Anyone got any tips for avoiding a runny nose when cycling?

pastryboy

Becoming a real pain in the mornings...

Covering my nose with a buff helps a little but not enough.

Slow Downcp

No way you'll stop it - just get used to shooting snot rockets

Kieran_Burns

SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOORRRRRRRRRRRRRRRKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

fossyant

Sorry dude...snot rockets all the way.........

Can't avoid it - it's the irritation caused to the eyes by wind, even with sport specs on....... it's gonna happen.......

DevUK

I have a nice soft bit on the back of the thumb on my gloves which is essentially my snot rag on the way to work.

I really should wash them more often though!

PBo

i saw someone with a handkerchief rolled and tied around their wrist for easy access/wipeage.

tailwindhome

Posters to similar threads in the past recommend cutting dairy products out of your diet.

Or upping your intake if you like [barf] snot rockets [/barf]

prawny

I remember when Breathe RIght nose strips first came out Justin in MBUK reviewed them and said they stopped his nose running in the cold. Might be worth a try, especially if you snore! :P

highwaymunky

Snot rockets is the treatment method.

Avoiding altogether? Cotton wool stuffed up the nose? :P

sarajoy

Surely Breathe Right strips would just let the snot run out even more freely?!

Yup, I'm afraid rushing air makes your eyes water, excess water goes down the tear ducts and into your nasal passages.... Where it'll either run out as snot or you'll do that lovely snorky cough thing to swallow it...

I stopped drinking milk in the mornings before getting on the bike as somehow that made it more grimly snotty (rather than just wetness from your eyes coming out the nose) - but I don't think you can stop it, unless you ride with airtight goggles? Doesn't sound too comfy, though!

I use the snot strip on my gloves, too - that's where full-finger gloves come in handy as that nice soft strip extends all the way down the finger

suzyb

Spit it instead of swallowing, that's what I do. Of course I'm in the country so no one really minds. You'll probably get a few complaints if you do it in town.

Never realised that's what it was though.

Wallace1492

You need to perfect the nasal clearance technique.
It can be a little tricky to start with, but with some practice, and after a few accidents, you get better.

It involves turning your head to the right, and at a slight angle upwards, breath in, cover your left nostril, then blow as hard as you can. If you have angle right, the ejected stream of mucus should just miss your shoulder and land harmlessly on the road.

Repeat in opposite manner for the other nostril.

Of course the problem is being able to do this while controlling bike, taking into account traffic and road conditions, wind, rain and any passing cars/pedestrians.

Many a cycling top has had a shoulder of nasal dropping deposited on it, as has my bike frame, feet and legs. Now getting better and more often than not the correct target is hit.

gtvlusso

Shove a finger up it!

ex-pat scot

No way of avoiding.
Snot rockets all the way.
Combine with decent absorbable track mitts if you need to wipe

And / or sleeve.

Leave the civilised behaviour for when you are off the bike.

fenboy369

-null- wrote:

Spit it instead of swallowing, that's what I do. Of course I'm in the country so no one really minds. You'll probably get a few complaints if you do it in town.

gtvlusso wrote:

Shove a finger up it!.

If you aint thinking what I'm thinking then my mind must be filth! Hahahaha

biondino

Hang on! The eyes have nothing to do with it, except for the fact that they get moist as well. It's simply that the coldness of the air makes the nostrils produce mucus. Not a lot you can do.

suzyb

fenboy369 wrote:

-null- wrote:

Spit it instead of swallowing, that's what I do. Of course I'm in the country so no one really minds. You'll probably get a few complaints if you do it in town.

gtvlusso wrote:

Shove a finger up it!.

If you aint thinking what I'm thinking then my mind must be filth! Hahahaha

:oops:

Aidy

Ride faster. The air pressure will keep it in.

will3

When my nose is running, I just try to chase after it as fast as I can.

Monsieur La Papadici

Corks

UndercoverElephant

The real use for camelbacks.

Porgy

Maybe wearing some sort of internally heated divers' helmet arrangement covering the whole head would stop it?

tailwindhome

Monsieur La Papadici wrote:

Corks

You joined just to post that. :shock:

Oh dear :?



Welcome BTW

JOHN4537

Nasal "Duct Tape" Get it! ... Duct tape.

I'll get my coat

baronsouthside

Heres a serious answer

Try beconase nasal spray.

its an Antihystimine / hayfever relief for adults.

Iv broken my nose a few times playing rugby and it doesnt work so good but this spray seems to dry my nostrils up.

Can only be bought over the counter at chemists.

Seek medical advise tho as im not qualified and im not sure if its a performance inhancer if your into racing.
( Remember the story about the scottish skier who got his winter olympic medal taken off him after useing vicks nasal spray?)

rb1956

You aren't going to stop it, especially in cold weather. I just wear those fuzzy wrist-band things and wipe the dribble off with those.

BiggerBoat

This will sound daft but worked for me. A more upright riding position where your head is more naturally upright rather than bent over. Going from drops to flat bars on a more upright bike made all the difference for me. Cilia cells don't work well below a certain temperature and humidity, thus the snot is not moving. Being more upright helped me.

Wallace1492

BiggerBoat wrote:

This will sound daft but worked for me. A more upright riding position where your head is more naturally upright rather than bent over. Going from drops to flat bars on a more upright bike made all the difference for me. Cilia cells don't work well below a certain temperature and humidity, thus the snot is not moving. Being more upright helped me.

BiggerBoat, great profile, one of my most favourite quotes. I think it is "You're gonna need a bigger boat" to be accurate. Not nit picking, or anything, but must have seen Jaws about 50 times.