Arriving at the end of the day

Long days in the saddle call for some restorative “Me Time” to keep you from trashing your body further. Whether you’ve been riding Forest Service roads through the Cascades all day, or making a 300-500 mile paved loop, the body takes a beating sitting upright all day with not much else than handle bars and a skinny seat for support.

So the thing I like to do once back inside, is rejuvenate my body, preferably with a hot bath.

I’ve got several pounds of Epson salt stored at home and reach for the peppermint or lavender scented bag when it’s time to recuperate. The scented salts actually serve several purposes. Lavendar scent is a calming property that will help you get off to sleep at night when the time comes. If you don’t want to fall asleep after your bath, try peppermint, which aids in perking your senses back up.

But the most important property of Epson salts is magnesium. Most westerners don’t get enough in their daily diet. Not getting enough leaves one prone to cramps and tightened muscles. Taking an oral supplement over 200mg a day can loosen your digestive track and you’ll wind up spending more time in the bathroom than you want to. But immersing your body in a hot bath of Epsom salts opens up your pores and allows the body to absorb the mineral without abnormal side effects. A 10–15-minute soak is about all it takes to reload your system and you should plan to sleep like a baby that night.

Another way to stave off the pain of riding in the saddle all day is to pop a normal dosage of Aleve. While Aleve is not something you want to take daily, a couple times a week won’t put stress on most peoples' organs. Following a dislocated shoulder, I switched up pain relievers daily. One day Aleve, another day Tylenol, another day D-Flame. All pain relievers from different families.

Dehydration is another factor that can lead to aches and pain. The body needs a good amount of fluid to be happy. I drink plenty of fluids during and following a ride. Some people despise the fact I might pour a beer or a glass of wine over a pint of ice, but my body is very happy to have the extra hydration ice provides, as well as the watering down of any alcohol coming into my body at the end of the day.

Cannabis has several numbing qualities as well. CBD, which won’t get you high, provides pain relieving effects if you take in more than about 90mgs. Lower amounts may not provide noticeable effects.

THC on the other hand will get you high. For years everybody smoked it, now you can get all kinds of food versions that absorb through your gut, rather than your lungs. Gummies, cookies, and more are out there. Most servings are built around a 10mg dose of THC. I personally get a little too high after 10mgs. I prefer around 5mgs. To get that I use a tincture, measure out a 5mgs dose from the eye dropper and squirt it right into my iced glass of wine. If you’re mixing THC with wine, you’ll notice it enhances the effects of alcohol, so be cautious before pouring the next drink.

Have a great ride in the day, and a nice relaxing evening to end it.

PT/May 24