Went for a nice ride today, a 15-miler I do quite often. Halfway through, where I always stop to look at the scenery and drink some water, I suddenly noticed I was developing a headache. I never get headaches, unless it's maybe once a year after having too much wine at a party. This was a doozy: It felt like someone was splitting my skull with an axe. It got sharper and sharper and worse and worse by the minute. I told my riding companion, I don't feel well; I've gotta get back. We were halfway there when I thought I was going to throw up. Geeze, I thought, is this the brain tumor coming on? The stroke? Can I make it back at all?

I was almost dizzy with pain when we got back to the car. I hopped off the bike, and ripped off my helmet. In about ten seconds all the pain and discomfort was completely gone! I've been wearing this helmet for about 3-4 years. I think I was squeezing off some huge artery to my head, or something. Wow. I couldn't believe how fast this thing came on, and how fast it left. I'm going to look at this helmet and adjust the straps and re-evaluate. Maybe I need a new one. Glad I didn't black out on the bike!

Wow!

That's an incredible story. I'll bet the helmet was the last thing you would have suspected! Good news that you figured it out, and now you get to buy a shiny new helmet, too!

What has changed in the 3 to 4 years? The helmet hasn't, and if this is the first time the symptoms have presented, then best see your physician for a thorough workup

Maybe I need a new head!

FWIW, the helmet did feel unusually tight.

I had a strao get twisted on a ride once that made the helmet tight. Luckily it do not cause any other problems.

Not trying to beat on you, but something changed from the last time you rode, or something has been changing at a slow pace over time, and didn't make it's impact until the you got the headache.

If an inspection of the helmet shows that all is up to spec, then you are what changed. If so, you know the drill...

One a couple of occasions -and today was one- I've had that too, though not quite to the same degree.
But I thought it was sinuses or a toothache traveling up to my forehead... I really didn't know. And then I thought, wait... is the helmet? I gutted it out the 7 or 8 miles back to the car, took off the helmet and voila! Hm.

Wow. That is strange. Glad you made it back to the car without major problems.

Does your helmet have the dial adjustment in the back? I always need to loosen mine when I wear the winter headband. I recently mounted a helmet mirror on one of my helmets and needed to readjust it because the inside mirror mount dug into my forehead.

Strange Indeed, Did you perhaps forget to get a haircut? Mine feels bigger every time I lose some off the top.

If it was the helmet, now I think I know what happened. We just went on a trip and the helmet had been bouncing all around in the car for days. When I put it on this morning, one of the snap things on the side had come undone and I had to re-snap it. I bet I accidentally cinched it up too much. At any rate, I'll keep an eye (or a brain) on this and see how it goes. Thanks for all the helpful input.

This reads like a sit-com script.

"Let's tighten Fred's helmet and see how long it takes before he notices!"

Geez...that would be really scary.

^^^ = Laughter to the point of tears.

Your helmet needs a CT scan.

I've had too-tight hats give me a headache. So it's not an unknown phenomenon. But like they said, something has changed for an old reliable helmet to do this.

Now, if the cause is that you're developing a lumpy skull, take a 4" angle grinder....

Maybe your kids or grandkids made the helmet sizing device smaller and you just did not notice until you did notice.

Unless Hwy 40 Blue is another juiced up cyclist, whose head has swollen a couple of sizes a la Barry Bonds.

It wasn't an "ice cream headache" was it? You can be honest with us...