Road Bike Racing - Cotton up the nose

Can someone explain why some pros warm up with cotton up their nose??
http://www.cyclingnews.com/photos/2008/may08/aude08/index.php?id=/photos/2008/may08/aude08/aude080/IMG_8083

They put oil of wintergreen or some other menthol spirit on the cotton. It helps to open the breathing passages.

Check out Olbas products. Similar stuff. You can buy oil and soak part of your glove with it. Then sniff to clear your nasal passages. They even have a "sniffer", it's a tube that contains some menthol type stuff in it. It has a hole in the end, you sniff it.

They've sponsored my race and I use their products.

cdr

The folly of it all when seen from a certain perspective...

Wouldn't this do the same thing? It's what I use.

http://www.vicks.com/images/6.0_Sinex/6.2_product.jpg

Wow, something I've never heard about. Seems like a silly practice if it's true, because as an allergy sufferer, I can tell you that anything you can smell isn't going to open up anything. Menthol only gives you the sensation of opening up. It actually irritates the nasal passages more. The only thing that will open up nasal passages, if they need opening up, is a decongestant.

Don't you race with your mouth open?

I use Vicks Vapo Rub works great.

tiger balm works great too... cept for the burning sensation

tiger balm works great too... cept for the burning sensation

Quit using it on your chamois.