Overheating during rest

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Hi - I recently embarked on (for me) a long ride during my vacation. The rides were strenuous, but fun. Basically, I did nothing but ride all day for 2 days at the start of my vacation, and then 2 days at the end. In total, the trip was 250 miles of riding. I stopped to sight-see, so it wasn't at race speeds, and I'm not in shape for that kind of race right now anyway.

Something odd happened to me after the second day of riding both times. These were the more strenuous days when I rode for 12-14 hours with occasional 30 minute breaks.

After I was done riding for the day and lying down to sleep, I felt my body temperature rising noticeably. I became quite hot and had to throw the covers off and look for a way to get cool. This went on for several hours.

At first I thought it was a light case of heat exhaustion because on the way up (my first 2 day ride) it was over 90 degrees and I was drinking quite a bit of water to keep cool. However, the trip back was much cooler and comfortable, and I never felt overheated. In both cases, I rode several hours past the point of having much strength left in my legs, so I was definitely pushing it. I didn't eat a lot while I was actually riding - mostly just energy bars.

It might have something to do with exhausting all the fuel in my body during the ride, and then having this restored when I finally rested and ate a big meal. The heat may be a by-product of my body converting food to muscle fuel.

Anyone else experienced something like this?

This happens to me alot. Many hours after a long ride, while I'm lying in bed trying to sleep, I radiate so much heat that I don't want any sheets or blankets on me.

It also happens at work sometimes after I commute in (it's 27 km each way so I get a good sweat going). Today at lunch, I was so hot sitting there while the others I was with were very comfortable.