Okay, all you experienced winter riders, answer me this: How do you deal with snot?!

[owlice]

You all are cracking me up!! Snot icebergs, zombies, and nose diapers...!!

I do use my gloves, a lot. Snot rockets are definitely out; I don't know how anyone manages to blow them with such a runny effusion!

Old socks over my gloves is a great idea! The patches on my gloves are nowhere NEAR big enough for what my nose produces; the entire surface of the gloves as a snot-wiper would definitely help. And a cloth diaper, instead of a bandana, would probably be absorbent enough for the great quantities flowing from my nose, so I could accessorize with that.

Thank you all! Nice to know all the athletic socks with the holes in their heels can be put to good use!!

[lph]

My nose can get very sore from too much wiping (and from old stiffened gloves...) but a liberal application of vaseline, blistex or similar around my nose and nostrils in advance helps.

[Becky]

Snot rockets are definitely out; I don't know how anyone manages to blow them with such a runny effusion!

Without going into too much gory detail, the right volume and velocity are key when dealing with thin watery nasal by-products

There's a lot of good tips in this thread- thanks for starting it, Owlice! I may give the old sock idea a try...

[Bike Chick]

You have to practice the snot-rocket thing. It's a fine art. Be sure the wind is not blowing in your face and you are alone when you do. But you are right, if it's real drippy, that just won't work. I always carry a bandana with me. I have one in every color to match whatever jersey I'm wearing and they can be bought for $1 each.

[indigoiis]

Learning to properly rocket snot is invaluable! Practice, Practice, Practice!

[OakLeaf]

All right, I have to ask. How do you blow snot rockets when it's really thin and watery, the consistency of tears, and runs right out of your nose without building up a good plug?

[arielmoon]

Snot rockets and then my glove. I wash them lots.

Even with that I am distracted by my runny nose and my breathing is interrupted by it but it is just something I have to deal with when it is cold!

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

All right, I have to ask. How do you blow snot rockets when it's really thin and watery, the consistency of tears, and runs right out of your nose without building up a good plug?

My nose runs watery like that. I just sniff it in. I believe in recycling.

[7rider]

Snot rockets are definitely out; I don't know how anyone manages to blow them with such a runny effusion!

What can be snorted in, can also be shot out with equal effectiveness.

I have a magical speed required of 18 mph. At that speed or higher, I'm okay to clear on the move. Otherwise, I wait for a stoplight or stop sign. That's always fun to gross out the motorists who are waiting beside me! So genteel and ladylike, ya know? Just be sure to leeeean away from the bike, lest you get anything on any part of you or the bike you'd rather not see crudified (like jacket shoulders, arms, or panniers). Apply one finger to close one nostril, and BLOW out the open nostril! Clean up with the glove, give a wink to the motorist beside you, and smell that cold winter air!

[arielmoon]

7rider LMAO!!!

[HoosierGiant]

What can be snorted in, can also be shot out with equal effectiveness.

I have a magical speed required of 18 mph. At that speed or higher, I'm okay to clear on the move. Otherwise, I wait for a stoplight or stop sign. That's always fun to gross out the motorists who are waiting beside me! So genteel and ladylike, ya know? Just be sure to leeeean away from the bike, lest you get anything on any part of you or the bike you'd rather not see crudified (like jacket shoulders, arms, or panniers). Apply one finger to close one nostril, and BLOW out the open nostril! Clean up with the glove, give a wink to the motorist beside you, and smell that cold winter air!

Too funny, and oooooh so true! (Although I have finally mastered the fine art of the double-barrel snot rocket, so it remains a hands-free endeavor.)

[OakLeaf]

Hmmm. I have no trouble blowing a snot rocket when it's just allergies and has some stickiness to it, but in the winter it just isn't happening.

It reminds me of the time I got sneezed on by a baby elephant at a petting zoo when I was a little kid.

Guess I'll keep washing my gloves after every ride...

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

I grew up in NYC seeing old drunks do this on the subway (think AquaLung) and skidding on pools of spit everywhere... so anyone blowing their snot out on the ground in plain view of others, or where people might chance to walk will always seem a gross and disgusting display of lack of manners to me. Heck, you might as well just squat and poop while you're at it!
Guess I'm just hopelessly 'old fashioned'!

[Librarygirl]

BleeckerSt_Girl, I totally agree with you - I was reading and thinking 'Am I the only one who finds the idea of expelling nasal contents in the general vicinity of others quite disgusting?' I find it so unladylike too - I guess I was just brought up that way!

[SadieKate]

It's all about the time and place -- and whether you can hit your intended target (and not me).