thiocyclist

Every year around this time I hit a lurch. I've been cycling all year but come summer time, when the season is peak for outdoor activity, I start to feel groggy during every serious bike ride. It's got me thinking, could the pollution (which is worse in summer, more drivers, more light, more dry dusty soil) be getting to me? Should I be wearing a mask or something? It probably wouldn't help with ozone, but possibly with the particulate matter. Or what else could I do to curb the pollution effect, or am I nuts and making it all up?

UberGeek

It's very likely the ozone combined with warmer temps. I don't think a mask would help. But, many cyclists in dense cities do wear a mask for that reason.

DX-MAN

Things are definitely changing, as far as air quality/weather patterns are concerned; lawn care around here has changed significantly, and I have taken to avoiding outdoor activity between 1 & 4 PM. You may have something there. I DO know, at the Olympics in Beijing, out MTB team wore filter masks for everything EXCEPT the race.

I-Like-To-Bike

Maybe you should make your commuter bike rides a tad less "serious." Whatz the big rush during a commute, especially if it makes you groggy? Back off your exertion level until you don't feel groggy. If that doesn't work maybe you should seek professional medical advice.

ajmstilt

I do when there are fires in the area and ash in the air. All other times I tried a mask (simple cheap mask, not a $100 NBC mask mind you) it didn't help, but it did help tremendously for ash.

Be forewarned, they can make a warm day feel hot, and a hot day feel like Phoenix.

gerv 

Hang on now... air quality is frequently better on a bike than in car ..

If you can, pick another route. If in a bike lane, filter up to the top of the lane and don't stay behind cars.

Are you asthmatic? If so, it could be the reason for your groggy sensations. Perhaps you should check this out.

no1mad 

May not be pollution- you might have an allergy that hasn't been diagnosed yet.

ThermionicScott 

I'm definitely considering some kind of mask, but it's from all of the gnats we have this year -- nothing else.

GP

That was my first guess.

Try using a neti pot or saline spray after your rides to wash the pollen and crap out of your nose.

thiocyclist

Getting to work on time. Anyway, I don't ride that hard. Just 16-18 mph for my average speed on a good day. Lately it's been more sluggish, I think.

spare_wheel

Try riding in the very early am to see if the situation improves. This should be the diurnal low for both ozone and particulates.
OTC antihistamines may help with allergies or mild exercise-induced asthma (common).

Booger1

Maybe it's the 20 hours a day off the bike you need to wear the mask.....just saying....

acidfast7

fyi, indoor office air quality can often be much worse that outdoor air quality

PatrickGSR94

Seems like air quality on a bike would be worse if you're around cars, than if you're inside a car at least that has a cabin air filter.

My car is too old to have a cabin filter so meh, sucks either way in high traffic areas.

ItsJustMe

I doubt a paper filter does much to eliminate the really hazardous stuff. It'll keep you from breathing dust, bugs, dead twigs, etc, but it won't do a thing against noxious fumes.

thiocyclist

I do get stuck behind cars putting hot exhaust out more often than I'd like.

CabezaShok

I dont use a mask for the same reasons mentioned above, but I use my nose to monitor moment to moment air quality. If i smell an invisible cloud of fumes i instantly switch to a strong exhale and hold until i am well past the 'funk' cloud...then i inhale. If i get a little smoke on the inhale, i induce a couple coughs to get some of what ever it is, out. Its not perfect, but at least i am avoiding the more concentrated pollution (closest to the source) like when a diesel truck passes me. I also try not to pedal too hard to keep my breathing calm.

Pynchonite

/bump

So the opinion seems to be that wearing masks doesn't do anything, but I'm actually a lil' bit worried. It's my first winter in Salt Lake City, and the thermal inversions here can be long and vicious. I've heard of a lot of people getting respiratory infections and sech from their morning jogs/rides, and there's not a snowball's chance in hell I'm staying off the bike - it's how I get around. Anyone have rec's for products, or does everyone just stay inside during inversions/bad air days?

erig007

If you want to wear a mask. Those 2 would be my choice
p100: 8293 (3m) and p3 (elipse)



list of contaminants here:
https://www.gvs.com/flex/cm/pages/Ser...N/IDPagina/556

Some less efficient but more practical alternatives:
https://www.bikeszone.com/forum/viewt...p?f=32&t=12105

Other low bulk masks:

drager parat 3100


drager xplore 2100


3m 3000 series
pdf file
https://solutions.3msuisse.ch/3MConte...bute=ImageFile

buzzman

There've been several studies, I'm sure you could Google them (I'm too lazy), which clearly demonstrated that the interior air in an automobile is chock full of toxins compared to the air a cyclist would breathe. The source of the toxins in the automobile are degrading plastics and other man made materials of which the car is made. Filtering the outdoor air coming into the car is the least of one's worries in a car.


* I looked one article up, FYI,. Evidently car manufacturers are improving indoor air quality but many still are a toxic soup. https://content.usatoday.com/communit...1#.UncIs7K9KSM

"By The Ecology Center

"Vehicle interiors contain a unique cocktail of hundreds of toxic chemicals that off-gas in small, confined spaces," said Jeff Gearhart, research director at the Ecology Center, in announcing the findings."

I-Like-To-Bike

Hey, don't put such a dark lining on the silver cloud of "New Car Smell"; there are only a few funky aromas that can offer such pleasure.

jrickards

Although this doesn't quite answer the question that the OP asked, this article suggests that exercise, much like what cycle commuters do, seems to offset the negative effects of dirty air.

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/...ticle15212543/

jsdavis

Then there's all those people riding around with 2 cycle scooters that like to work themselves into the crosswalk at the intersection and rev their engines. One guy told me he has to rev it because those scooters cannot idle, wtf?

jsdavis

Some of the new cars have ionizing air cleaners in addition to HEPA filters.

CommuteCommando

Sounds to me like a guy who just didn't know how to tune it propperly.

Air polution has two types of components, VOC's (volitaile organic compounds, i.e. vapors), and particulates like soot and dust. Both have detrimental effects. Particualtes are the easiest to filter, and a simple paper mask gets most of it. VOC's usually require something like a carbon filter. I see the biggest issue being getting adequate airflow through the thing during high demand, like climbing a hill.