Car (bike) sick on the twisties?

[HTFU]

Anyone else have a problem with motion sickness on the bike ?

I am on the weekend commute from the gravel roads at the top of the Coromandel to Hamilton. Not a problem on the way home on Sunday night but coming over Saturday morning I only need to travel from Colville to Coromandel before I have to pull over and empty the stomach.

I have tried it on an empty stomach to stop the spewing but still feel crap all the way to Thames where a 30min rest and some food sorts me out. I am normally relieved to make it here because it is flat from then on to Hams. (how shit is that - I am hanging out for the straights)

Today I tried a bit of toast and some sultana bran but had to leave it on the side of the road up from Wilsons Bay this morning. Ended up having a shit day at work feeling like I was sea sick.

I am sure I am not pregnant but I am sporting a bit of festive midriff and this combined with this morning sickness makes it seem like I will be the one producing our third child :baby:

I have had a go at persevering with a bit of the tried and true HTFU but it just isn't working.

Any tips ?

[99TLS]

my daughter used to get really bad car sickness til we went to the local chemist and bought some wrist bands with a pressure point on them, did wonders for her hasnt been sick since(approx 2yrs) cost about $ 15. will find out name of them

[99TLS]

there called THE SEA BAND hope this helps

[Trudes]

Himmmmm, strange, at least you manage to get your helmet off first!! Yep, try sea legs or those bands you can get from the chemist. Have you had your ears checked? Could be an inner ear thing, something to do with balance....

[HTFU]

there called THE SEA BAND hope this helps

thanks will try that :first:.

[James Deuce]

Nothing wrong with you. It's all in your head. HTFU.

[HTFU]

Himmmmm, strange, at least you manage to get your helmet off first!! Yep, try sea legs or those bands you can get from the chemist. Have you had your ears checked? Could be an inner ear thing, something to do with balance....

Yeah - was close a couple of times - and had a new helmet with different stap system :no:.

Funny you say about the ear thing because when I started using ear plugs I felt that was making me a bit queasy and that was on my relatively straight commute from Oto to Hamilton.

Balance is pretty good I thought, I paddle a K1 racing kayak and can balance my mtb on the spot no worries. Just stood up closed my eyes and balanced on one leg at a time no worries also. May look into the inner ear thing (or at least get someone qualified to do so)

Thanks for that. :niceone:

[HTFU]

Nothing wrong with you. It's all in your head. HTFU.

The puke was almost all in my helmet :sick:.

Although proven to be effective in most situations, HTFU has failed me thus far. But as the saying goes "if at first you don't HTFU then try and try again"

[xwhatsit]

Odd. Sometimes feel that way in a car, but on the bike it's far better. In a car, you have lots of lateral force knocking you from side to side; on the bike, one leans to compensate for those lateral forces (otherwise you'd fall over), so it's a much smoother ride.

I don't doubt that you're looking through the corners properly, but perhaps looking through the corners, you know, MotoGP style with your head dead horizontal w.r.t. the ground, as that seems to cancel out the inner-ear thing some feel.

[HTFU]

Odd. Sometimes feel that way in a car, but on the bike it's far better. In a car, you have lots of lateral force knocking you from side to side; on the bike, one leans to compensate for those lateral forces (otherwise you'd fall over), so it's a much smoother ride.

I don't doubt that you're looking through the corners properly, but perhaps looking through the corners, you know, MotoGP style with your head dead horizontal w.r.t. the ground, as that seems to cancel out the inner-ear thing some feel.

again another possibility I guess. I have raced mtb for years and looking through the corner is a prerequisite for going fast down hill. Not sure what I do on the motorbike though, so will take note of my head position and where I really looking, maybe I am looking down at revs and speed and stuffing with my focus. I do wear prescription glasses for distance on the bike as well.

Have done 35000km in the past year and a half and its only this ride that does it to me and sometimes the one out to Marokopa (maybe its what they grow up in those Coro hills and Kawhia Coast thats doing it). Both are really windy roads and morning seems to be the time that I have felt sick on these rides.

[crashe]

Motion sickness: caused by an imbalance in your inner ear.

If you don't normally suffer with any kind of motion sickness then get your ears checked out for a (minor) infection. As this could be the problem

Are you using earplugs?
Maybe your ears are filling up with too much wax.... get that also checked.


Car sickness: I suffer with it and have tried all sorts of things.
The best thing to date that actually works...... is that when ever you are in the car, pretend that you are driving the vehicle.... like hold your hands out on your lap as thou you are steering..... also have your feet doing the same thing at the same time as the driver.... brake change gears etc etc.... you are also looking at the same things as the driver.... The movements are only small, but you are concentrating on as thou it is you behind the wheel.
If possible get in the front passenger seat.

For anyone, like myself that suffers with motion sickness, it really is a right pain..... no rollercoaster, ferris wheel rides hell even sitting in a rockin' chair and someone moves it can set off the motion sickness. Forget about going on a boat...... unless it really is a calm day and you go to the back of the boat...


Good luck sorting this problem out.....

[HTFU]

Are you using earplugs?
Maybe your ears are filling up with too much wax.... get that also checked.


Car sickness: I suffer with it and have tried all sorts of things.
The best thing to date that actually works...... is that when ever you are in the car, pretend that you are driving the vehicle.... like hold your hands out on your lap as thou you are steering..... also have your feet doing the same thing at the same time as the driver.... brake change gears etc etc.... you are also looking at the same things as the driver.... The movements are only small, but you are concentrating on as thou it is you behind the wheel.
If possible get in the front passenger seat.

For anyone, like myself that suffers with motion sickness, it really is a right pain..... no rollercoaster, ferris wheel rides hell even sitting in a rockin' chair and someone moves it can set off the motion sickness. Forget about going on a boat...... unless it really is a calm day and you go to the back of the boat...


Good luck sorting this problem out.....

Will try my next ride without the plugs over the twisty bit of the ride to see what happens.

As for the car I don't have a problem with motion sickness, but did develop it on the boat in my late teens (apparently quite common). Shit I even got it surfing a few times.:laugh: (but not really funny)

[crashe]

Will try my next ride without the plugs over the twisty bit of the ride to see what happens.

As for the car I don't have a problem with motion sickness, but did develop it on the boat in my late teens (apparently quite common). Shit I even got it surfing a few times.:laugh: (but not really funny)

Yep when I tried ear plugs, I found that they don't allow the wax to drain or come out by natural causes..... (if you know what I mean)

So I don't use them at all.....

Sounds like you suffer with minor motion sickness....... for certain things only.

I don't get it if I drive the car........ or even when I ride my bike.




But worth getting your ears checked out....... just to be on the safe side....

[xwhatsit]

Yes, ear plugs might be behind it. Now that my bike idles, I don't have to keep my ears out listening for any misses (in order to give the throttle a blip), so I've started wearing my passive noise-cancelling earphones connected to iPod. Felt slightly weird going through some twisties tonight, didn't feel quite so natural. Getting used to it though. Having ears sealed against air-pressure changes might play merry hell with your inner ear. This ride change elevation very much?

[karla]

No one has mentioned this but it has never failed for me or anyone I know - growing up on the Haast-Wanaka road, gravel and dusty, I was always sick but this worked 99% of the time.

A brown paper bag next to your skin - put it under your t-shirt.

I don't know why it works but it does. We used to give them to tourists all the time. It's a cheap fix :niceone:

I'd check out the ear thing tho' - do you keep hearing that suggestion?!

[HTFU]

Yes, ear plugs might be behind it. Now that my bike idles, I don't have to keep my ears out listening for any misses (in order to give the throttle a blip), so I've started wearing my passive noise-cancelling earphones connected to iPod. Felt slightly weird going through some twisties tonight, didn't feel quite so natural. Getting used to it though. Having ears sealed against air-pressure changes might play merry hell with your inner ear. This ride change elevation very much?

Yeah goes from sea level up a windy gravel road then back down to Colville. then on sealed roads up and down to Coromandel. Not really high but maybe 150-200m on some of the hills. Got really nauseated going up the big hill to the lookout at the top of the Wilsons Bay Hill (overlooks Auckland and the Thames coast.) It is about 300m or so.

Felt better going through Coromandel and the straights just past it and then it hit me again coming up the hills and twisties again as I headed towards the Thames Coast road.

I use those ear buds that go into the ear canal as well.

[HTFU]

No one has mentioned this but it has never failed for me or anyone I know - growing up on the Haast-Wanaka road, gravel and dusty, I was always sick but this worked 99% of the time.

A brown paper bag next to your skin - put it under your t-shirt.

I don't know why it works but it does. We used to give them to tourists all the time. It's a cheap fix :niceone:

I'd check out the ear thing tho' - do you keep hearing that suggestion?!

The old brown paper bag trick aye (did you make a killing on the bags)

Sounds like the drinking a glass of water upside down to cure the hiccups remedy.

At least if it doesn't work, I can use the bag to spew into :laugh:.

[car]

Himmmmm, strange, at least you manage to get your helmet off first!! Yep, try sea legs or those bands you can get from the chemist. Have you had your ears checked? Could be an inner ear thing, something to do with balance....

That's what I was going to suggest. One of the many, many things I've been checked out for in recent months. "Vertigo" isn't restricted to fear of heights it seems, but covers a wide number of balance disorders.

Your GP should be able to run you through a few simple tests.

[McJim]

I only get motion sick if I'm the passenger - when I'm doing the driving/riding I've never even thought of it.

Nae luck.

[ipod1098]

try chewing gum

[crashe]

I use those ear buds that go into the ear canal as well.

Ok I have been thinking some more about this overnight at 2am (woke up thinking about your problem)..... as you do

I am taking it that you are on a sportbike.....?

Is it only happening on certain corners or certain twisty corners......!

I hope this is all gonna make sense... or that you get what I mean......

1. Are you just flip flopping your bike back and forth when cornering?
2. Or are you getting your butt off the seat and leg down?

If it is the first.... maybe that is too much motion for your inner ear balance to deal with...... getting my drift here?

That flip flop back up and over of the bike all the time may be the cause of the motion sickness...

As I don't own a race/sport bike, I am guessing that by sliding your butt over and off the seat (like racers do) and you are taking full control of what you want your bike to do. Take total control over your bike when cornering...to stop the motion sickness from happening...... you get what I mean..?

Maybe look at changing your riding technique for a little while and see what happens. Since it isn't always happening all the time......




So you have a few choices to look at.......

1. Dr to check your ears - infection or too much wax
2. Ride without the earplugs - to stop the wax build up - or different earplugs
3. Look at your riding on the corners etc - flip flop or butt off seat with knee down
4. The brown bag to upchuck in...... lol.
5. Saving the best for last - buy a cruiser then you wont have this problem

[slopster]

For what its worth changes is elevation cant effect the function of the inner ear though in extreme cases they can cause it to burst. You would probably feel a lot of pain if this was the case though. The inner ear has fluid sloshing around and uses this movement to detirmine lean angles etc so pressure changes won't effect this.

[mowgli]

again another possibility I guess. I have raced mtb for years and looking through the corner is a prerequisite for going fast down hill. Not sure what I do on the motorbike though, so will take note of my head position and where I really looking, maybe I am looking down at revs and speed and stuffing with my focus. I do wear prescription glasses for distance on the bike as well.

There is no good reason to be looking down at your speedo or revs during a turn. Get set up on approach to the corner then keep your eyes up. This help keep your head still and thus your eyes, ears and brain singing the same tune.

In flying the most common things that lead to motion sickness are: tiredness, dehydration, anxiety, colds and the come down after an adrenalin rush.

The last one is funny and catches a lot of non-fliers by surprise when they score an aerobatic ride. Imagine your disappointment if after holding it together through all the exciting bits you lose your lunch flying straight and level returning to the airport.

It's because one of the side effects of adrenalin is nausea. This happens because blood is diverted away from the stomach to the limbs ready for action. The nausea is increased if you've recently (within that last hour) eaten.

[dnos]

Wow dude hope you sort this out.
I had an experience with feeling "bike" sick on a ride a few weeks ago, however I was severly hungover so not too surprising.
Definitely try the above suggestions, and perhaps a ginger beer with breakfast or ginger tablets, they seem to work when I'm on the boat.

[Insanity_rules]

Himmmmm, strange, at least you manage to get your helmet off first!!

I had a mate that didn't! Took a couple of minutes to scoop the sick out of her helmet.

Not a pretty sight people.

[skidMark]

Anyone else have a problem with motion sickness on the bike ?

I am on the weekend commute from the gravel roads at the top of the Coromandel to Hamilton. Not a problem on the way home on Sunday night but coming over Saturday morning I only need to travel from Colville to Coromandel before I have to pull over and empty the stomach.

I have tried it on an empty stomach to stop the spewing but still feel crap all the way to Thames where a 30min rest and some food sorts me out. I am normally relieved to make it here because it is flat from then on to Hams. (how shit is that - I am hanging out for the straights)

Today I tried a bit of toast and some sultana bran but had to leave it on the side of the road up from Wilsons Bay this morning. Ended up having a shit day at work feeling like I was sea sick.

I am sure I am not pregnant but I am sporting a bit of festive midriff and this combined with this morning sickness makes it seem like I will be the one producing our third child :baby:

I have had a go at persevering with a bit of the tried and true HTFU but it just isn't working.

Any tips ?

lean over further.

get there so fast that the motion sickness can't kick in.

[yungatart]

You could try peppermints....or ppeppermint essential oil..couple of drops in the front of your helmet should do the trick.
Good luck in sorting it.

[Beemer]

I was almost sick once on a trip down south. It was really foggy and my visor kept misting up (I was a pillion) and I honestly felt like I was going to faint or throw up. We had to stop for a while until I felt okay and the mist cleared a bit.

I was co-driving in a rally once and another couple both got sick on one of the windy sections - the co-driver AND the driver! That was really unusual. One guy said his co-driver had done the old projectile vomiting into the air vents and he had to strip the car down afterwards to get it all out!

[Wannabiker]

Make sure you ave good ventilation in the helmet....vents open and plenty of fresh air coming in. Ginger....gingernuts are helpful.

Be careful with some motion sickness tablets (medications) they can cause drowsiness!!! Check on the packaging!! (designed for being a passenger...not pilot)

[karla]

4. The brown bag to upchuck in...... lol.


You may well laugh - but I'm serious! :oi-grr: Gotta admit though, I started wondering myself if that was what it was all about ...

so I googled it and came up with this:
This remedy came to us from Hawaii, Afghanistan and Switzerland. Take a big brown paper bag and cut off and discard the bag's bottom. Then slit the bag from top to bottom so that it's no longer round, but instead a long piece of paper. Wrap the paper around your bare chest and secure it in place. Put your regular clothes on top of it and travel that way. It's supposed to prevent motion sickness.
http://www.herbal-home-remedies.org/remedies/motion-sickness.htm

Have you tried it yet? I'd be fascinated to know now if it works. Note - it's got to be brown paper. You can get these bags when you buy eggs at the diary (take the eggs out!)

Sucking on a piece of ginger root sounds interesting ... but closing your eyes wouldn't work too well :)

I like SkidMark's suggestion too ~ good thread, I've read lots of good ideas.

[jtzzr]

I`m no pshy/phys,I`m no brain doctor , have you thought about looking beyond the corner or through the corner , don`t actually look at the corner , lift ya head up and nail the bike "Through" the corner ,you`ll be amazed .

[steveb64]

Anyone else have a problem with motion sickness on the bike ?

Snip'd

Any tips ?

I don't, but many years ago there was a guy racing F3 (Tony McMurdo - F3 champ) who used to have problems with motion sickness when he was racing! His solution was to use the little stick on patches (just behind the ear) - and they must have worked, 'cos he kept winning, and not having to stop and chuck!

[HTFU]

Well I made my morning commute from Colville over to Hamilton this morning so of course back on the computer again. Thanks for the ideas people I have been working on a few things to sort it.

Firstly on my ride back to the beach on Sunday I wore my ear plugs and rode as I normally do and did not feel any queasy stomach at all (was going to go Friday night to see if it made a difference but kids wouldn't let me leave). Don't think I have ever had nausea on the return trip in the afternoon so ever morning I monitored how I feel in the morning and yep I feel queasy as soon as I get up. Takes a while (time and food) and I feel good as.

I also spent 6 hours surfing on Thursday and started feeling queasy out in the surf. 6 hours no food is similar to 6-8 hours sleeping no food so possible link (plus maybe some inner ear problem others have suggested )

So this morning as I rode over from Colville I got up 45 minutes before I left which is about a 5.50 am start. Felt queasy as I do when I get up that early with limited sleep (similar to a hangover feeling). Ate some sultana bran and took it easy over the gravel and all the way to Coromandel. Could feel the nausea trying to take hold but tried looking further into the corner and leaning more with the bike, also had less wind proof clothing, no ear plugs and more vents open so I didn't get as much of that overwealming hot feeling.

So managed to get to Thames with less nausea than normal but could still feel it trying to get me. Was manageable especially with a good dose of HTFU thrown in so happy with that.

When I get back early Feb will check in to doc to get ears checked. Only two more Saturday morning trips back so should be fine.
Cheers guys and gals all good.

[xwhatsit]

Jesus, that's a commute-and-a-half :laugh: Awesome!

If you're getting it surfing it might just be you. Hopefully your ears are full of filthy green wax :lol: Good luck, can't be much fun.