Coughing after finishing a ride...

[Dianyla]

I doubt its exercise induced asthma because I'm totally fine during the ride, its at least 15 minutes after I'm done exercising that I start coughing.

I have very mild exercise induced asthma and this is usually the only symptom I get... a mild nagging cough for a few hours after pushing hard on a ride. I have to overexert myself severely to get the classic wheezing symptoms.

[alpinerabbit]

Ozone in the atmosphere from pollution? I feel that on a hot summer day.

[RoadRaven]

There is also something called "Pursuiter's Cough" and I am not 100% sure, but I think it is different from "Exercise-induced Asthma".

I typically get Pursuiters Cough after a time trial event. Sometimes I will get it after a very hard road race. I don't get it after training rides.

In a timetrial you are breathing so hard and heavy, it is almost as if the dryness of your throat combined with the heavy breathing "sand-papers" the back of your throat. Consequently, I often have a dry (occasional) cough which can last a couple of hours, or sometimes a couple of days.

When I don't cough, I take it as a sign that I didn't push myself hard enough!

[SheFly]

There is also something called "Pursuiter's Cough" and I am not 100% sure, but I think it is different from "Exercise-induced Asthma".

I typically get Pursuiters Cough after a time trial event. Sometimes I will get it after a very hard road race. I don't get it after training rides.

In a timetrial you are breathing so hard and heavy, it is almost as if the dryness of your throat combined with the heavy breathing "sand-papers" the back of your throat. Consequently, I often have a dry (occasional) cough which can last a couple of hours, or sometimes a couple of days.

When I don't cough, I take it as a sign that I didn't push myself hard enough!

I'm with Raven. Inevitably after a TT or really hard workout, I will have what I call "biker's cough". Feels kind of like I smoked 2 packs, and sounds about as bad. It doesn't last, and I take it as a sign that I've pushed myself to my limits.

Oh - and I think this has to do with HOW you breathe. When I do these workouts, most of my breathing is through my mouth vs. my nose, and I think that dries the throat, and has a more immediate impact on the lungs (my multiple years of medical training says so anyway ).

SheFly

p.s.
In case you missed the sarcasm, I am NOT a doctor, nor have I ever played one on TV

[Spec&TrekGirl]

OakLeaf - I can't really say whether or not the cough happens in the same season as my allergies as this is the first time I've experienced the cough after riding - just getting back into bike riding this year after not seriously riding in over 10 years. I'm thinking the allergies may be a contributing factor, along with pushing myself aerobically.

From the responses, it sounds like I'm not the only one to have this.

I was pushing myself because I hadn't been on the bike in about a week and a half and felt like I should make up for it a little. And I'm trying to up my cadence to see what effect that has on my endurance. (I have no idea if that makes any sense, but I felt stronger at the end of the ride than I generally have been feeling and at a higher avg speed. )

[RoadRaven]

Yup, Spec&Trek... if you were pushing yourself, and aren't in the middle of allergy season, I would guess you had "pursuiters cough" / "bikers cough"

Don't worry about it. There is nothing you can do, it does you no harm apart from the irritation, and it goes away