Just can't get to sleep in my tent, but love camping?

[flanagaj]

You could raise your fitness with short, sharp rides, stay within Z2-Z3 levels on longer rides and you should sleep ok. Bike-packing sleep should be the easiest, after all those miles and a full stomach in a warm sleeping bag : )

Maybe the short sharp rides are not short and hard enough.  A usual ride for me will be 2-4 hours at a pace about 10 - 15 bpm below my AT.  If I go to the gym and do a 40 minute spinning class I am above my AT for virtually the whole thing.  That is much harder.

I agree the sleep should be easy, but the combination of riding too long, too far, too hard and not being quite as fit as I need to be means  the body is stressed too much.

Some good points have been made on here.

PS - I am really keen to read about your training for the TD and how you went about preparing for it, especially, given the daily mileage you were doing!

[james-o]

Here's a link to where I learned a bit about the same post-ride effects - http://forums.mtbr.com/xc-racing-training/sleeping-problems-after-long-ride-any-advice-721594.html

Training.. not something I have much experience with really. Joe Friel's site, variety and LTHR sessions after a good base miles period seemed to work for me. PM if you want more detail?

[flanagaj]

Here's a link to where I learned a bit about the same post-ride effects - http://forums.mtbr.com/xc-racing-training/sleeping-problems-after-long-ride-any-advice-721594.html

Training.. not something I have much experience with really. Joe Friel's site, variety and LTHR sessions after a good base miles period seemed to work for me. PM if you want more detail?

  Thanks for the link.  When I was reading your post I was thinking to myself 'did I post this, as it details exactly the same issues I have'

I think my issue is basically a 30 year cycling career where I have usually just done 2-3 hour max flat out sessions only to try an increase to endurance style riding in the last 2 years, without laying down a very good base mile foundation.  As a result longer rides regardless of how high / low the intensity is are a big strain on the body.

I always use protein shakes post ride, but I don't find they really help with the recovery after a really long day bike packing.  I got to the point in late May of being able to do back to back 90 mile road rides in ~ 6 hours. 

Maybe I need to add a few more of these in at a lower pace early in the year so as to lay down a good base period foundation.

[kikoraa]

Have you tried a hammock

This...