came round at 15.00 p.m. (diem perdidi)
Sometimes I think you build up a gradual sleep deficit. Usually I'll go to bed at 8.00 a.m. and be up at about 15.00 p.m. That's about 7 hours but I've always thrived more on 9 or 10 hours.
Yes, I still do weights but only once a week, training the whole body.
What I plan to do is lessen my rides for a short period and give my body a slight lull in work-load. I've been training since Winter whereas most other cyclists cut back in Winter.
The hardest workouts I do on the bike aren't rocket science. There's a hill in my area that's very very long and winding and pretty steep. It would range about 14 per cent, maybe more in parts.
On limited days, I ride up to where the hill is located and then select a reasonably big gear. I then get out of the seat and power my way upwards and give it all I have. It's not a sprint but a fast, steady climb. About half way up is when it starts to really hurt. On a bad day, your legs turn to jelly but on a good day your legs will hold out.
When you finally get to the top (and it's a long way up), your pulse rate is pretty damned high. It's at this point I like to pick up the speed on the flat and find my pulse remains high throughout the ride. The trick is keeping the speed stable at key points. One hour max and I'm pancaked and ready for work since one hour is all I have sometimes. But I try and get some distance work in on my free days, up to 3 hours steady riding.
It's a very basic routine I've been doing but better than nothing, I guess.
I was up till about 4.30 a.m. and then went to bed. The alarm had been set for 12.00 p.m. but, soon as I switched it off, I must have dozed off again. I was horrified when I came round at 15.00 p.m. (diem perdidi)
Sometimes I think you build up a gradual sleep deficit. Usually I'll go to bed at 8.00 a.m. and be up at about 15.00 p.m. That's about 7 hours but I've always thrived more on 9 or 10 hours.
Yes, I still do weights but only once a week, training the whole body.
What I plan to do is lessen my rides for a short period and give my body a slight lull in work-load. I've been training since Winter whereas most other cyclists cut back in Winter.
The hardest workouts I do on the bike aren't rocket science. There's a hill in my area that's very very long and winding and pretty steep. It would range about 14 per cent, maybe more in parts.
On limited days, I ride up to where the hill is located and then select a reasonably big gear. I then get out of the seat and power my way upwards and give it all I have. It's not a sprint but a fast, steady climb. About half way up is when it starts to really hurt. On a bad day, your legs turn to jelly but on a good day your legs will hold out.
When you finally get to the top (and it's a long way up), your pulse rate is pretty damned high. It's at this point I like to pick up the speed on the flat and find my pulse remains high throughout the ride. The trick is keeping the speed stable at key points. One hour max and I'm pancaked and ready for work since one hour is all I have sometimes. But I try and get some distance work in on my free days, up to 3 hours steady riding.
It's a very basic routine I've been doing but better than nothing, I guess.
Don Shipp said:
Tryptophan is in meat and dairy products so is not herbal. Exercise, eat protein and then sleep soundly....a recipe for fitness.Carrera said:I tried valerian. It knocked me out initially but I got used to it very quickly. I now drink a lot of camomile tea mixed with honey. I'll inquire about the herbs you recommend. Cheers.
You certainly can build up a sleep deficit and when you do, well you need to sleep it off.
Put some rocket science in your training, look at Ric Stern's website. His training seems to be totally race specific but add your gym session to it and you have a good all-round program. Why do you climb in high gears? Try spinning little ones by way of a change.
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