How To Stop Mucus Flow When Commuting In Cold Weather?
10-26-13, 06:04 PM
#1
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How To Stop Mucus Flow When Commuting In Cold Weather?
Not for the squeamish...
One of the reasons my commuting season ends so early in the winter is that, at a certain point (like now), I have a lot of trouble breathing with all the mucus flowing out of my nose. After a block or two in the cold morning weather, I am sniffing so hard that I feel like I'm going to collapse.
Aside from carrying lots of tissues and learning to blow snot rockets far away from my face, does anybody have any suggestions for dealing with this?
One of the reasons my commuting season ends so early in the winter is that, at a certain point (like now), I have a lot of trouble breathing with all the mucus flowing out of my nose. After a block or two in the cold morning weather, I am sniffing so hard that I feel like I'm going to collapse.
Aside from carrying lots of tissues and learning to blow snot rockets far away from my face, does anybody have any suggestions for dealing with this?
10-26-13, 06:14 PM
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Here's the results after doing an advanced search for "running nose" in the Winter forum- https://www.bikeforums.net/search.php?searchid=8095103. This one in particular should prove useful- https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...t=running+nose
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10-26-13, 06:18 PM
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One contributor is the fact that your eyes drain into your sinuses, and your eyes are more likely to water in cold weather and wind. Anything that helps block the cold wind (like goggles) will help. 
10-26-13, 07:09 PM
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I have that problem too. I use the air hanky method. Takes practice to perfect, but once you have it down, life is golden.
10-26-13, 07:17 PM
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snot rockets, ftw. I assume they have sinks at your place of employment.
I was suffering from allergies last week and even though I was getting better, one of my nostrils wouldn't clear. Snot rocket finally did the job about 20 miles into today's ride.
I was suffering from allergies last week and even though I was getting better, one of my nostrils wouldn't clear. Snot rocket finally did the job about 20 miles into today's ride.
10-26-13, 08:18 PM
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10-26-13, 09:51 PM
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Farmers blow and gloves to wipe off the remainder - that's what gloves are for 
10-27-13, 07:27 AM
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10-27-13, 09:23 AM
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Inhale through nose - spit - wipe nose on back of glove. Repeat as necessary. When arriving at warm dry destination, proudly display runny nose - blow nose, - carry on with rest of day.
10-27-13, 10:40 AM
#13
Super-spreader
I have a specific location on my commute where I fire snot rockets onto the road in front of speeding traffic. I imagine by now some of the same people have seen me doing it there more than once, and they know to drive as far away from me as possible.
10-28-13, 04:49 PM
#14
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I use that stuff for the summer allergies. It doesn't help with the wind making my eyes water, which water drains into my nose. I do the farmer blow, no problems. After a few miles my eyes get used to the wind and stop watering very much. I do wear glasses, but anything that would completely block any wind on my eyes would also fog up when I start climbing hills.
10-28-13, 05:01 PM
#15
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honestly, i like riding in the winter as my sinuses get cleaned out.
i do snot rockets when i think people aren't looking and after a few commutes in the "leggings" they're covered with mud/dirt/snot anyway. once i week i just wash them in the shower at work and leave them hanging on the wall-mounted heater so they can dry out. most people clean their sporting stuff that way.
i do snot rockets when i think people aren't looking and after a few commutes in the "leggings" they're covered with mud/dirt/snot anyway. once i week i just wash them in the shower at work and leave them hanging on the wall-mounted heater so they can dry out. most people clean their sporting stuff that way.
10-28-13, 08:00 PM
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10-28-13, 09:24 PM
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It's unavoidable. You have a cold front and thunderstorm going on in your sinus. Warm damp air you exhale meets cold air in your nose, and it rains, making a flood. You can make things slightly better by wrapping a muffler over your face So the heat exchange happens outside your nose, but in a few miles you'll have soggy muffler.
Just jet used to it, either keep a hanky handy, or blow it into your palm and sling it off, or whatever works best for you.
Right now I'm enjoying the theraputic benefits of this nonsense. I have a cold or sinus infection and wake up so stuffed I can only breath through my mouth. I start my commute and it's like using a Netti pot, and within 4 miles I'm completely clear. I clear up again going home, but unfortunately the benefit doesn't last.
Just jet used to it, either keep a hanky handy, or blow it into your palm and sling it off, or whatever works best for you.
Right now I'm enjoying the theraputic benefits of this nonsense. I have a cold or sinus infection and wake up so stuffed I can only breath through my mouth. I start my commute and it's like using a Netti pot, and within 4 miles I'm completely clear. I clear up again going home, but unfortunately the benefit doesn't last.
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An ounce of diagnosis is worth a pound of cure.
Just because I'm tired of arguing, doesn't mean you're right.
“One accurate measurement is worth a thousand expert opinions” - Adm Grace Murray Hopper - USN
WARNING, I'm from New York. Thin skinned people should maintain safe distance.
10-29-13, 09:55 AM
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I like your avatar too. I recently switched from pannier to kittier, and haven't yet got around to priming and painting over all the "Tidy Cat" branding. I've been wondering how to decorate it once I do, maybe I can come up with a traffic sign graphic that informs cars to stay left to avoid snot rockets.
10-29-13, 11:34 AM
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10-29-13, 11:48 AM
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No, it's a nasal spray, what you see is the fancy package needed to justify the price.
In any case, while it'll dry the membranes, and reduce congestion, it can't do anything about the condensation of the moisture in your exhaled breath. The only way to solve the problem is to breath only through your mouth, but that'll be hard on your bronchial passages if it's very cold.
In any case, while it'll dry the membranes, and reduce congestion, it can't do anything about the condensation of the moisture in your exhaled breath. The only way to solve the problem is to breath only through your mouth, but that'll be hard on your bronchial passages if it's very cold.
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Just because I'm tired of arguing, doesn't mean you're right.
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10-29-13, 11:55 AM
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10-29-13, 12:27 PM
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I can tell serious winteer cyclists from the posers by the shine on their sleeves....
10-29-13, 12:29 PM
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Sorry, it's the right thigh for me.
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An ounce of diagnosis is worth a pound of cure.
Just because I'm tired of arguing, doesn't mean you're right.
“One accurate measurement is worth a thousand expert opinions” - Adm Grace Murray Hopper - USN
WARNING, I'm from New York. Thin skinned people should maintain safe distance.
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An ounce of diagnosis is worth a pound of cure.
Just because I'm tired of arguing, doesn't mean you're right.
“One accurate measurement is worth a thousand expert opinions” - Adm Grace Murray Hopper - USN
WARNING, I'm from New York. Thin skinned people should maintain safe distance.
