Phatman

I rode 85 miles yesterday, which is the longest I've ridden yet. I averaged 17.8 mph (and the North Raleigh Area is hilly!), and felt pretty decent doing it, and wasnt even that tired when i got back. however, this morning, i have so much gunk in my throat. its pretty terrible. I tried mouthwash, and that helped a bit...but I was wondering what the cause was of all of this was the ride, or if I'm just getting sick. whaddya think?

Diggy18

I haven't been riding for so long so I can't speak to that, but I used to jog lots. When it started to get cool, it seemed like I constantly had some kind of minor respiratory infection which caused lots of phlegm.

I assumed the phlegm was the body's way of getting out the dead germ cells, or trying to add increased protection to the respiratory tract.

How was the weather on your ride? Were your lungs tired afterwards?

Phatman

it was probably 75-80 degrees, about 60-70% humidity. and, no, my lungs weren't really that tired. I dont seem to get out of breath when riding, even when spinning 100+.

Last year when I ran track during the winter, i would get the whole runny nose thing in the cold, but it usually didn't translate into a gunky throat. plus...it wasn't that cold yesterday. I just hope I'm not getting sick. that would truely suck.

Diggy18

Ah, it wouldn't be the weather then. Guess you're just gettin' sick. I just got a cold myself the past couple a days.

Phatman

damn.

danch

You might just have a mild allergy to something. Normally it doesn't bother you but when you're out for that long, moving that volume of air through, you wind up with your bronchia and throat irritated.

timmhaan

yeah - sounds like your getting a cold or something. i normally get a lot of phlegm and a runny nose when i ride, but it's just during the ride. goes away after i stop.

i also get sore throats pretty easily, and i would imagine if you breath through your mouth - having a constant air flow into your mouth for several hours might cause some problems (as the above poster mentioned)

Doctor Morbius

I've experienced some phlegm and hacking after rides that were more intense or longer than my usual rides. In my case it isn't illness. It's just gunk that has been sitting in my lungs for a while that the exercise and heavy breathing breaks up. I'm asthmatic though.

Good ride by the way. I wish I could to a hilly 85 at nearly 18 MPH! Keep it up.

Phatman

well, I'm not asthmatic, but I think it might be a mild allergy. i found this article here on bike.com, I think it answers my questions actually. https://www.bike.com/template.asp?dat...ectionnumber=5. an interesting read, I think.

jarhead#42

The us govt spreads chemctrails all over the skys . Make a batch of silver collidiol . You will be alot healtier and wont get chemtrail cough . Who knows whats in those fake clouds the govt is spreading all over the place . although Ive noticed a decline in chemtrails , they are back in force this week over the pocono pa area , and yes , I did cough a little more then normal
Peace
Jar

Giustino

I stopped drinking milk and eating dairy products three years ago, and my usual bouts with post ride phlegm (and phlegm in general) are things of the past. If you want some info on the impact dairy products have on health, check out organicathlete.org.

Justin

JavaMan

Your airways are not used to dealing with the tremendous volume of air and dust you inhaled that day. Phlegm is how your body is attempting to protect/repair itself. I remember the first time I rode 50 miles, I felt great, but had phlegm the next day or two.
Tom

Konamatic

Cool link, thanks Phatman. Great idea about adding a HEPA air filter or ionizer to the house. I've noticed after some grueling rides I end up hacking up more too. And I'm not asthmatic.

Chemctrails? I think someone's watched "Conspiracy Theory" too many times.

Dairy products *are* mucus forming, but they shouldn't make that much of a difference, as long as your not chugging a litre of Moo after a ride. After every tae kwon do session, or long ride, I down a protien shake made with skim milk. Doesn't make me hack up a lung or get stuffed up.

jomalley

Dairy can make some of a difference. I don't know the science behind it all or whatever, no. But as a music major, I hear all these vocalists complain about pre-routine warmups, and all agree never to deal with dairy before a musical rehearsal or warmup. If dairy can (at the very least) mess up your voice even talking, then what about riding?

I'm sure it's just crap in the air though.

MADDENING!!!

MOOOOO

~Joshua

roadbuzz

Well, you were on the bike for close to 5 hours at a pace that would have you at least breathing deep, if not panting. That in itself could cause some throat irritation. Was your voice sounding a little husky toward the end of the ride? Maybe you were a little dehydrated, too. You were riding in the greater Raleigh area? Toss in a little smog.

Maybe you need to quit eating dairy, maybe the gov't is dropping chemicals, maybe you've got an allergy. And maybe not.