Originally Posted by
FasterNearGirls
This morning, I did a short 20 mile ride in which I went up a short steep hill (The Wall - Philadelphia) Very steep. HR over Max. But I made it. After the steep, I was dizzy and almost passing out. I rode the 10 miles back home no problem but with a slight blood taste in my mouth. Now I have an urge to cough. Hope everything is OK.
The worst thing you can do after a hard sprint up a hill is to stop suddenly. The blood pools in your legs and it's possible to faint. Better to keep riding at a lower intensity.
The blood taste and coughing is not unusual after a long period of inactivity. You were using parts of your lungs that aren't normally necessary for sitting on the couch and drinking beer.