Forum menu
I bought some lights a while back so I could still get out after work and we've been out every Thursday since and all has been well up until last week. Half way through a twenty mile ride I decided to go for it on a hill, five or so mins after reaching the top I started to feel sluggish, dizzy and what's best described as travel sick. When I looked around and blinked I just saw the shape made by my lights everywhere. I've put it down on this occasion to having my lights shine too brightly directly on the floor and me focusing on that point whilst riding. I turned them down and pointed them higher but it still took about an hour to recover.
Has anyone else ever felt travel sick whilst riding at night?
Yep on the only night race I've ever done several years ago, and a bit of slopfest. Was about the 2nd race I'd ever done, was edging on nightmarish.
Can be possible. Bright reflecting off the floor and that's where you're looking is a bit like skiing and focusing on the very reflective ground, or skiing in a white out where everything is just white.
What light set up have you got? I'd go for a wide spread diffuse bar light that doesn't draw focus to the floor, and then a spot focused helmet light that's pointing at where you're looking. Then look where you're going, not where the bike is pointing (which is good technique in the daytime also).
That said, just realising yet again this might be a roadie thread. If so then it's a bit more tricky as helmet lights can piss off cars and you should have a road front light that's probably more focused to avoid dazzling. Also on road I guess you're more likely to be focused on the floor and constantly looking at the same thing. I can see that would mess with your eyes.
Anyway. Off road, some run green LEDs which are easier on the eyes, more natural feel light and better for resolving detail.
Another possibility is overheating. I cannot wear waterproof clothes as they do not allow the sweat out, and I find if I go too hard, I start to feel terrible, tunnel vision and dizzy.
Most of my clothing is softshell windproof stuff, but even with that I need to keep my body from getting too hot.
First time I rode with a helmet light, the extra weight of the light meant the helmet was slipping down a bit. So I tightened it up, but being an idiot, tightened the chin strap instead of the adjustment mechanism.
Next time we stopped, I took the helmet off and then almost fainted as the restricted blood flow through my neck suddenly returned to normal.
So if you're as dumb as me, maybe you did the same thing? Otherwise, as others have said it's probably just getting used to it.
On the climbs did you have your lights set low? LEDs can often seem a bit strobey (is that a word?) on their lowest settings, which might make you feel ill.
What light set up have you got? I'd go for a wide spread diffuse bar light that doesn't draw focus to the floor, and then a spot focused helmet light that's pointing at where you're looking. Then look where you're going, not where the bike is pointing (which is good technique in the daytime also)
I've a 140mm HT, I was off road although on the TPT so the majority was easy going.
The lights are a twin LED set up that's mounted on the handlebar. I've been out a few times with them on before and never felt like this, even when doing the same climb.
Another possibility is overheating. I cannot wear waterproof clothes as they do not allow the sweat out, and I find if I go too hard, I start to feel terrible, tunnel vision and dizzy.
I did have my waterproofs on and did have some of those side effects but I don't recall actually feeling too hot.
On the climbs did you have your lights set low? LEDs can often seem a bit strobey (is that a word?) on their lowest settings, which might make you feel ill.
I'm not sure if it was on the middle setting or the brightest. I did find I was staring into the light though which I think is the cause, just strange it's not happened before.
Sounds like you might have been bonking?
The flicker LED lights tend to have is way, way faster than the trigger speeds for human strobe sensitivity so I doubt it's that... But motion sickness, sure- you've got a pretty different perception of speed and movement in the dark, especially if your light is tight-beamed, you end up chasing the dot and moving your field of vision constantly so it'd be easy to get differences between ear and eye.
Probably some kind of evil woodland spirit roaming the forest at night.....