Barely there voice
#1
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2015
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From: reno, nv
Bikes: yes, i have one
Barely there voice
Occasionally, after a hard ride i notice that my voice is a bit...absent/raspy. strange phenomenon only lasts for a couple of hours or so. did a bit of googling and apparently not completely uncommon.
this really only started after i got a trainer and was able to put in double the normal miles i used to be able to do.
anyone observe this and did it ever go away after acclimation to the additional riding.
this really only started after i got a trainer and was able to put in double the normal miles i used to be able to do.
anyone observe this and did it ever go away after acclimation to the additional riding.
#3
Senior Member


Joined: Oct 2014
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From: Portland, OR
Bikes: (2) ti TiCycles, 2007 w/ triple and 2011 fixed, 1979 Peter Mooney, ~1983 Trek 420 now fixed and ~1973 Raleigh Carlton Competition gravel grinder
A possibility - sinuses - the congestion loosening up and raining to your throat (I've had sinus issues for decades. When they are plugged up, not an issue for my voice, but when they loosen, if I don't spit and snort rigorously, my voice goes. In the extreme, my throat gets infected and it's the old antibiotics routine again. I spent thousands on prescription powerful inhalents for decades until a nurse practitioner suggested a $50 oral regime that restored my sinuses to close to normal.)\
For 30 years, your experience was my norm. Dropping nhibitions about being }proper", honking nad snorting especially on the bike helped me a lot. Being "safe" in this COVID world is not a help to my throat and voice.
Ben
For 30 years, your experience was my norm. Dropping nhibitions about being }proper", honking nad snorting especially on the bike helped me a lot. Being "safe" in this COVID world is not a help to my throat and voice.
Ben
#4
Randomhead
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 25,930
Likes: 4,825
From: Happy Valley, Pennsylvania
This is common. Right now I sound like a frog. I'm not too worried about it.
If you used the right search terms, you could find medical information about this phenomenon. Not sure it would help much
If you used the right search terms, you could find medical information about this phenomenon. Not sure it would help much
#6
Non omnino gravis
Joined: Feb 2015
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From: SoCal, USA!
Bikes: Nekobasu, Pandicorn, Lakitu
#7
On Your Left
Joined: Nov 2011
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From: Long Island, New York, USA
Bikes: Trek Emonda SLR, Sram eTap, Zipp 303
Ever ride in 30* weather, if you breath through your mouth you'll have a VERY sore throat. But if you breath through your nose, you'll be fine.
Or maybe you're a dolphin and have a "blow hole".
#8
Non omnino gravis
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From: SoCal, USA!
Bikes: Nekobasu, Pandicorn, Lakitu
#9
Thread Starter
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From: reno, nv
Bikes: yes, i have one
Funny you should write this. I was just thinking the other day what a total mouth breather I am when on the bike. only in descent does my IQ appear to go up. 
Seriously though, I cannot get enough O2 in during my rides.

Seriously though, I cannot get enough O2 in during my rides.
#10
On Your Left
Joined: Nov 2011
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From: Long Island, New York, USA
Bikes: Trek Emonda SLR, Sram eTap, Zipp 303
I recently was reminded to keep my mouth closed when riding home in the preserve at dusk. Some of those bugs are really big and stick in the back of your throat. And no amount of water seems to make it go away.
#11
My voice used to nearly disappear after long rides in hot weather until I started carrying much more water and drinking far more of it and more often than I used to. That seems to have taken care of the problem.
#12
Full Member

Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 318
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From: Springdale, Arkansas
Bikes: 2021 Trek Domane SLR7 Project One 62cm- 2010 Specialized Allez 61cm
A possibility - sinuses - the congestion loosening up and raining to your throat (I've had sinus issues for decades. When they are plugged up, not an issue for my voice, but when they loosen, if I don't spit and snort rigorously, my voice goes. In the extreme, my throat gets infected and it's the old antibiotics routine again. I spent thousands on prescription powerful inhalents for decades until a nurse practitioner suggested a $50 oral regime that restored my sinuses to close to normal.)\
For 30 years, your experience was my norm. Dropping nhibitions about being }proper", honking nad snorting especially on the bike helped me a lot. Being "safe" in this COVID world is not a help to my throat and voice.
Ben
For 30 years, your experience was my norm. Dropping nhibitions about being }proper", honking nad snorting especially on the bike helped me a lot. Being "safe" in this COVID world is not a help to my throat and voice.
Ben
Thanks.
Glenn
#13
Tragically Ignorant

Joined: Jun 2018
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From: New England
Bikes: Serotta Atlanta; 1994 Specialized Allez Pro; Giant OCR A1; SOMA Double Cross Disc; 2022 Allez Elite mit der SRAM
No idea if it causes throat problems, but it's quite plausible. Air coming through the nose is filtered and moistened,, and the nose adds nitric oxide. There's tons of reasons why nose breathing should be preferred:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifes...131_story.html
Yes, all air goes through the throat regardless, but the air coming through the nose is different chemically and in volume from air brought in from the mouth.
My nose often runs like crazy when I ride, especially in the cold. I don't get a sore throat but do sometimes find myself hacking a little bit for an hour or two after a ride.
Last edited by livedarklions; 08-02-20 at 05:21 AM.
#14
Airplanes, bikes, beer.
Joined: Jan 2020
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From: Off the front
Bikes: Road bikes, mountain bikes, a cx bike, a gravel bike…
...and already shaved. I mean, come on- those dolphins are smooth!
#15
Half way there

Joined: Sep 2015
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From: North Carolina
Bikes: Many, and the list changes frequently
Happens to me all the time. It's the reason that I now have bells on all my bikes as I can't trust "on your left" coming out when I want it to (unless I force it to project as a bellow, that is).
#16
“We don’t need no badges”
Joined: Sep 2019
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From: SF Bay Area
Bikes: 1981 Holdsworth Special, 1993 C-dale MT3000 & 1996 F700CAD3, 2018 & 2019 Cervelo R3’s & 2022 R5, JustGo Runt, Ridley Oval, Kickr Bike 8-)
#17
Senior Member

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From: northern Deep South
Bikes: Fuji Touring, Novara Randonee
Back to the original problem, that hoarseness hits me when I'm dry. Frequent sips from water, coffee, tea, both rehydrate the larger body and moisten the throat and vocal cords.
#18
Tragically Ignorant

Joined: Jun 2018
Posts: 15,593
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From: New England
Bikes: Serotta Atlanta; 1994 Specialized Allez Pro; Giant OCR A1; SOMA Double Cross Disc; 2022 Allez Elite mit der SRAM
I actually do a small amount of sneezing and coughing during and shortly after a long ride, which I've always attributed to pollen allergies. Occasionally, I'll get a sore throat, but it literally comes and goes in a matter of several minutes.









