I am a fair weather rider but when it comes to cold riding I don't mind to much. My threshold is usually somewhere around the 36-38 degree mark. Colder than that and my face just hurts. Yesterday I went on a 3 hour ride while the temps held at 28deg. Super clear and crisp outside. I did a fair amount of climbing which meant some heavy breathing (but controlled). About an hour after I got home my lungs really started to hurt. Thus morning I woke up and was coughing a lot and could feel "crap" shake in my lungs every time I took a breath.

For you really cold weather riders, this a common thing to expect after a long cold ride like that? Seems like it would be a common thing to expect with cold weather like that. If this is what I can expect, I'll hold off on riding in that kind of cold air.

I ride down to 20 f, and 15f a few times. Never any problems for me.

That's never happened to me. For reference, I did a 2.5 hour ride today. When I left the house it was 25 and when I returned it was 28...very dry air. I'll ride anytime the temperature is about 15 or so, and I've never experienced symptomes like your dealing with.

Not sure that helps your situation at all, but I figured I would share my experience.

Thanks. I appreciate you sharing. Like I said, I rarely ride in tempos that Cold so I was looking from others to tell me they share the same symptoms from cold riding or if it was maybe just coincidence that I ride and am possibly getting a chest cold.

I used to run in temps down into the low teens. I'd get a dry throat and a bit of a rasp from that, but otherwise was fine. Cycling, I call it quits at 32, mainly due to wind chill on my face, which was much less of an issue at running speeds.

No, I've never had anything like that ever happen to me. Been riding in the northeast USA for the past seven winters, in temps down to the high teens (F). My finger tips and toes sometimes get pretty frozen, but my lungs have never hurt or filled with crap.

I have had a similar issue before in the spring when I used to take the winter off. I was not used to doing cardio the cold air and it would cause mucus to build up in my lungs and throat and give me a bad cough for several hrs. For me this would always go away with practice. If you ride in the cold you will get used to and not have any issues but it takes some time. For now you can use a mask to cover your mouth and nose which should alleviate the issue. Otherwise you will just have to push through but be careful because if your immune system is weak it could lead to pneumonia if not keep in check.

FYI,
I now commute and train all year round without any breathing issues including some single digit and negative temperature mornings. Tomorrow morning is supposed to be +4F with a wind chill of -4F. I don't expect any issues.

I get this after every long hard ride. Worse in cold temperatures. I believe it's called Pursuiter's Cough.

I've been told that I have a very mild case of sports induced asthma. The only time it gets me is after a hard ride, or a moderate ride in cold weather. Only problem I have is post ride coughing. It isn't anything that I need to be concerned about but it does happen. It may be what you are experiencing as well.

mucinex works for me (I often have the same reaction to cold weather riding).

It's asthma related.

I get a phlegmy cough for about 30min to 1hr after I ride in the cold air. But if I keep going out, my body acclimates & it progressively goes away.

But what sucks for me here in ATL is that we can get a wide range of temps during the winter... So once my lungs are used to the cold, it gets warm for a week, then a$$-cold again and I have to start all over.

And I made the mistake over seriously overdressing this weekend. It was just as bad, if not worse, than being under-dressed. The wind was frigid in the registration for a practice race this weekend, so I ended up thinking it was colder than it was and put on way too much. I assploded spectacularly during the race, due to being overheated, not the pace. Damn Giro wool hat is warm as Hades in July.

Moral of the story: It's a fine line to walk, between comfortable and too warm.

yeah, I was dressed right for the weather. Felt just right, but the cold air going into my respiratory system messed up my lungs.

Did you wear a balaclava?

I really wish I could wear one of those, I've tried many times but I just can't do it. I can't breath when wearing one.

I wear a neck gaiter when it's really cold, and slide it up over my mouth, or back down depending on feel.