I have looked around the internet and people talk about getting dizzy/light headed after cycling. This isn't the problem. When I do really fast rides (27+ MPH for a stretch), I am getting really light headed/dizzy during that moment (maybe after a couple of 1-2 minutes at that effort). On a few of our group rides, we are only averaging 20-22 MPH. During a few parts of the ride, we will have "sprint points" if you will where we will get up to speeds around 27-30 MPH before someone sprints out the last 100 or so meters. Like most people, my efforts usually depend on how long I can overcome my elevated heart rate. Since this summmer, about half to a dozen times, I start to get really light headed and dizzy. I use to box so I feel I am much better than average at staying aware of my surrounding when I get like this so I don't get some type of veritigo and crash or take out a fellow rider. I also found that I can keep myself up in this zone for 15 seconds or so without too much risk, but it won't let off unless I back off on my effort and give it 30-60 seconds to normalize.
A couple of months ago I got a real scare when I was pulling on the front and ~32 MPH for close to 2-3 miles (smooth road and decent tail wind). I had settled in to my effort but started getting dizzy. Because I felt like the effort wasn't brutal, I ignored it and about 20-30 seconds after my dizzy spell swerved a couple feet into the road without realizing it. Thankfully, there were no cars passing us but that is when I realized it just wasn't a matter of "fighting through it".
Last night, it started again on a small half mile climb. The hill wasn't much in my opinion (maybe 5-7% max) and I felt really strong so I just stood up on my pedals and started climbing up it with some effort. I was pushing through my comfort zone of my heartrate (will get a monitor this Christmas, but don't have one currently) but my legs were strong so I persisted. About 4/5ths of the way up, the dizziness started again. Once again, I ignored it but about 20 seconds later, my head was just spinning. I had enough control to keep the bike straight and just let everyone in the group come around me so as to not risk their safety.
I asked some friends about it and of course the first thing they mention is low iron. This may be possible because I don't eat much meat at all. I love my starchy foods and drink a lot of protein shakes after my workouts and in the mornings but outside a multivitamin, probably do not get a lot of iron. Now my diet has been pretty consistent for the past couple of years and outside some altitude effects above 13,000 feet (and that was just do to balancing my effort vs. the elevation), never had any issues in Colorado this summer going up Mt. Evans or the Copper Triangle ride.
The problem has seem to become more problematic since August. My blood pressure is really good. I recently had some blood work done as part of a company mandated physical since I work with hazardous chemicals so I am going to try to get those results in the next day or two. If it isn't an iron probelm, can anyone think of any other reason this is occuring? I stay fairly well hydrated, take in enough calories and even pop endurolytes so that shouldn't be an issue. My hope is it is an iron thing but if anyone has ever experienced this, I would love to hear your thoughts on it. Thanks!
A couple of months ago I got a real scare when I was pulling on the front and ~32 MPH for close to 2-3 miles (smooth road and decent tail wind). I had settled in to my effort but started getting dizzy. Because I felt like the effort wasn't brutal, I ignored it and about 20-30 seconds after my dizzy spell swerved a couple feet into the road without realizing it. Thankfully, there were no cars passing us but that is when I realized it just wasn't a matter of "fighting through it".
Last night, it started again on a small half mile climb. The hill wasn't much in my opinion (maybe 5-7% max) and I felt really strong so I just stood up on my pedals and started climbing up it with some effort. I was pushing through my comfort zone of my heartrate (will get a monitor this Christmas, but don't have one currently) but my legs were strong so I persisted. About 4/5ths of the way up, the dizziness started again. Once again, I ignored it but about 20 seconds later, my head was just spinning. I had enough control to keep the bike straight and just let everyone in the group come around me so as to not risk their safety.
I asked some friends about it and of course the first thing they mention is low iron. This may be possible because I don't eat much meat at all. I love my starchy foods and drink a lot of protein shakes after my workouts and in the mornings but outside a multivitamin, probably do not get a lot of iron. Now my diet has been pretty consistent for the past couple of years and outside some altitude effects above 13,000 feet (and that was just do to balancing my effort vs. the elevation), never had any issues in Colorado this summer going up Mt. Evans or the Copper Triangle ride.
The problem has seem to become more problematic since August. My blood pressure is really good. I recently had some blood work done as part of a company mandated physical since I work with hazardous chemicals so I am going to try to get those results in the next day or two. If it isn't an iron probelm, can anyone think of any other reason this is occuring? I stay fairly well hydrated, take in enough calories and even pop endurolytes so that shouldn't be an issue. My hope is it is an iron thing but if anyone has ever experienced this, I would love to hear your thoughts on it. Thanks!