wabbit

I remember seeing some clip on OLN where they showed the Mt Washington Hill climb. A couple of guys lost their cookies when they got to the top- just leaned over the handlebars and BRREECCHHH! I figure if you climb up Mt Washington you're entitled to throw up.

I remember coming pretty close once after climbing a really steep hill (a hilly street, not a mountain!), it was a very warm day and when I got to the top I really thought I'd barf! I just sat there breathing in and out of my mouth for a while and felt better. But it's happened to other people i know so I felt better knowing that I'm not a weenie. Has it ever happened to anyone else- either coming really close or actually throwing up? Hey, if it happens to the Pros....

flyingasics

Well, I'm not really a thrower upper. But when I used to run alot I couldn't eat more than 3 or 4 hours before I ran or I would get sick to my stomach. I can eat spagetti 30 min before I ride I love it. On the bike I don't get sick, its more like my chest tightens up and I have to back off for a bit.

Anyone have any links to pics of Pros loosing their lunch?

TheKillerPenguin

almost but not quite. It was really hot out and it was near the beginning of the season, so when I did a hilly route I was dying. i got off the bike to rest for a bit, but when i stopped moving my stomach got so bad that I just started moving again to keep from puking.

Other times I've felt that way and just laid down on the side of the road because I just couldn't pedal anymore... never actually puked though, thankfully.

puddin' legs

A few mini pukes at the top of hard fast climbs while racing.. Weird really, kind of a little lean over, erp and go. Never lost more than a few pedal strokes and felt much better.

Chucklehead

my cookies are well protected

jpbova

I feel ill after almost every ride... provided I pushed myself hard that day

mirona

I've seen Mount Washington and can understand the pain!

It happened to me only once when I had eaten a peach before a ride. My body doesn't exactly react well to that particular fruit and decided to rid itself of all remains. Those were the most miserable five miles home.

oboeguy

I've never come close, but I've certainly felt sick and weak on very hot days with lots of climbing.

oopfoo

Well, lookit me, the only real barfer on the board.

Yep, I barf. Yak. Hurl. Other people get tired, but I get nauseated. Back when I was racing, the hardest thing for me to overcome was the first wave of nausea that would hit me during a race--10 minutes or so of the absolute worst feeling I've ever had. If I could get through it, it would subside and I could ride well, but getting through it was some of the toughest riding I've ever had to do. Luckily, a couple of teammates would generally tow me along through the worst, helping me to stay on until it went by. After it left, I could actually win races.

It was hard to know what to eat on the road. Bananas? Nope. Breakfast before a race? Nope. Powerbars and diluted BodyFuel were the staples of my racing career, and these were the FIRST Powerbars--the good 'uns that stuck to your top-tube if you unwrapped them. Even so, that didn't always work: the team did a short, open (unsanctioned) race in a small town that was only 11 miles long. 11 miles--a sprint if there ever was one. Local newspaperman caught a nice photo of me spewing said Powerbars and BodyFuel at great speed across the line; the photo had a "suspended in time" quality to it, since the food was quite obviously suspended in the air. Luckily, it was in black and white. I had the flu, so the after-race hurling was some of the worst I ever experienced.

Now, 16 years later and getting back on the bike, I worry about it. I'm trying more variety in my diet and trying to determine what the nausea springs from--if it's related to my diet, or if it's just some physiological thing that I do. Haven't barfed yet, but tonight's group ride is sure to be a test. Wish me luck.

If you barf, I understand.

Bibi

From another champion spewer, I salute you! ... but i'll try and miss your shoes...

I've never hurled during/after a ride, but I can't tell you the number of times I've been hospitalized for dehydration because I've lost count. I began hurling like a pro and being hospitalized for it at age 5, and am well aware that it has been over a year since I last hurled. My prob is, once I start I don't stop very well, esp. if I start to dehydrate.

But back to the biking/hurling: last Sunday on a hot ride I started to feel a bit nauseous and "burpy" -- does the heat/effort equation fit into it? Is dehydration a part of it? If your blood flow is concentrating in your leg muscles, does it slow down digestion?

KirkeIsWaiting

Wabbit...see the Denver thread!
The only reason I didn't give up was that I couldn't breathe deep enough to go there.
The climbs for me, the flatlander, were something else.

and Bibi, remind me to stay in front of you on our next ride!

Bibi

stay way ahead, in case i do a demon-possessed type of hurl ...

TheKillerPenguin

By the way, it's a bad idea to stuff yourself with sushi and ice cream before doing hill climb intervals.

fyi.

KirkeIsWaiting

Raspberry gels and beer making for a better hurl?

wabbit

eewww.... the footage on Mt washington showed the hurlers bringing up mostly gator-ade colored stuff.

I'm not a barfer at all- I think the last time I actually threw up was like 20 years ago and that was from drinking too much new year's eve. And dry heaves after post-op anesthesia, but that doesn't count because your stomach is empty. And I never get carsick or airsick. However, I think in places like Denver or mt washington, who wouldn't puke at that altitude? I guess the pros who do the grand tours and are used to the alps handle it a bit better, they know what to eat and not eat. But needless to say,even they pass out or bonk on hot days with the thin air.

sjjone

I seem to have an iron tummy, but during my last race, one girl threw up in the last 200 meters. She just turned her head, blew it out and kept hammering. Pretty impressive, I think she must have done it a few times before since she seemed unfazed by it.

Mr_Super_Socks

I sometimes get bad cramps, but the only time I ever got nauseous was doing some climbing up towards Nederland (sp?) from Boulder. I am sure it was not purely exertion related, but rather a kind of mild altitude sickness. I really hadn't felt that way before and I got a little dizzy, too. I had been told that high altitude meant less oxygen (which may be true) but I actually felt great and was going gangbusters, except for the slight dizziness and then that nausea. I played it safe and stopped at this crazy German Restaurant to gain my recomposure and felt better after about 10 mins. beautiful weather and a great ride, but the nausea is not something I would like to have happen frequently.. ick

telenick

I hurled after a 300km brevet once. But just that one time.

konageezer

I have a very graphic story of riding the Tilt-A-Whirl on half-price hot dog day, but I've met with very unenthusiastic response telling it at parties. I won't bother with all the details here.

Cromulent

Half-price hot dogs AND a Tilt-A-Whirl. Sign me right up! And bring the mops.

acape

Haha. Anybody ever seen the movie "The Sandlot"?

biker7

Maybe I don't push myself that hard when I ride...sounds painful. The only time I barf cycling related is when Butch posts and I see his (her?) avatar of Rosie McDonald.

George

tanguy frame

I never barf except when I have food poisoning. I ate some bad stuff one hot day (July 28, 2005. I rode 35 miles and just puked my guts out. It was 94 degrees, and I couldn't move. I only got the gatoraid the first time, and I had to stop and puke a few times after that to get to the hard core breakfast sitting down there. While resting in the shade half way home, I was woken up by a bunch of cows licking my ears! (salt?) I continued to ride home, and had to stop 2 more times to barf. Finally, I just called my daughter to come fetch me in the van. I believe I got a case of chiggers from the cow fields and I itch to this day!!!
Otherwise, I never puke.

rufus

not cycling, but for those of you into gross stuff, thought you'd apreciate this pic.

SDRider

I almost did after running a 10k on a hot day.