Training & Nutrition - can cyclists wear gas masks during smoggy days?

Bikeforums.net is a forum about nothing but bikes. Our community can help you find information about hard-to-find and localized information like bicycle tours, specialties like where in your area to have your recumbent bike serviced, or what are the best bicycle tires and seats for the activities you use your bike for.



PDA
mac
07-05-05, 09:39 PM
I live in LA and love riding around midday when it's bright and sunny. Unfortunately, that is when the smog is at its worst and I can't breathe after a couple of hours. My lungs hurt like there's needles sticking in them. Has anyone ever worn a gas-mask when going cycling? Could you recommend one? The smog here in LA won't be managable until about October which is 3 friggin months from now. Thanks.

Machiavelli
07-05-05, 09:54 PM
Is it really this bad?? I can't imagine living in an area like this... :(
mac
07-05-05, 09:58 PM
Yes. After my mountain ride on the 4th of July (noon to 3:30 PM), I felt absolutely horrible. Couldn't breathe, gasping for air, lungs felt like I had needles in them. That's why I go cycling mostly in the evenings after work (6 - 8 PM), but that's during sunset and darkness which makes riding a hellova lot more dangerous, even if I am lit like a Christmas tree.

When I lived at UCLA, I never had this problem as the ocean breeze would blow away all of the smog. But now I'm like the valley near the Rose Bowl and as you go over the 405 you can just see the brown blanket of smoke that has settled into the valley.

Machka
07-05-05, 10:03 PM
Why not try one of these:

http://www.mec.ca/Products/product_listing.jsp?FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=668557&bmUID=1120622554151
thelung
07-05-05, 10:10 PM
Nashbar has some too. Kinda ninja-ish I suppose.

http://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?category=&subcategory=&brand=&sku=10570&storetype=&estoreid=&pagename=

edit: But from what I have read about the air quality in LA, I think your best bet is to move away as quicky as possible.
mac
07-05-05, 10:15 PM
Hey thanks guys (and gal), I've give it a shot. I hope it's easy to move on and off so I can drink from both my bottle and camelbak.
ryang
07-05-05, 10:16 PM
LA air is horrible. I flew into LAX, and fell asleep on the hotel shuttle to Anaheim. When I woke up it felt like someone stuffed ciggarette butts up my nose.
flythebike
07-06-05, 12:53 PM
you should move

respros are ok, but kind of a pain - your face sweats a lot more

but the darth vader sound you make is really, really cool (joke)
Geoff326
07-06-05, 08:15 PM
you can be subzero for halloween this year with that one from nashbar

http://www.nashbar.com/nashbar_photos/medium/BR-M.gif