Endurance racing/training and sex drive

ride4burritos · 01-31-2009

Sorry to pose such a weird question, but have any of you guys noticed that racking up long miles in the saddle with hard training and racing has lowered your sex drive? I'm not talking about problems with a literal saddle (whatever that term that's used for that), but spending your energy and testorone riding and having it lower your sex drive? I know this a pretty personal question so feel free to PM me with a response if you don't want to post one on the forum. I think I've notice this with my training and I'm curious if anyone else has.

sir_crackien · 01-31-2009

yes it will because of the reason you have stated. you used your energy and your chemicals in your body and basically you have nothing left over. this is especially true if you keep it up (stop that dirty mind) for a long time.

dmccune · 02-01-2009

I'm going to say exercise, at least for me, isn't something that decreases sex drive. Many health experts say increased exercise helps sex drive (http://health.discovery.com/centers/.../exercise.html) though I didn't see anything on the amount/type of exercise many of us on this board would be putting in. Other components of training seem more likely to impact sex drive, such as stress (am I riding too much, not enough, how will I race etc.) then the actual training part. But to answer your question, I haven't noticed this side-effect of training.

markf · 02-01-2009

it only seems to happen to me when i jump back into heavy training. after a few weeks i'm back to normal, except after super super hard work outs, which leave me pretty unable/unwilling to do much more than get off the couch.

ride4burritos · 02-01-2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by sir_crackien

yes it will because of the reason you have stated. you used your energy and your chemicals in your body and basically you have nothing left over. this is especially true if you keep it up (stop that dirty mind) for a long time.

So do you notice it decreased that day or on a consistent basis. I.e. if you put in a hard weekend of training do you notice your drive is decreased later on in the week?

dogsloweverywhere · 02-01-2009

As far as I am aware, the reverse is also true.
Namely, you don't want to have too much sex (solo or otherwise) before a big event.
I think the best results come from abstaining for 3 days (?).
Makes me more agressive I find.
I know it's written into some top European football club's rules before major games.
Tim

OilcanRacer · 02-02-2009

the more i ride, the more sex drive i have. i guess my body runs different.

RSW42 · 02-02-2009

I guess Oil Can Racer & I come from the same experimental DNA

.

Caffeine Powered · 02-02-2009

Here's what works for me, 30 minute ride to the girlfriend's, 90 minutes of playtime, the a 4 hour ride back to the wife. It's hard to do every day, but well worth it.

Phishin Paul · 02-02-2009

The best as my wife and I we can date it, our daughter was conceived that day after the 56 mile Vision Quest. Something was working that day

kenpuke · 02-02-2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by Caffeine Powered

Here's what works for me, 30 minute ride to the girlfriend's, 90 minutes of playtime, the a 4 hour ride back to the wife. It's hard to do every day, but well worth it.

That's a hell of a training regimen! Who knew there were so many Lotharios lurking around on this board.

Circlip · 02-02-2009

Eat, ride, shower, eat, sex, shower, eat, sleep. Then just repeat in infinite loop until you die.

I wish...

0gre · 02-02-2009

I've been increasing my riding lately and find the opposite is true. If I am exhausted and just collapse in bed it's a little different.

I'm not on a regimented training routine though, I ride perhaps 1-4 hours (more on weekends) per day and generally not super intense riding. The idea of working so hard cycling my body doesn't have energy for sex does not appeal to me so I don't imagine it will ever be a problem here.

I ride because I enjoy it, when it ceases to be enjoyable I stop.

bigdudecycling · 02-02-2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by dogsloweverywhere

As far as I am aware, the reverse is also true.
Namely, you don't want to have too much sex (solo or otherwise) before a big event.
I think the best results come from abstaining for 3 days (?).
Makes me more agressive I find.
I know it's written into some top European football club's rules before major games.
Tim

As Mickey told Rocky..."Women weaken knees" (from Rocky I, I believe, maybe rocky II)

bigdudecycling · 02-02-2009

I think its impacted me since I started really riding a lot. Really general fatigue on the weekends, since that is when I get the long rides in, and also happens to be when I would otherwise have the most time to "workout" with my GF. My sex drive actually seems to increase towards the end of a "recovery" week....so that pretty much tells me its the training...

nathan bay · 02-02-2009

I've posted on this before so I'll just repeat myself....It decreases mine; which is good because I spend less money on hookers and that leaves more money for bike gear.

dogsloweverywhere · 02-03-2009

Ditto a film with, and I might be wrong about the female lead, but it's a boxing film starring ryan o'neil barbra streisand.
No sex before a fight.
Same principles I think.

What's the optimum time to abstain? 3 days?

TimBlueBalls

thumpduster · 02-03-2009

Between my wife's work schedule and the time I spend training she's too grumpy or tired for me get any. It has nothing to do with testosterone or training intensity and everything to do with 80 hour work weeks.

For cross training I go to the rec center at the university. There's enough eye candy there to know my mind (at least) is not negatively effected by training.

dogsloweverywhere · 02-03-2009

It might be a good idea, what with Feb 14th coming up, to re-structure your love life / training and get some good loving back on track. Shame to lose the one through neglect and being away training - you can always pick up the pace again in the weeks & months ahead.
Just a thought.
Tim

rocks'r'friends · 02-03-2009

Could be a sign of over training. If your sex drive is chronically lower could be an indication of being slightly over trained (fine line between optimal training and over training) and you might consider backing off a couple hours a week. But remember the definition of chronic: recurrent and long lasting. If you have just started a new workout your body may just need time to compensate. In addition, it is normal to have just completed a particularly hard workout and just want to eat and sleep for the rest of the day.
Another point, there have been studies on sex prior to workouts (can't recall who did them or how they were controlled), and the results indicated that there was no negative effect on performance during workout, assuming that energy expended during pre-workout activities was not significant.
I personally have found that my sex drive increases when I am training regularly, regardless of intensity.

dogsloweverywhere · 02-03-2009

For me it's one or the other.
I can't be doing with sex if I have a tough training ride or an event in the near distance.
Afterwards, if I can stay awake, gladly, but the day afterwards if it's been a brutal session.
Tim

Caffeine Powered · 02-03-2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by kenpuke

That's a hell of a training regimen! Who knew there were so many Lotharios lurking around on this board.

Little blue pills aren't on the banned list yet are they?

frogman71 · 02-03-2009

Go to the doctor and get blood work. It is well documented that hard endurance training can lower your testosterone levels, which will cause your sex drive to plummet, and if you are over 40 then you are at greater risk. If this is the case, doctor prescribed hormone replacement therapy could work miracles, not just in bed but with recovery also.

kriscad · 02-06-2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by Caffeine Powered

Here's what works for me, 30 minute ride to the girlfriend's, 90 minutes of playtime, the a 4 hour ride back to the wife. It's hard to do every day, but well worth it.

that cracked me up

PanaBob · 02-13-2009

Quote:

Go to the doctor and get blood work. It is well documented that hard endurance training can lower your testosterone levels, which will cause your sex drive to plummet, and if you are over 40 then you are at greater risk. If this is the case, doctor prescribed hormone replacement therapy could work miracles, not just in bed but with recovery also.

thats good advice even guys in their 30s can need testosterone supp

sir_crackien · 02-13-2009

my referance to exercise is to only very hard workout on a constant basis. basically your body goes into survival mode and it shuts off many things to help get through the time. very hard exercise over a long time will cause this to happen especially if you are also on a mean diet. your sex drive is one of the first items on the chop list to help you survive as in a time like survival sex is not necessary and could be a hindrance. i remember reading about this somewhere and then confirming it on a few other places. once again its only for very hard workouts, average workouts like others have said in here will actually promote your sex drive.

i suggest pulling the intensity of your workout back a little. i bet you will feel better, be able to ride harder, and have a better sex drive. <-- seriously try it and i bet your doctor will tell you the same thing.

<Cornbread> · 02-14-2009

http://www.sportsci.org/encyc/testos...tosterone.html

vzman · 02-15-2009

NO PROBLEMS HERE !!!!!