Runny Nose While Riding; What Do You Do?

Title says it all. Riding Yesterday here in North Florida the pollen is going strong. My nose just let loose about 50 miles from home, running like a faucet. Very distracting and making a mess. Finally stuffed some tissue in my nostrils and made it home to some drugs. What do you do? Did not know what forum to post this in but knew I was not the only one this has happened to.

Used to clean the inside of my helmet when I got home.

Now I have a modular.... don't ride behind me.

You can take a decongestant ...

Lee 2002

Used to clean the inside of my helmet when I got home.

Now I have a modular.... don't ride behind me.

Good to know.

Two 20" pieces of surgical hose zip tied together and draped over one shoulder?...;)

My sinuses gush as soon as it gets cold. I open my face plate and smear it all over with my glove fingers. :excl2:

I find the modular helmet helpful too. :ph34r:

Funny! I had this exact problem on a cold and rainy ride this past weekend. I think your tissue nostril plugs and anti-histamines are about the best one can do. Although, obviously, in hindsight taking the drugs before the ride rather than after would be preferred.

I always take decongestant and/or allergy meds before going riding. Afrin (occasional use) or something like Flonase spray helps sometimes too and take that with me. Also, I make sure I take antihistamine eyedrops with me too. Cram all that in my jacket pockets with couple paper towels and ready to go. Generally keeps me from having major meltdowns while out. Although, occasionally I do have to pull over and stop to clear everything out but taking all that before going generally works.

Now we're getting to the nitty gritty of it, but as I've grown older, I've started stashing actual cloth handkerchiefs in all my pockets and backpacks. Also, I'm a huge fan of the farmer's blow. But both of those are going to work a lot better if you also spring for the modular like others mentioned. I haven't done that yet myself, but if I couldn't keep my hayfever under control with Claritin, I'd probably go that route.

Lee 2002

Used to clean the inside of my helmet when I got home.

Now I have a modular.... don't ride behind me.

+1 and allergy meds..........

I agree with all these suggestions! Just make sure the allergy medications you're taking before a ride are NON-DROWSY. I know this may be obvious for most, but feel it should be said. Modular and farmer blows will get it done most of the time!!

Added a small spring to my hydration tube. I release it from my mouth and it springs up, right into the left nostril. Then I press the vacuum switch. If I need to clean the right nostril I merely set the vacuum to max. (That's dangerous if done for more than a brief time.)

This ingenious system both cleans out the sinuses and refills the hydration pack at the same time.

Knight

Added a small spring to my hydration tube. I release it from my mouth and it springs up, right into the left nostril. Then I press the vacuum switch. If I need to clean the right nostril I merely set the vacuum to max. (That's dangerous if done for more than a brief time.)

This ingenious system both cleans out the sinuses and refills the hydration pack at the same time.

I almost spit my teeth out I laugh so hard .

Yup, deal with this also. Like Brian said, bandanna and a few paper towels along with the modular help if ya just have to pull over for a good blow

[image: 0a7220d33faa3cde71760750fa2b8db5beba8861]

[image: IMG_2814_zpsckpq9vms.jpg]

Perhaps the same advice this woman gave LeBron?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ba4ALRCb2TQ

When it gets really bad I have a technique the works quite well. I open my face shield, turn my head to the side and let the flow run. It tracks across my cheek and into my ear, where it is stored until I stop. With enough time it evaporates or gets absorbed. Without that time I just tip my head and hop on one foot and it runs out onto the ground quite readily.

Another alternative for the long of tongue: just lick your upper lip.
YMMV

Columbian Flu?

RollinAgain

Columbian Flu?

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=columbian+flu

I had to look it up.

No. I do not have that kind of money. Back in the 70's I saw too many friends fall by the wayside on that.

+1 cloth hankies.

Otherwise this is way TMI. Disgusting. :goofy:

Hmmmmm. I guess I have a little different take on life and motorcycling.

I've been fully covered in bug guts when I've driven through a swarm of mayflies. I've been splattered with the internal organs of both birds and bunnies that I've hit. I've been splashed with feces when the mud puddle I rode through turned out to be a leaking sewer line. I've been covered with some unknown fluid when the tanker truck in front of me had a leak spraying a mist all over that I drove through to get ahead of the mess.

I don't know where you guys ride, but snot is the least of my worries. Stick a finger in a nostril and blow hard, do the same on the other side, keep riding. Inside my helmet, modular shield up, I don't care. I don't care to take the time to pull over dig out a hankie. I'll wash my hands when I get to work, or not.

But I'm the same guy who has gutted a deer while eating a ham sammich and drinking a beer. YMMV.

Lee 2002

Hmmmmm. I guess I have a little different take on life and motorcycling.

I agree. It seems to me that there is a degree of over-civilization in our daily living going on. Probably driven by capitalist hankie sellers and the like.

Think about what the settlers crossing the prairie managed to get by with. Or the arctic explorers/adventurists lived with. I think I rarely get sick because I've eaten so much dirt.

[image: AfI5PUq.jpg]

You may need to extend the strap to make it fit over your helmet.

If the air get below 50F I start getting a runny nose too. I have had to pull over and just do my business.

Lee 2002

But I'm the same guy who has gutted a deer while eating a ham sammich and drinking a beer. YMMV.

Harsh. Couldn't you have waited until the deer had finished eating? :wacko:

Ciao,

JZH

Lee 2002

But I'm the same guy who has gutted a deer while eating a ham sammich and drinking a beer. YMMV.

Harsh. Couldn't you have waited until the deer had finished eating? :wacko:

Ciao,

Or at least ask if you could share some of it's beer.

Did I leave out a comma or semicolon or something?

We do not let you get away with anything on the forum. ;)

MaxSwell

We do not let you get away with anything on the forum. ;)

Or in real life.

You should be cutting me some credit.... I'm trying to take care of them deer for you.

I do credit you a lot for that. The two deer guttings I delivered left a mess everywhere. Guts and feces on my left book with the second one. I went over the second one. A following semi turned into deer burger for me. So I also am not so concerned with getting dirty.

Keep up the good work Lee.

Looks like I need to get a modular helmet and let it fly!! On the serious note are the Modular helmets as safe? Have never worn one or looked into them. They do seem very convenient.

burnes45

Looks like I need to get a modular helmet and let it fly!! On the serious note are the Modular helmets as safe? Have never worn one or looked into them. They do seem very convenient.

I do not know about safe or safer. But I have crash tested at least four modular helmets. (Insert crash-test dummy jokes here. Perhaps I could go into business. Not.) None have failed. The first deer-crashed helmet hit the pavement at probably 50 - 60 mph.

Last fall I went off roading at HogTie. When I stood up and opened the chin piece it came apart from the helmet; but the chin piece was still latched when I stood up. The hinges were broken but the chin piece did it's job. And I'm still wearing modular type helmets. "I won't be testing any more", he said hopefully.

I agree with MaxSwell, I doubt you'll find any studies that purport modulars to be safer than a comparable full-face helmet. For me it was about convenience. I wear corrective glasses and, for me, the ease of putting my helmet on and off without messing with my glasses greatly outweighs the potential, perceived increased risk of injury. I had a fairly minor crash at SumSum3 that scratched the hell out of my faceshield, but I was uninjured.

Back to snot... I've always felt the "snort and swallow" crowd are just pulling the irritating agent further into their sinuses and prolonging their agony. When I had my full face helmet, I would open the face shield and blow. It would go down the front of my suit... I don't care, there are always bug guts there anyway.... or on the inside of my helmet. I would wipe it out at the end of the ride if it got too gross. Antihistamines give me the jitters and I have to be pretty bad off to consider taking them. I wouldn't ride if I was taking anithistamines, but I know most people don't react to them that way.

Nobody for swimmer style nose plugs?

Not me, but...

I suppose the internal pressure would not be good. :goofy:

VFR4Lee

Nobody for swimmer style nose plugs?

Not me, but...

I suppose the internal pressure would not be good. :goofy:

Yeah. It would back up until it came out your ears. But if you are wearing ear plugs, who knows where it will come out. I wonder, would convert to tears and roll down your cheeks? Looks like there is no way to get around the mess.

I used to carry a hankie but that just led to wet pants pockets!

if you think your buggers are bad have I got one for everyone.

when I was 16 or so I just got my mc permit. unfortunately I also used to get nose bleeds for no reason, I had a sensitive nose in those days, it was worse when it was cold.

so I am out ridding with a buddy in October which around he can get cold. riding along I sneezed in my full face helmet, let me tell you I had to pull over and clean that up, could not see out my lens as it was covered in blood. I looked over to my buddy and he thought I got shot in the back of the head.

14 years later we still laugh about it.

3dcycle

if you think your buggers are bad have I got one for everyone.

when I was 16 or so I just got my mc permit. unfortunately I also used to get nose bleeds for no reason, I had a sensitive nose in those days, it was worse when it was cold.

so I am out ridding with a buddy in October which around he can get cold. riding along I sneezed in my full face helmet, let me tell you I had to pull over and clean that up, could not see out my lens as it was covered in blood. I looked over to my buddy and he thought I got shot in the back of the head.

14 years later we still laugh about it.

Shot in the back of the head! Hilarious! I just spewed coffee all over my monitor. Thanks pal.

Lee 2002

Hmmmmm. I guess I have a little different take on life and motorcycling.

I've been fully covered in bug guts when I've driven through a swarm of mayflies. I've been splattered with the internal organs of both birds and bunnies that I've hit. I've been splashed with feces when the mud puddle I rode through turned out to be a leaking sewer line. I've been covered with some unknown fluid when the tanker truck in front of me had a leak spraying a mist all over that I drove through to get ahead of the mess.

I don't know where you guys ride, but snot is the least of my worries. Stick a finger in a nostril and blow hard, do the same on the other side, keep riding. Inside my helmet, modular shield up, I don't care. I don't care to take the time to pull over dig out a hankie. I'll wash my hands when I get to work, or not.

But I'm the same guy who has gutted a deer while eating a ham sammich and drinking a beer. YMMV.

Ever ridden through a large flock of wild turkeys rising as you go by while hidden in the weeds on the shoulder of a road? That will be an experience never to be forgotten. Obviously, I ducked and didn't hit one. Also, I've seen the largest black bear I ever saw crossing The Gap early one morning. Thank goodness he was faster than me at that point in the road. Also, hit a bird directly with the nose point of my sixth gen. with blood going so thick all over my face shield I had to stop and wipe it off at a convenience store in order to see. The people there almost called 911. They thought I had hit someone at first. It's such an exciting sport, snot and all. :goofy:

3dcycle

if you think your buggers are bad have I got one for everyone.

when I was 16 or so I just got my mc permit. unfortunately I also used to get nose bleeds for no reason, I had a sensitive nose in those days, it was worse when it was cold.

so I am out ridding with a buddy in October which around he can get cold. riding along I sneezed in my full face helmet, let me tell you I had to pull over and clean that up, could not see out my lens as it was covered in blood. I looked over to my buddy and he thought I got shot in the back of the head.

14 years later we still laugh about it.

just dont vomit in your full face helmet ... i know from experience .. dont.. :mellow2:

gll429

3dcycle

if you think your buggers are bad have I got one for everyone.

when I was 16 or so I just got my mc permit. unfortunately I also used to get nose bleeds for no reason, I had a sensitive nose in those days, it was worse when it was cold.

so I am out ridding with a buddy in October which around he can get cold. riding along I sneezed in my full face helmet, let me tell you I had to pull over and clean that up, could not see out my lens as it was covered in blood. I looked over to my buddy and he thought I got shot in the back of the head.

14 years later we still laugh about it.

just dont vomit in your full face helmet ... i know from experience .. dont.. :mellow2:

I think the vomit takes the cake for messes. I've encountered turkey flocks while riding; luckily the were not in the air.

Aerostich Rider Warehouse sells a page of "kill decals". It includes bugs, four-leggers, birds AND people (the little family size stick people). I've wanted to apply some for bugs, birds, and deer. I've thought of sneaking in a family of four into the list to see who's paying attention but I afraid some would not get the joke.

Bent, they have turkey stickers. Perhaps I'll bring a sheet we can share to T-Mac. :idea3:

gll429

MaxSwell

Aerostich Rider Warehouse sells a page of "kill decals". It includes bugs, four-leggers, birds AND people (the little family size stick people). I've wanted to apply some for bugs, birds, and deer. I've thought of sneaking in a family of four into the list to see who's paying attention but I afraid some would not get the joke.

Bent, they have turkey stickers. Perhaps I'll bring a sheet we can share to T-Mac. :idea3:

you need some unicorn stickers! a slime ghost or 2..

i swear i have dumped my bike by hitting an invisible pegasus .. :pissed:

gll429

gll429

MaxSwell

you need some unicorn stickers! a slime ghost or 2..

i swear i have dumped my bike by hitting an invisible pegasus .. :pissed:

Ha! I do believe you are right. You never can tell about those Pegasus. ' I'm going to check the page to see of the unicorns et.al. are there.

Thanks gll429

Sorry for the thread hijack.