OldsCOOL

Yesterday was a hillclimb day for me. Toward the end of the ride I knew I was pushing very hard because breathing was heavy throughout the ride. Outside temps were chilly, about 42F. The ride lasted 25min. It was a strava run and going strong out of the gate. Lungs were hurting, throat felt a bit raw but is something I go through until temps hit the 60's. Last night I miserable and couldnt sleep until I hit the Ibu pretty hard. It feels like a small dry patch in my throat that tickles and brings on a clearing of the throat but nothing to clear.

Anyone else experience this in cooler biking temps? Is this why some wear a mask?

stapfam

42 isn't cold so I doubt it is that. Be prepared for a few days sickie from work.

OldsCOOL

No, it isnt a bug. Apparently this bod needs to be conditioned to breathing hard on hills.

jon c. 

I have similar problems in cooler weather and have found that the energy chews help alleviate this if you suck on them rather than chew than up. Keeps the mouth and throat lubricated.

Banded Krait

OldsCOOL,

I don't know about Michigan where you live, but here in southeastern Pennsylvania where I live there is a nasty respiratory bug going around. It went through my office last week. I think I contracted it last Thursday, and by Friday I had a "tickle" in my throat which got progressively worse on Saturday. I also started to cough occasionally. I had some difficulty falling asleep Saturday night due to coughing. Yesterday (Sunday) was pretty tough, as I could feel the infection in my lungs, and I developed a fever. I took it real easy and took a long nap during the afternoon, which really helped. I had a lot of congestion and developed a sore throat. I am much improved today, but I am still coughing on occasion, and I am still hoarse. I took a sick day from work, mainly to prevent giving this to any of my co-workers.

David Bierbaum

I find that Ricola Honey Lemon throat drops with echinasea works wonders for my throat while bicycling. It does double duty of keeping my throat coated and "untickled," and reminding me not to breath through my mouth when I don't have to. Unlike those mentholated or eucalyptus cough drops, it doesn't turn my mouth into a chamber of "freezy-hot" sensation when I breathe.

It helped me to ride with a sore throat, anyhow.

OldsCOOL

Glad you are feeling better. Hopefully this is just too much air in a dry windpipe. The only virals and infections going around is the throwing up kind. We had that nasty flu January and I ended up with bronchitis. I've had this early spring "intake" dryness before but not last year and thought I was already conditioned beyond it even in the crappy spring we've had. Today my lungs are a little tender like when I was a kid and doing too much snorkeling first time out.

Nightshade

boy, some of you old guys are old fools thinking they are 20 something breathing massive amounts of cold air like this!!!!

OldsCOOL

Hey, as long as I'm alive I am not slowing down. At 55, I'm in better shape than many half my age (because they are Halo warrior couch potatoes).

Ok, everything back to normal, warmup on the way and baby, I'm ready to ROCK!! :yes:

OldsCOOL

***ZOMBIE ALERT***

It took a year but I found what that throat/lung irritation is called. It's referred to "reactive airway syndrome". A friend of mine has it worse than I do. Me, I just grab my wife's inhaler a take a few puffs. Rode the hills last Friday and minimal troubles. When the temps are higher than 50 it's hit 'em hard.

JanMM

The RN in me thinks that you should consult with a healthcare practitioner about getting your own inhaler, if that is what you need.

OldsCOOL

Nah.

But thanx.

Ursa Minor

I've found that if I get a throat tickle that won't go away then a hot shower

can sometimes take away the problem.


Charlie

Looigi

It's not a problem I have but it likely could be related to humidity. Cold air has less moisture in it so when it warms getting breathed in it's a lot more drying.

jppe

It's sinus stuff.

OldsCOOL

Very well could be. But then, it really is due to the very cold temps. Dry air in warm temps dont bother me in the slightest.

Garfield Cat

What ever happened to Smith Brothers cough drops?

bkaapcke

Pollen can do this. Does it tend to be seasonal? bk

OldsCOOL

Reeeeeeee-cohhhh-Laaaaaahhh.

(Dumbest ad on the planet)

OldsCOOL

Pollen? What is THAT? Is this a cruel form of a joke?! We havent had pollen since last summer.

When God laughs at Al Gore you better be wearing longjohns.

Garfield Cat

Smith Bros Cough drops, rightly mistaken for candy.

OldsCOOL

I used to gobble up the cherry ones by the box.

Garfield Cat

And did it help with the cough?

OldsCOOL

Of course not. If it did I wouldnt get any more.

OldsCOOL

Revisiting this old thread since finding a solution. Evidently this is good ole Exercise Induced Asthma. When coming in from rides I had begun to use my wife's albuterol inhaler to stop the coughing and tightness. Again, this does not get to the point of emergency but surely is an annoying irritation. When setting out for a TT or hill climb I will take a few hits before the ride. The breathing difference is noticeable.

I read an article saying 1/3 of Team Sky's riders have EIA and are allowed 5 hits of albuterol prior to or during the race? Anyways, the condition among riders seems common.