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OPINION

Wrong helmet ? or something hydration will solve..?

by James Warrener
Sun, Dec 06, 2009 21:55
8

After the success of the last blog in establishing there is some benefit in running I have another question to ask of the Road.cc readership...

For as long as I can remember I have been suffering headaches at the end of rides lasting over an hour and a half... that seems to be the benchmark duration. This situation is not affected by whether I rest or do something else after training or whether I am super hydrated or don't drink.

It is across the back of my head or in my sinuses usually and takes drugs to suppress.

Here is the background... if anyone has any experiences or advice, let me know...

 

  • Only have one and a half kidneys and am supposed to keep hydrated.
  • Always wear a helmet but it seems to make no difference if it is summer or winter, it is the duration of the ride that causes the pains.
  • I have tried drinking loads of water, no water, recovery drink, no recovery drink, sugary drink.... no success as yet.
  • Headache is a dull one across the back of the neck. Am taking regular treatment from a chiropractor so it isn't ( I don't think) related to my alignment.

...It doesn't ever stop me from cycling but it is starting to get me down a little when I am at a rugby match three hours after finishing a training session and am having to try and get ibuprofen off people to take (no alcohol was involved !!!) 

 

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8 comments

Avatar
therevokid | 15 years ago
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@jimmy ... mine was after, and pretty much as soon as I
got back from the ride. The quickest solution was an
energy gel .... shower, change then something proper
and solid seemed to fix it. Using this method I've not
had a repeat for some time now 1

Avatar
DaSy | 15 years ago
0 likes

For me it was during...

It was drilled into me that what you eat now will be what you use in an hour, so you need to start eating pretty soon after starting riding, especially on a longer ride.

Avatar
James Warrener | 15 years ago
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before, during or after riding may I ask?

I found that not eating before made me feel better actually. 39

Avatar
therevokid | 15 years ago
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I occasionally get these too .... tend to feel like the
mild effects of a hang over and I originally thought
hydration, but mine was resolved by eating !

Avatar
James Warrener | 15 years ago
0 likes

I wonder whether I just haven't found the right helmet as yet.

Some of the the ones I have had have been better than others though.

I have been better with a cap under my helmet... work that one out !!! 4

Avatar
DaSy | 15 years ago
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Fringe!...Christ alive, what are you suggesting!

Won't Darwin and the poor little impressionable children and small woodland mammals, etc, all be put into peril by such a reckless act.

Good suggestion though, I never wear one, my overpriced Paul Smith/Rapha cap is all the headgear I use.

That concludes my post of all the controversial subjects I can think of.

Avatar
Fringe | 15 years ago
0 likes

bit obvious i know, or perhaps you've already tried, but have you been on a ride without a helmet?

Avatar
DaSy | 15 years ago
0 likes

Jimmy - I have suffered very similar headaches after long rides, mine have tended to be hard rides of 3 or more hours, but the result was very similar.

Coffee both before and after had an effect, and worse if drunk shortly after, hydration, but mostly nutrition. I needed to start eating earlier in the ride than I used to, and also drink more and earlier.

Sugar straight after a ride can also trigger it. I'm suspicious of energy drinks for me too, and now stick to plain water, and hydrate seriously the night before and the morning of any longer rides.

Position on the bike can also do this, if you have a big drop from saddle to bars, and have to crank your neck to look forward.

It was a lot of trial and error, and no clear conclusion other than they don't seem to affect me as much as they used to at the moment.

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