QUESTION: I’m new to cycling and I just attended my first group ride. But during the ride, the guy ahead of me spit a couple of times, and both times, some of the airborne splatter hit me. As a newcomer, I didn’t want to make waves, but aren’t there some guidelines about spitting when riding with others? —Alice E.
RBR’S STAN PURDUM REPLIES: I don’t know of any written guidelines — though it’s possible that some bicycle clubs have them — but there certainly is an unwritten etiquette involved when riding with groups or even with one other person. If you need to spit or fire a snot rocket, the best practice is to move to the back of the group and take care of it when there’s no one behind you. Or, if that’s not immediately feasible, aim your expectorant down at the road near your bike, not off to the side. Some riders target a spot directly ahead of their front wheel; others aim down so that their missile passes under their arm. But either way minimizes the likelihood of “sharing.”
While this offence may sound comical, it’s a real issue for cyclists. Runny noses tend to occur while cycling, especially in colder weather, because increased airflow during physical activity exposes the nasal passages to more irritants, triggering our natural defense mechanism to produce more mucus. There’s even a name for the phenomenon: exercise-induced rhinitis. And it can be exacerbated by factors like allergies, cold or dry air and pollution.
This rhinitis, by the way, is one reason many bike gloves have a something like terry cloth on the thumb: to provide a handy way to wipe your nose while pedaling. (That’s also a good reason to own more than one pair of gloves so that you can launder the used pair between rides.)
It’s possible, of course, that the rider who anointed you wasn’t aware of how his spittle was dispersing. Early on as a rider, I was pedaling one day with my brother who was a couple of bike lengths behind me. It was a chilly day and my juices were flowing, and I spewed a hocker off to the side. Immediately, my brother, who naturally had no hesitation about confronting me, yelled that my goo had landed on him, and he told me in no uncertain terms to aim differently. I learned my lesson right away and have been careful ever since about that issue when riding with others.
To address the matter, you might have a word with the ride leader, asking him or her to remind the whole group of the proper protocol.
But if you decide to speak to the offender directly, give him the benefit of the doubt. Say something like, “I’m assuming you weren’t aware that when you spit, some of it was landing on me, riding behind you. But please be careful about that in the future.” If he takes offence, he’s probably not someone you want as a friend anyway.
Stan Purdum has ridden several long-distance bike trips, including an across-America ride recounted in his book Roll Around Heaven All Day, and a trek on U.S. 62, from Niagara Falls, New York, to El Paso, Texas, the subject of his book Playing in Traffic. Stan, a freelance writer and editor, lives in Ohio. See more at www.StanPurdum.com.
Spitting is disgusting but sometimes necessary, e.g., to get that bug out of your mouth. A few years ago Peter Sagan complained about younger riders urinating on each other during races. That’s another thing altogether.
Especially in colder weather, snot rockets are pretty much a necessity for me. All of the suggestions here for waiting until you get on the back of the group, aiming properly, or making use of the splits that happen around corners.. But NEVER, in many decades of cycling have I needed to spit other than to get rid of a bug or other solid. While some people just seem to have a spitting habit, they CAN swallow it. I repeat, it’s just a habit.
Ipratropium nasal spray is available by prescription and is nearly miraculous for runny nose and cold weather. It’s only available by prescription that is not expensive.. I only use it before a ride in cold weather. Highly recommended!
Two additions: Lean down as low as possible to spit so the snot goes to the ground quickly. And, hard exercise does require more mouth breathing to get enough air, but keep your nasal breathing going on the inhale reduces nasal drip markedly, especially as it gets cooler.
When I first started riding brevets our club did not condone that type of behaviour. We always insisted that you wait until you were at the back or at a minimum move out of the pace line point down with the hand on side you were spitting on lean down and spit down along that side. Hard to explain but it worked for us. Snot rockets the same thing.
I transfer my loogie to my index finger and then fling my hand down towards the ground ending the fling below my knee so the centrifugal force releases the spittle to the ground.
It is a sure way to take care of your needs and not interfere with anyone else’s ride. I’m surprised no one else has mentioned this flawless way of spitting.