- This topic has 7 replies, 7 voices, and was last updated 13 years, 9 months ago by Ursula Alusru.
Riding headache…
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July 19, 2010 at 3:21 pm #4119nickParticipant
I took my bike out yesterday for about 40 miles. I would have gone longer but I developed a headache… it was as if my helmet got tighter as I rode. It was about 95 degrees out when I was riding and I’m thinking it was the heat.
Does that happen? Did I buy a helmet that was too small?
July 19, 2010 at 4:33 pm #27587briderdtParticipant…but maybe the wrong shape. Sometimes it takes a while for hot spots to make themselves apparent.
July 19, 2010 at 5:20 pm #27588TrialsRiderParticipant…works for me. ‘Helmet head’ is typical with any helmet after several hours, dehydration is often overlooked and can contribute to muscle fatigue and headaches.
July 19, 2010 at 5:42 pm #27591paulurmstonParticipantHi there, I live in Chile at the moment. In summer, we hit around 100 degrees and above.
Last summer (which is Jan, Feb here) I drove from Santiago to Puerto Montt. It’s a little over 1000 Kmh’s.
I never got a headache. Sure, with so much heat hitting your neck, shoulders and helmet…. it is obvious that the fatigue hits you faster than it would normally.
I stopped around 3 times (or maybe 4) for refueling, and each time I had to take a few minutes extra just to take on liquid myself. To relax, stretch my legs, and get rid of the dizzy feeling I had. It’s not the helmet itself, just your body struggling with heat exhaustion.
You “might” want to try a larger helmet if you want, but remember that it isn’t supposed to be moving around your head. It is supposed to be quite tight… it is trying to save your life.
Good luck!
July 19, 2010 at 8:42 pm #27596MaxDadAKParticipantI’ve had similar problems when riding in heat. Maybe the helmet contorts just slightly in high heat. That could possibly be lead to hots spots and the headaches your getting.
July 20, 2010 at 3:46 am #27605eternal05ParticipantDoes the helmet feel tight after a while, or do you feel distinct spots in the helmet where it is particularly uncomfortable? If it’s the former, you may either have the right helmet but you got a headache, or you may have gotten a helmet that’s slightly small. I doubt that’s the case, however. Chances are that if you keep wearing it, it will break in and feel more comfortable over time.
If you feel distinct pressure on, say, your forehead, or at your temples, etc., then you may want to look for other brands and other helmet shapes.
Everybody else has said it already: drink lots of water, especially if you’re going to be out for extended periods in hot weather. Dehydration is a quick ticket to a headache and worse, so take care of yourself!
July 20, 2010 at 12:52 pm #27618nickParticipantYa know… I thought a haircut might help. I’ve been due for a haircut for some time. I didn’t think about the dehydration and I suppose it could be a real possibility as I had to quench a big thirst when I got back home. I don’t think the helmet is too small. I went to a local store with a reputation for catering to “srious riders”. I was satisfied that I was fitted properly for the helmet.
July 20, 2010 at 5:32 pm #27627Ursula AlusruParticipantI had (well still have… passenger helmet?) a helmet that gave me a really bad pressure spot in the center of my fore head after about an hours ride – I took a lot of time to make sure that it fit properly before I bought it, and it felt great wearing it around the store, or even for a short ride. Many a rider told me to wear it for a while to break it in, or compress the form with my melon – I think someone even suggested that I rub it down with a baseball or a spoon – it just didn’t happen – the compressing of the foam! I rode occasionally with it as a passenger for several years and found that the sore spot lasted a couple of days after the ride – short hair, long hair, it didn’t matter. So, I bought a bike las week and after my first longish ride of 400km or so decided that I just couldn’t deal with it any more. I caved and bought a new one (and I didn’t spend a ton of money) which is SO MUCH BETTER! I think the old one just wasn’t the lid for me, and if I’d known how much better the new one feels I wouldn’t have waited all this time.
Good luck! -
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