When I first started riding, I lost weight after every ride, especially hard ones. Now I mix up the kind of riding I do, do core work/weights twice a week, and hike or walk. I nordic ski in the winter.
I pretty much can bet that I will gain weight after a work out. It eventually goes away, but the stuff about the salty meals, etc. is very true for me. The issue is that it sticks around longer and longer and it is getting harder and harder to maintain my weight. At 5' 1", every 1/4 of a pound makes a difference. I've cut my portion sizes and try not to eat too many carbs if I'm not riding. I never eat junk. Not much more I can do. Perhaps this sounds obsessive, but I figure if it's starting to become hard to maintain now, with all the activity I do, what's going to happen in a few years when I am 60 ?