Road Cycling: Seriously...boogers...what do I do about them

I know it sounds ridiculous but my problem riding in the winter is the runny nose problem.  I have the warm gear to stay comfortable....toe warmers, full finger gloves, base layers, etc.

 

But its the runny nose.  Any tips on what to do other than riding with a box of tissues strapped to my handlebars?

 

Thanks,
Dave

Ow....nasty.  LOL 

I was wondering just the other day if other people had to deal with this.  This is my first winter since starting riding this summer.  I have a riding partner and it doesn't seem like he deals with this as much as I feel that I do. 

The soft piece of cloth on my gloves help.  Two problems with that though.  It usually does not take long before I feel that I have to wipe my nose again.  Secondly, you will want to wash your gloves pretty regularly because that cloth does not stay soft when the snot accumulates and it does not feel very good.

I have come up with a multifaceted solution.  I have grown out the beard (I am a teacher so I can do this) in order to keep my face warmer.  Also, the mustache hides some of the snot and slows the it down from trickling down to my mouth.  Another words, the snot doesn't bother me as much. 

If is cold you are probably wearing sleeves.  Use the sleeve.  You are going to be washing the shirt anyway because of the stink.  This does not solve the need for frequent wipes though.

 You know how you are suppose to practice looking over your shoulder for traffic until you can do it quickly without vearing into traffic or other riders?  Well, I have also practiced shooting "snot rockets" over my shoulder or under my arm in certain wind conditions without vearing into traffic or other riders.  If you are not familiar with what a "snot rocket" is (you can probably guess from the name) or how to launch one let me explain.  You take one finger press one nostril closed and blow.  Blow hard to be sure to launch it away from you.  The 50% decrease in the airway creates enough force to clean house pretty efficiently.  If you are recovering from a cold it is hard to blow with enough force to get the desired seperation, but it is better than not being able to breath or having to hauck up loogies.  Usually I have to give my nose a quick swipe with the glove or sleeve after the launching, but it is not nearly as often.

Hey, nobody said cycling was a gentlemen's sport.  It is all about going faster and farther.  A little snot on the sleeve, glove, shoulder, or mustache won't keep you from doing that.

Word of Advice:  Pay attention to where other riders are before launching a "snot rocket" and if you wife is like mine she will think you are disgusting.

Well, I don't know that I have any profound knowledge for climbing hills faster or anything, but I have a wealth of proboscis knowledge.

KWellborn...there's plenty of published info on climbing but I haven't seen anything out there on the boogers so your proboscis know-how was more valuable than any climbing info.

 

Are we really having this conversation? lol

I find breathing through my nose helps me control my breathing so I have to keep the anterior narises (nostrils) clear.

Definitely make sure you clear the shoulder.  While doing laundry my wife discovered the streaks of discharged snot and I had to her the art of the snot rocket while riding.  She is a distance runner, but I can't convince her that the rockets are the answer.  Snot rocket will have to wait for her though.  I am still trying to teach her how to spit.  How she ever ran a marathon without haucking a single loogie is beyond me.

I think it is usually wind coming from my right front that causes me hit the shoulder.  I usually turn my head to the side of the anterior naris that I am clearing.  To the right for the right and to the left for the left.

Wellborn.....yeah....8 hours pedalling with no music or phone calls by myself (I'm not about to ride without being able to hear the idiot in the SUV sneaking up on me) gives me lots of free time.  I've actually thought of writing a book called "Shit I Think About When I am On My Bike" but then realiazed....it would probably be bad to let anyone know this information.

 This thread has convinced me.

This is hilarious. Yes, snot rockets. Or, rocket into cheap glove, and then fling. This avoids streakage onto gear. And, yeah, how in the HELL do you run an entire marathon w/o spitting!? I'm a marathoner too, and, (sorry, in advance), but am quite proud that I have developed the skills to control the trajectory of my loogies. It's an acquired skill. If I'm about to start training w/ someone new, I will warn them ahead of time that I'm A Spitter. Whatever. Only problem is, even when I'm just walking down the street, I'm still in "runner mode", and just spit whenever necessary. Which, I'm sure, skeeves out "regular people", who don't run or ride. Well, mebbe it skeeves out everybody. Prob'ly does, but, whatever.

Yeah...I get funny looks from people when I cardio indoors at the gym from the profusion of sweat that ends up pooled on the floor and on the machine around me.  I think I am going to start handing out cheap plastic ponchos to anyone unfortunate to work out near me...kind of like going to a Gallager show.  I am the Sweat-o-matic.  Athletics ain't pretty.

Another tidbit of nastiness from people who cycle....

Insect Gastronomy.  Nothing beats ploughing through a hot, steamy woodland road at full speed in the middle of august, gasping for oxygen and getting a nice juicy fly in your mouth.  This past summer I was going down a steep descent at around 40 mph and hit a nice big one...a cicada.  And let me tell ya..when one of those big SOBs clip you in the face, its like getting slapped with bullwhip!

I have a big nose, and I can't stand to have it clogged.  I HIGHLY RECOMMEND:

 

PERFECT THE SNOT-ROCKET!

Wait until another cyclist tries to pass you, then pull a farmer on them. You'll keep the lead every time.