Headache after hard ride

[BMWBen]

This morning i did my normal commute (17 miles, one hill) at my normal fairly brisk pace and then did a spin class which was 6 sets of high intensity intervals (very sweaty).

I now have a banging headache. Same thing happened last week.

I ate a cereal bar before setting off in the morning. Drunk 1.5l of water by the end of the spin class, then had a gatorade 500ml, a bowl of sweet porridge with banana chips, and another 700ml of water. I've now had lunch (pasta, large with a side salad including egg and tuna, and a choccy bar), and this heacache is getting worse.

Am i just dehydrated or low on sugar? Salt loss perhaps? Thought i'd done everything right today!

[ChrisMCoupe]

My missus sometimes gets the same thing after a hard ride.



She found the problem was having her head to close to the headboard...

[itsnotarace]

Sounds like you didn't drink enough beforehand to me

[Rocksteadyeddie]

itsnotarace said:

Sounds like you didn't drink enough beforehand to me

This. Especially if you were a little dehydrated before you started.

[BMWBen]

itsnotarace said:

Sounds like you didn't drink enough beforehand to me

Tricky one if that's the case - was up at 6 and on the bike 6:15! Don't fancy getting up an hour eariler to drink

[itsnotarace]

Just have a glass of drink before you leave on the commute, or take a bottle with you and drink regularly on the move

[Gizmoish]

Sounds overhydrated if anything. Well over 2 litres of water for a couple of hours' effort?

[s4avant]

Go to your Doc and have your blood pressure checked. You may have been overdoing it!

[anonymous-user]

BMWBen said:

This morning i did my normal commute (17 miles, one hill) at my normal fairly brisk pace and then did a spin class which was 6 sets of high intensity intervals (very sweaty).

I now have a banging headache. Same thing happened last week.

I ate a cereal bar before setting off in the morning. Drunk 1.5l of water by the end of the spin class, then had a gatorade 500ml, a bowl of sweet porridge with banana chips, and another 700ml of water. I've now had lunch (pasta, large with a side salad including egg and tuna, and a choccy bar), and this heacache is getting worse.

Am i just dehydrated or low on sugar? Salt loss perhaps? Thought i'd done everything right today!

sounds like you just over did everything, intensity of ride in to work, spin class, fluid intake, food....

if you are going to ride in before a spin class again, go slower, will and get your fluid in before the class. then after the class, eat and drink little and often. Personally I think a spin class after a 17 mile commute at a good pace is overkill that early in the morning.

I would be surprised if you find many professional athletes who go from sleep to training in 15 minutes.

Edited by anonymous-user on Thursday 4th October 16:17

[Fartomatic5000]

I had the same last night, at the time I put it down to the cold. I didn't really think it might be dehydration.

[BMWBen]

itsnotarace said:

Just have a glass of drink before you leave on the commute, or take a bottle with you and drink regularly on the move

Just to clarify - I didn't drink 1.5l of water during the spin class - I have a 750ml bottle that I drank over the course of the commute, and then refilled and finished during the spin class.

[BMWBen]

pablo said:

sounds like you just over did everything, intensity of ride in to work, spin class, fluid intake, food....

if you are going to ride in before a spin class again, go slower, will and get your fluid in before the class. then after the class, eat and drink little and often. Personally I think a spin class after a 17 mile commute at a good pace is overkill that early in the morning.

I would be surprised if you find many professional athletes who go from sleep to training in 15 minutes.

Edited by pablo on Thursday 4th October 16:17

It could be that. It was cold too, so took a little while to get the muscles warmed up.

[thiscocks]

ChrisMCoupe said:

My missus sometimes gets the same thing after a hard ride.



She found the problem was having her head to close to the headboard...

She wasn't complaining to me at the time

[Broaders]

I use to suffer the same headaches, no amount of water would sort them.

Started using the electrolyte tablets in my fluids and it seems to work for me.

Not sure it will help you but maybe it's worth a shot!

[Broaders]

I use to suffer the same headaches, no amount of water would sort them.

Started using the electrolyte tablets in my fluids and it seems to work for me.

Not sure it will help you but maybe it's worth a shot!

[Fourmotion]

I think you're really in need of more than just water. 1.5 litres is a lot of water to consume so if your body needs that much fluid it would need electrolytes too. Try Nuun. Works wonders for me.

[navier_stokes]

Dehydration. Try some isotonic tablets in your water, worked a treat for me with similar symptoms after long hot rides, e.g High 5 zero

[BMWBen]

Electrolyte depletion seems to be gaining traction here... I'll drop some tabs in my drink next week and see what happens.