Cold, cold hands

[Aint Doody]

This morning I left my house and it was about 38. When I got down the hill, the temp was 32! Anyway I was only going to do about a 12 mi ride so on I went. I had on full-fingered gloves. I wasn't cold anywhere except my hands. They started hurting like mad and yet they were numb. My turn-around point is a convenience store. By the time I got there, I was afraid I wouldn't be able to use my brakes. I couldn't tell if I was using the correct lever to shift! I did get stopped and went inside with my painful hands and tried to let them slowly warm up.

After a few minutes I went to the bathroom to run some warm water on them. It helped, but as I left the bathroom I became terribly nauseated. I broke out in a cold sweat and sat down in a chair for about 10 minutes. I was thinking I was suddenly coming down with some sort of virus. I considered calling my husband to come get me. After a few minutes I felt OK. I jumped back on my bike & pedalled as hard as I could back home. My hands didn't get very cold on the way back. And I felt OK.

My question is----could my extremely cold, hurting hands have made me feel nauseous? Has anyone else had this experience? I'm almost 60--could that have anything to do with it? D*mn it's tough getting older.......

[Biciclista]

It does sound like your body was having trouble regulating your temperature. But i have never heard of nausea!

I have noticed on cold rides if i can expend more energy, my cold parts will warm up. Sometimes hands, sometimes feet depending on how I've dressed.

sounds like you need some fuzzy gloves and handwarmer liners.

[alpinerabbit]

Windstopper gloves.

if you need more energy keeping warm, you might have bonked.

I feel I get ultra-tired even after a one-hour ride in cold weahter. could be it.

[Eden]

My hands hurt like that when its very cold - but I don't recall it ever being accompanied by nausea - on the other hand I've become quite nauseated by overheating when the surrounding atmosphere is chilly - especially if I warm up fast. Could you have warmed the rest of your body up too much, while trying to warm your hands?

As far as keeping your hand from hurting so bad. My winning combination has finally been, wool glove liners, full finger gloves and add hand warmers when its really cold.

[Andrea]

I've also never had the nausea problem, but I get extremely cold, painful hands once the temps start to fall. I was thinking about getting a pair of these: Barmitts (http://www.barmitts.com/)

[Eden]

If you get a pair review them! My biggest concern would be control of the bike.... but it doesn't look like they should really interfere?? I'm not so sure about having my hands nearly attached to the bars though..

[ny biker]

I've also never had the nausea problem, but I get extremely cold, painful hands once the temps start to fall. I was thinking about getting a pair of these: Barmitts (http://www.barmitts.com/)

When I saw the name I thought they would be something that bartenders wear. Shows you where my mind is...

p.s. They should offer them in screaming yellow, too.

[Aint Doody]

Hmmmmmm--nausea from being overheated. Maybe the reverse is true sometimes. But I didn't warm up fast. And I do have some really warm gloves and have used hand warmers. It just didn't seem that cold when I started out. I guess all the cold found my poor, old hands! I won't make that mistake again.

Thanks, ladies!

[Aint Doody]

Wow! I just looked at the Barmitts. Those look wonderful. I'd like a report on those, too.

[lph]

Oh, I get nauseous whenever I thaw frozen fingers too ("neglesprett", we call it - literally "fingernail bounce"...) The short but quite intense pain makes me go all queasy for a few minutes.

[sundial]

Windstopper gloves.

if you need more energy keeping warm, you might have bonked.

I feel I get ultra-tired even after a one-hour ride in cold weahter. could be it.

+1--you will be surprised how many more calories you burn trying to stay warm. Maybe grab a cup of hot chocolate on your next ride. :)

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Get some SmartWool merino wool gloves liners....they will definitely help and don't feel clumsy or bulky.

I also inherited a pair of black 100% cashmere wool ladies gloves from my mother that I LOVE to wear under my regular gloves- they fit into even the snuggest gloves, are so soft, and keep my fingers so comfy.

[spindizzy]

"neglesprett"

I like that word :D

[lph]

I like that word :D

You can have it! :D

[newfsmith]

I used to use a MTB version of barmitts made by Madden Mountaineering. They were great for keeping your hands warm, but I found that I was reluctant to pull my hands out to give hand signals, especially in traffic. It was awkward getting back in them. I did ride down to -4F/-20C using them, but I found that wool mittens in leather mitts were just as warm and removed that awkwardness. At those temperatures, you don't shift much, even downhill feels like uphill and just forget the wind, if you can. I would be very careful about where you use Barmitts. They are not for group rides, or heavy traffic.

[Aint Doody]

Good points, newfsmith. I was seriously considering the Bar Mitts, but now I don't think so. I do have better gloves with Smartwool liners, but I didn't wear them on that ride, as it just didn't seem that cold. I didn't know I'd be a victim of neglesprett! Thanks for the diagnosis, lph. I can't wait to throw that term around on my next group ride.

Susan

[Boise Birder]

fingers too quickly, too.

But I think the previous poster who mentioned energy issues may have a point.
That could contribute, too.

[malkin]

Last winter I got mittens at REI to wear over my normal gloves which I wear over SmartWool liners.

It could be time for them again any day, so I'd better figure out where I put them. When I locate them, I'll post what they are.

[michelem]

My hubby got me these for Christmas last year and they are WONDERFUL!!! (and so is he). :D

http://www.teamestrogen.com/prodPI_8765.html

There is a "lobster" version as well (kinda like mittens, but supposedly better for shifting and braking).

[Fish_Lady]

Well, i'm new to cycling, but not to keeping warm when it's wicked cold. Someone else recommended getting some SmartWool gloves. Those are EXCELLENT gloves.

My husband was a survival instructor in Maine for the Navy for 4 years. He always recommended working to keep you core warm - that makes it easier to keep your extremeties warm.

I have to tell you I am really impressed that you're out riding when it's so cold! Once it got past 40 degrees while we were in Maine, I brought my bike inside and plopped it on a trainer. I am a confessed wimp.