[katieHaylor (OP)]

Mike says:

When I cycle my bike in cold weather, my nose runs; it doesn't happen in warm weather. Why is this? And is there anything I can do to help with it?

What do you think?

[Colin2B]

No takers?

Well, if i must!

Two things cause this:
- One of the jobs for the nose is to condition the air we breath warming it and adding moisture. Try breathing through your mouth and you will soon start to feel dry mouth and throat. In cold weather the nose has to work overtime because the relative humidity of the air is low, so the nose produces more moisture to condition the air. However, it can overreact and produce too much - drip, drip.
- this second effect depends on how cold it is, but air leaving the nose is warm and moist so if the end of the nostrils are cold the moisture will condense out - drip, drip.

[Concept]

Might do nothing, but just for a fun experiment, try consuming less dairy and see it that helps.
Dairy can cause more mucus.

[Colin2B]

Dairy can cause more mucus.

This is more myth than fact. Numerous studies have failed to find a link.
In one study, researchers infected 60 Australians with the common cold and then had them live communally for 10 days. Participants tracked their dairy intake and collected their used tissues in sealed bags for later weighing by a research assistant. They found no relationship between intake of dairy products and the weight of nasal secretions

[DudleyC]

No takers?

Well, if i must!

Two things cause this:
- One of the jobs for the nose is to condition the air we breath warming it and adding moisture. Try breathing through your mouth and you will soon start to feel dry mouth and throat. In cold weather the nose has to work overtime because the relative humidity of the air is low, so the nose produces more moisture to condition the air. However, it can overreact and produce too much - drip, drip.
- this second effect depends on how cold it is, but air leaving the nose is warm and moist so if the end of the nostrils are cold the moisture will condense out - drip, drip.

I agree, I think I saw it in wiki [nofollow] as well. If you don't have a cold, then it's usually the overproducing of mucus or state change [nofollow].

[alancalverd]

If your nose runs in cold weather, and your feet smell in hot weather, you are upside down. (Copyright: G. Chaucer, 1348)

[katieHaylor (OP)]

This question has now been answered in our show. You can listen to it here - https://www.thenakedscientists.com/articles/questions/question-week-why-does-my-nose-run-when-its-cold