Cycling when sick

[allabouteva]

Hello ladies

I've been having flu symptoms for the past week, you know the standard aches and pains, headache, sore throat, and I think around the corner is the runny nose. I woke up early this morning to get on my bike, but couldn't seem to get out of bed, the cold weather could've been a factor... But I'm just not feeling too well:(

So I just want to ask, how sick you are when you decide that the bike is not something you want to do, or am I being a bit wimpy?:rolleyes:

e

[Lise]

For me, biking is a joy. So if I ever "don't feel like it" because of fatigue or illness, I don't go. Now running is another story. I can psych myself out of going for a run all kinds of ways. Sometimes I've pushed myself to do a run, and realized that I really was too tired or too sick, or yes, that really is a migraine...stuff like that. But biking is a treat, so if I don't feel like it, I don't do it.

It would be like me saying, "No, a piece of dark chocolate wouldn't help right now." I'd have to be sick to say something like that. :p

[Veronica]

I rode 40 miles out a planned 100 today. I never felt good, couldn't keep my heart rate down. My legs felt great, but that was it. I've had a cold all week. Thom was planning on meeting me for lunch, so when I got to the meeting spot, I told him I was done. No sense in wearing myself out.

I'm glad I tried, but riding is supposed to be fun. While I wasn't miserable, I wasn't having fun. It's important to listen to your body. You don't want to set yourself back.

V.

[janetsplanet]

Sometimes when I do feel tired or have a headachy or my legs are kinda achey a bikeride helps me. Granted I dont do 40-80 miles but a 12-25 mile ride will make me or break me...
I do turn around when I reach my breaking point.
I try though because usually that will either work out the bugs or make me so tired that I sleep well that night and feel much better in the morning.
This winter I had the flu all around me at work and I stayed committed at the Gym after my surgery was healed and I didnt get the flu worse than a few sniffles. I really think that exercise and sweating and really working the brain and body keeps you healthy. A good diet helps too.
Now that gas has gone up I plan on biking to work everyday so I should be very healthy for the riding season....:p

[Grog]

Rule of thumb is: above the neck symptoms, train (if lightly), below the neck, don't train.

So basically a runny nose won't keep me off the bike. Fever will.

When I have a cold I actually like to go for a ride. Getting my circulation going a bit faster also allows me to... hum, decongest and let go of a lot of mucus. Good time to practice snot rockets. I will feel much better after. I just make sure I wear my most absorbent, softest gloves.... (!)

[traveller_62]

I go by the rule of thumb that Grog stated. Plus if you have any kind of fever you should rest.

I had flu with similar symptoms to yours a few weeks ago and it really took the stuffing out of me. I wanted to get out and ride but I just didn't have the energy. Every other day I would get on my trainer and see how I felt. If I was not enjoying it after 15 minutes I would bag it and take a nap. By the end of the week I was feeling good enough on the trainer to spin for 30-40 minutes then I knew I was well enough to get back outside on the road.

Hope you are feeling better and are back on the bike soon!

[allabouteva]

Good time to practice snot rockets.

Thanks everyone for the great advice.

Gotta mention that I've not heard of snot rockets, but that made me laugh, and I feel better already! Gotta try it....!!!:D

[bikerchick68]

I'm glad I tried, but riding is supposed to be fun.
V.

Veronica... you just "nutshelled" the lesson I learned this year... :) Since taking some self induced pressure off... I have enjoyed riding much more again!

Eva... they say you can ride anytime as long as you don't have a fever. Do not ride with a fever ever... I, however, won't ride with a bad cold... mostly because like Veronica said, my energy level just isn't there... riding when I can't breathe just isn't my idea of fun.

hope you feel better soon...

[SalsaMTB]

I'm fighting a bad cold right now also and I will not ride. I don't like all the runny nose I get when I ride without a cold, I don't even want to deal with that with a cold while riding. Plus, my energy is so low right now, I just want to sleep and the chest congestion is awful. If my body says sleep, I sleep (unless I'm at work). I think it's OK to exercise if you're feeling a little under the weather, but I also think it's really easy to over push yourself and delay getting better.

I'm basing this on only my personal experiences, there could be good studies that prove otherwise!

[RoadRaven]

Thanks everyone for the great advice.

Gotta mention that I've not heard of snot rockets, but that made me laugh, and I feel better already! Gotta try it....!!!:D

Hey there Eva... what everyone else said... if you feel miserable, don't go... though like Grog, most times a ride makes me feel better.

As for snot rockets... do a search - I think there is a whole thread here somewhere about effective snot rockets! :cool:

[allabouteva]

Its Anzac Day today, a day when we honour war veterans, which is a public holiday in Australia, and the bug has progressed to the back of my throat. But if the weather is ok this afternoon, I think I might go for a little pedal:p

I'll let you know how I feel..:o