Commuting - Winter noses and heartburn

With the return of winter comes the return of my two nemeses:

Heartburn from the cold air, and WTF to do with my nose besides shoot snot onto the road.

Clever and/or helpful rejoinders in three...two...one...

Can't help you with the heartburn, but if you find snot rockets a problem (not sure why you would but since you do) try a full face mask. I've found that wearing something that covers the bridge of my nose and upper cheeks eliminates snot rocket production completely.

I'm utterly incapable of firing snot rockets. I just get snot all over my face jacket. Usually what ends up happening is, if sniffling doesn't keep things where they should be, my gloves end up with snot all over them :cry:

I'm utterly incapable of firing snot rockets. I just get snot all over my face jacket. Usually what ends up happening is, if sniffling doesn't keep things where they should be, my gloves end up with snot all over them :cry:

Classic misfire. Try making sure the rocket is in your nose not up in your sinus, make sure there is a big rocket, press your finger on the opposite nostril to close off air flow, TURN YOUR HEAD TO THE SIDE, blow hard.

Classic misfire. Try making sure the rocket is in your nose not up in your sinus, make sure there is a big rocket, press your finger on the opposite nostril to close off air flow, TURN YOUR HEAD TO THE SIDE, blow hard.

in the case of a strong tail wind or cross wind, lean out more than you normally would. I actually had one come back and hit me...luckily it wasn't a big one...but I was forced to ride most of the rest of the ride with snot on my shin.

I've never heard of heartburn from the cold. Is it possible you're drinking more coffee than normal? Coffee causes heartburn; of course, coffee drinkers never want to hear that or do what's necessary to fix it.

With the return of winter comes the return of my two nemeses:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MPfxtJ8SQgk

Replace "snot" with "Mustang GT". ;)


in the case of a strong tail wind or cross wind, lean out more than you normally would. I actually had one come back and hit me...luckily it wasn't a big one...but I was forced to ride most of the rest of the ride with snot on my shin.

If you're experiencing a tailwind, you're either running from a tornado or you aren't riding fast enough. Hurry up. :crash:

;):D

I've never heard of heartburn from the cold. Is it possible you're drinking more coffee than normal? Coffee causes heartburn; of course, coffee drinkers never want to hear that or do what's necessary to fix it.

I'll have an occasional cup, but I'm a tea drinker--generally between two and four cups a day, which I make 2x or 3x stronger than most people. ("Stronger" refers to amount of loose tea, not steeping time.) But before you jump on the theophylline I'm pumping into my digestive tract, the dosage is exhaustion- and addiction-based, and doesn't vary by season.

No, it's the cold air--that's the only variable that changes, unless somebody wants to explain to me how long-sleeved jerseys and hiking boots cause increased gastric juice production. It happens every winter, maybe half an hour into every ride, but I never had anybody to talk to about it before.

Unless someone knows something better, I guess I'll just start dosing up with Zantac before I leave, and see if that does it.

As for snot rockets...my problem with them is that they're DIS GUS TING.

Yes, I have a prissy streak. (And I like cold air on my face, so full-face masks, while they make sense, wouldn't make me happy.)

Your continued input on this critical issue is appreciated.

I had a misfired snot rocket this morning. It was grim.

you may also want to give a quick glance behind you to make sure you don't accidentally tag someone with a snot rocket, most people don't take to kindly to having someone else's snot all over them

I had a misfired snot rocket this morning. It was grim.

+5
women who snot rocket are just kewl in general.

another +5 =)

you may also want to give a quick glance behind you to make sure you don't accidentally tag someone with a snot rocket, most people don't take to kindly to having someone else's snot all over them

Yes, beat me to it.

I would also suggest some kind of common warning if riding with friends. Maybe something along the line of: "Rockets away, on your left!"

The worst thing is when you are in a paceline and you have to wait -- snot dangling -- until you take your turn at the front and can drop to the back and launch offending rockets.

I am absolutley incapable of firing off a snot rocket without a misfire of some sort.

As for snot rockets...my problem with them is that they're DIS GUS TING.

Yes, I have a prissy streak....

Your continued input on this critical issue is appreciated.


you absolutely must get over this!:p

You must see the beauty of the rocket!

It is essential for your membership to the fraternity/sorority of true winter cyclists. I believe it's part of the pledging ritual.;)

I've never heard of heartburn from the cold. Is it possible you're drinking more coffee than normal? Coffee causes heartburn; of course, coffee drinkers never want to hear that or do what's necessary to fix it.


good point and good thought. I might suggest having this checked out. One of the classic signs of angina (dec blood flow to the heart) CAN be (not necessarily is) cold air induced heartburn-sometimes hard to tell apart gastric from heart. What is more common than GI is cold air inducing bronchial airways irritation. Not unheard of that cold air would upset the GI tract but not all that common.........my advice-go get it checked.out......
If it proves to be GI in nature,you might think about how you are breathing as this may be the way the cold air is getting into your system.............

IMHO, YMMV. just sayin'

Apropos of the discussion:

http://www.yehudamoon.com/index.php?date=2008-11-19

What about spitting? It works well for me, I can just pull my balaclava down and spit it clears things out pretty well, sometimes they get on my shoulder from the wind.

Erm, you could bring tissues with you. That's what I do. Never had heartburn though so no helpful input there.

Have you tried one of these?

http://www.rei.com/product/725711

It tends to raise the temp of the air you are breathing in. I think you are just experiencing some throat freeze.

Still working on mastering the snot rocket (mostly I can only do it in the shower), but I have a similar affliction to the OP's. That is...the cold-air-stringy-saliva problem. There's just nothing quite like trying to spit and being stuck with a foot-long string of saliva hanging from your mouth.

Of course, I suppose it could be useful as a deterrent to close-passing drivers. It's certainly a deterrent to the opposite sex.... ;)