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. )