After I race or do a hard team ride I get pretty bad headaches. This is not hydration related issue as it is just as bad during the winter. Shorter duration i.e. 30 to 40 minute crits are no problem, usually longer, hard efforts over 40 miles. I could ride 100+ at an easy effort with no problem what so ever just when I get on the rivets for a while. Any of you guys have the same deal? Solutions?

can't really give any advice, except ask your doctor. Better yet, a sports doctor who is familiar with high intensity endurance events.

I did a quick Google on "exercise induced headache" and was surprised by the number of hits. Have a look and see what applies to you. At least you'll know you're not alone!

good luck

My guess would be low blood sugar as the headache cause. Of course it could just be because you are squinting when riding, and after a long enough period of time, that could cause a headache. Eating more during/after the ride should allow you to see if it is blood sugar.

After I race or do a hard team ride I get pretty bad headaches. This is not hydration related issue as it is just as bad during the winter. Shorter duration i.e. 30 to 40 minute crits are no problem, usually longer, hard efforts over 40 miles. I could ride 100+ at an easy effort with no problem what so ever just when I get on the rivets for a while. Any of you guys have the same deal? Solutions?

How would it being just as bad during the winter rule out dehydration? You still sweat in the winter and need just as much water, though you tend to be less thirsty and drink less. Dull headaches for me usually indicate I'm either not drinking enough or not eating enough.

On a 60 mile fall/winter ride I would usually eat a bananna around mile 18 then a Powerbar Harvest at mile 38. Both bottles have two full scoops of Cytomax. Might have a gel pack for last 15 miles. On crits Ill eat and orange and a couple of gels right before the start.

I am a big coffee drinker (we ride early on Sat., three cups before) and wonder if that might contribute.

Hydration #2: Don't forget to drink, also make sure you aren't a chronic over-drinker. Drinking too much water can cause headaches. Mix in an electrolyte solution instead.

On a 60 mile fall/winter ride I would usually eat a bananna around mile 18 then a Powerbar Harvest at mile 38. Both bottles have two full scoops of Cytomax. Might have a gel pack for last 15 miles.

How many calories is that DURING the ride?! Its a 60miler (ok, if its 60mi with a lot of climbing I understand) Sounds like you could stand to eat 90-120 min BEFORE the ride. Give your body a chance to be efficient. If I did that, my body couldn'tt figure out where to send energy - to the stomach or to the legs.

I am a big coffee drinker (we ride early on Sat., three cups before) and wonder if that might contribute.

Could be a factor. Caffeine + sugars = ugh (sometimes)

I used to have the headache problem after long and hard rides. But it stopped after I took energy gels and drinks with me during rides. Maybe it is because the blood sugar is low as some member suggested. Anyway, I am not sure but I don't experience the headache anymore.

Happy riding.

On a 60 mile fall/winter ride I would usually eat a bananna around mile 18 then a Powerbar Harvest at mile 38. Both bottles have two full scoops of Cytomax. Might have a gel pack for last 15 miles. On crits Ill eat and orange and a couple of gels right before the start.

I am a big coffee drinker (we ride early on Sat., three cups before) and wonder if that might contribute.

That is a lot of everything, but just two bottles of water for 60 miles? Unless your average speed is 30 mph, you're probably dehydrated.

I have been a serious migraine sufferer most of my life. As a result, I have learned much about the triggers of my headaches and how to manage them. When I began cycling it was no exception, and here is what I have learned:

1. Eat small portions frequently - hunger is the enemy, even when managing weight.
2. Drink frequently. You can be dehydrated and not be thirsty - drink because it's time to, not because you're thirsty.
3. Eat high glycemic index foods sparingly (to avoid spike and subsequent bottoming out of blood sugar).
4. Go to bed at the same time every night, wake up at the same time every morning (within an hour or so).

These four things have proven just as valuable as the medications I take in managing my headaches. Intense/long rides are triggers, so I really pay attention to the "rules" then. I also use a sports drink instead of plain water even during winter - the complex carbohydrates and electrolytes all help to keep things "even" within my system.

On long rides I shoot for one cereal/energy bar and a full water bottle every 60-90 minutes, then immediately post ride try to eat a meal with at least half the calories I expended during the ride. I long ago gave up trying to maximize the calorie deficit I gained during the ride for weight control - it triggered massive headaches and turned me into a raving, fridge-raiding maniac later that night.

I battled migraines when I was younger and have learned to manage and almost totally avoid triggers. I have not had one in years. All your suggestions are spot on. One of the biggest triggers of migraines for me (I can't be alone on this) was dehydration.

That said, even if one is not prone to headaches (migraine or sinus or even tension/constriction types), hydrating and fueling before the ride is tried and true. rdbike would be well served by putting down 16-24oz of a diluted sports drink maybe 30min before the ride. If that means a nature stop 30min into the ride so be it. If you're racing maybe you time it differently. Two 30oz bottles on a 2-3hr ride works for me if I have had my requisite pre ride hydration. Without the pre-ride, seems like I'm playing catch up. Headaches really suck.

Cheers---

Heres the problem, you can overhydrate and spend you entire race having to go and go bad. Our group rides will stop at about an hour 15 then again a little after 2 hrs. More than that and you will get dropped. This is not to say we all ride around dehydrated so we can stay on but to really load the wagon before you clip in can be a miserable experience. I keep a pretty good eye on output which seems to be about normal although a bit concentrated.

Heres the problem, you can overhydrate and spend you entire race having to go and go bad. Our group rides will stop at about an hour 15 then again a little after 2 hrs. More than that and you will get dropped. This is not to say we all ride around dehydrated so we can stay on but to really load the wagon before you clip in can be a miserable experience. I keep a pretty good eye on output which seems to be about normal although a bit concentrated.

its no fun on the verge of a burst. my attempts at balancing has included this headache thing, so I tend to err on the side of caution. I'm 180lbs - I'll eat 600-800cal 2-2.5 hrs before the ride. Then I've become accustomed to eating another 150 an hour before the ride and top off with a 100cal in a diluted sports drink.

I'll put in another vote for hydrations. When I start to get dehydrated I'll feel groggy and sluggish, then the next thing that happens is that I'll get a headache.

I'll also put in a vote to check with a doctor, it could also be related to blood pressure or another medical problem.

its no fun on the verge of a burst. .

It sounds like I might be in the minority here, but I pretty much never have to go to the bathroom in the middle of a ride. I drink probably 50-60oz of liquids before I go on a longer (40+ miles) ride and then drink a bottle an hour, and I never run into these problems. Is there some reason why that is?

As far as the headaches, I'd have to agree with everyone else who says they're blood-sugar related. If I don't have a decent meal within an hour or so of a hard ride, I get the same dull headaches the poster gets

rdbike, i don't race but am getting these same headaches after a spin.
I see you've been having this problem for a while.
http://forums.roadbikereview.com/showthread.php?t=8958&highlight=migrane
I wonder if you ever figured out the cause.

Last weekend i at my usual pre-ride breakfast then added a protein shake, then took a large ibprofen tablet and made sure to down my entire bottle of water.
This worked however i still felt the inklings of one of these tension headaches all day, like it was just trying to grow but was just barely kept at bay.

I haven't used one of those energy drinks, i thnk i'll add a scoop in my water this weekend.

are you loose?
racing is stressfull. It might be caused by muscle tension in the neck...
remind yourself to relax. I know someone that went as far to write "relax" on his hands as a reminder...

Jaw clenching. I discovered during hard efforts i was clenching my jaws and it gave me some real monsters of a headache.

I now try to be more aware of it as any kind of over the counter sport mouth guard is too hard to breath through and custom made ones are too expensive.

I just read something in the paper on this and the advice was it is caused by increased blood flow in the brain and pressure. The advice was to use Indocol and if they keep happening to see your doctor.

It's not jaw clenching.
I did talk to a doctor about it (went there for another reason) but he offered no theories and basically said he'd no idea why.
I had him test me for low blood pressure tho, but it read normal.
Indocol?
What is it and do they sell it in the EU?
Or maybe i can order it online.

Sorry I spelled it wrong it is Indocin. The article in the paper was from Dr. Donahue he called it an exertion headache that you get after exercise. Unlike the tension headache most people get.