Do you ever feel off balance/vertigo after a long ride?

Does anyone ever feel off balance or a bit dizzy (like vertigo) after a long ride? I got home last night after riding home from work and was all wobbly for about three hours! I walked into a door frame and had to sit down to take off my socks because I kept falling over when I stood on one foot!

 

3 hours?!!!
I've experienced something to that effect but not that long. After a long ride, I feel a little week on my feet. I sail boats and after sailing for a few hours I get that weird feeling, this is kinda like that. What I find, is that I feel fatigued more than anything. If you think about it, it takes a lot of mental power to be really alert to the street, the cars, pedestrians, rocks and debris on the road and the whole time balancing on a plank. It's taxing. I'm nearly 50, younger guys may not feel like this.

 

Weka - I hate to say it but that doesn't not sound normal at all. StewSk8er brought up being on a boat. There are times when I spend most of the day out wake surfing and when I get back to the dock it feels a little wavy for maybe 5 minutes but nothing like what you have described. Having said that have you been sick recently or anything ear related? I am not a doctor but much of your balance and equilibrium takes place through your inner ear. If this is a one off it could be from an infection or something but if this happens frequently I would advise seeing a doctor.

 

Thanks folks. I haven't been out since this post since it's been raining but I might take a shorter ride and see how it goes after that one. Fingers crossed it was unrelated!

 

While riding, if very fast, sometimes I feel like my feet are moving like in a dream when they are actually planted just fine. I think it's to do with muscles in legs holding position for a long time and having to keep tension on a curve or something. But when I get off I can't say I notice anything unusual, except feeling like going for a ride again.

 

It sounds normal to me. I have so much joy from riding my cgt that I “get high” from it. I wouldn’t worry about it. If it’s a negative you’ll notice it very clearly in terms of poor riding. If it’s a positive thing, and it’s only your thoughts about it that might cause concern, but not the feelings themselves. Keep riding safely and carefully and your whole life will improve.
All the best
NYC Evolve Riders

 

All of this depends on your system and the development of your vestibular. Everyone's is different. The reality is, it's a mix of you tensing, shallow breathing, serotonin and adrenaline. What's likely happening is slight tensing, which you likely are unaware of as your body does this normally is dumping all of the electrolytes out of your muscles. Shallow breathing because you're tense causes O2 leveled in the blood to rise, dumping serotonin and adrenaline into the blood stream to make your breath faster, yet you are breathing shallow so it's counteracting the fight or flight response that is programed into us. Thus, no lactic acid is leaving the muscles as your not running which cycles again more electrolyte loss and perpetuates the problem and continues the cycle. That three hours is your body detoxing from the buildup of the lactic acid, and the natural feel good chemicals serotonin and adrenaline which where dumped into your body all while replenishing electrolytes that where lost and regaining equilibrium in your vestibular and endocrine system.


Hope this helps.