Dizziness while riding Bike

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• I have the same problem...I have taken Gravol and it may work...I thought it to be lactic acid build up...and neck pain and pinched nerve...usually happend at the 10-15k mark...if I rest 2-3x then it goes away and can ride up to 60-100k...the problem is when you are in a group ride...you get dropped and then can't catch them...still not sure what to do...try to snack, hydrate???

• if you are getting dizzy on the bike due to iron and can't stomach supplements try drinking orange juice while eating high iron foods like red meat, spinach etc. The vitamin C makes it much easier for the body to absorb the iron.

• One thing you probably haven't thought about is whether your helmet could be a little too tight. If your helmet is too tight, it will stop your cranial bones from moving as they should. Everyone has a natural "cranio sacral rhythm" where the fluid surrounding your brain and spinal chord moves around and the bones almost "breahte", moving with the fluid. If you have something tight on your head that prevents the natural movement of the fluid, it can give you a heck of a headache.

• Make sure you are drinking! It is not likely O2, the brain is always last to get cut off there. Your hands will feel like they are going to sleep before you get dizzy from O2. If it happens with bumps you should be thinking nerve stuff. Adjust your position and see what happens. If you find this only happens when you are on the top of the bars, are your arms slightly bent? They should always be and that is not what you normally see unless you look at the pros. Locked elbows is bad. It takes a bit of getting used to but will help. Biggest thing is to always be feeling your body out for tension. Over the long ride holding any muscle under tension uses too much energy and might give you the problems you are talking about. Move the head, roll the shoulders and see what is tight then concentrate on loosening up there. Don't worry about the legs they know what to do. Also, if the road is clear spend some time looking just past the front wheel so your neck can get a rest.
  I hope you get it figured out. Just remember to relax! You are going to do great!!!!

• Unilateral or bilateral breathing on the swim??

• Wow. Dizziness on the bike is scary. I got a case of the spins on a few runs this summer, but it just turned out to be dehydration. Drinking up pre-workout fixed it. I hope you get down to the cause of it!

• Jennifer - Good point! Low iron can't be good for training and racing, dizzyiness or not! I will ask my doctor about that one.

  Karen - that's something I hadn't considered. I don't know how I'd test that on the bike. I suppose I could set up the trainer at home. My husband does have a blood pressuer thingy.

  TriDiesel - that's a good thought too. That's what Stacey Richardson said when I told her about my headaches. The dizzy thing is new, so I didn't get to ask her about that.

  Rebecca - thanks for your concern and link. Too bad Joanna didn't figure it out yet (for her sake as well as mine!). She was at Rev3 and got 4th place, I think.

  Weird thing is, I don't get it in the run. Just the bike. Maybe it will force me to not go so fast on the bike, which might actually be a good thing for the longer races...trying to think positive!

  Thanks again for all your thoughts, Carol

• I am so sorry to hear about these issues to close to Duke half and B2B. I know how bad it sucks when you work so hard and are super fit only to then deal with mysterious pain. Your post made me think of an article about Joanna Zeiger and dizziness. http://www.slowtwitch.com/Interview/Zeiger_sidelined_by_dizziness_960.html

• Could it be high blook pressure when you ride? I've heard that can cause dizziness and headaches. I have no idea how you would test it though..

• I was thinking about this when you had back and shoulder issues, and now I am thinking it again, maybe its your bike fit, I dunno, just a suggestion.