Do you guys still ride when sick?

[Fujichants]

I've been kept off my bike for a week now (and i'm getting antsy) because i'm trying to get over a bad cold (now, some of you might think that this does not qualify as being sick - I asked a similar question on a horseback riding forum and got some really snarky comments). I want to go for a ride, but i'm worried that i'll end up feeling worse. It doesn't help that I have a job to think about and that I can't look like crap (i.e. red nose) in front of my clients.

So who here still goes out riding when sick? I'd hate to think i'm a total wuss.

[jobob]

I have a head cold and I went out for a really short ride yesterday (about 10 miles and dead flat). I kept the intensity very low, I didn't push myself at all and I never got winded.

I felt great during and after the ride.

Today I'll go out (err ... might go out) for a bit longer ride, probably my usual ride to the coffee shop & back which is about 25 miles and a gentle climb. If I'm feeling good when I reach the coffee shop I might try a nearby climb but I'm going to see how I feel.

I think the trick is to just get out and not push yourself. And make sure you're dressed warmly enough that you're not chilled.

hth

[maillotpois]

+1 on what Jobob said.

Head cold I will ride - just lower intensity. Fever or chest congestion it is probably better not to ride. (Note that I say "it is probably better", instead of "I won't". )

[Tri Girl]

No snarky comments here. Colds are terrible. Like the others have said, I'll ride when I have a head cold, but I sure do take it sloooowwww and easy. No speed records are set on days like that. In fact, when I feel sick, I'll just usually ride the trainer so I can stay warm and have kleenex handy.
I hope you get to feeling better soon!

[lph]

I never ride when I'm sick. I am a pathetic wuss and the world comes to a standstill whenever I start to feel poorly. I drag myself home and go to bed, and start demanding cups of tea. Luckily for my dh I'm rarely sick for long

Honestly, if I'm sick I always get worse if I try to exert myself.

[Thorn]

I wish I could remember where I read the article, but recently there was a great article that quoted a 10 year old medical study on exercising when ill. The gist of the study was that people who exercised during a cold didn't get sicker than those who took off. The colds for both the exercise group and the non-exercise group lasted the same amount of time, but the exercises were more likely to report feeling less lousy.

That justifies my exercising with a cold. However, like others have said, I do tend to take it easier and prefer indoor vs. outdoor riding for the control over the workout.

ETA: Found it http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/25/he...best.html?_r=1

[RoadRaven]

Hello, my name is Raven... and I'm an addict...

Yes, I still ride when sick - but as the others say, if it is chesty/below the neck, I don't. Like others have said here already - this is dangerous and potentially it is life-threatening.

I have known two people now who, desparate to do events they had entered in, took pills to disguise their symptoms and ended up very sick after the intense riding of the event because they had placed such demands on their (but because of the cold/flu tablets, they hadn't realised how unwell their body was feeling). One ended up in hospital - these are both healthy, reasonably fit 30-something-year olds.

[shootingstar]

I had deep phlegm in my lungs which took several days to clear this week.

In other years if it weren't for our snow, I would taken a slow bike ride just to stay limber.

Weather hasn't been great and at this time, I have to become healthier faster in a way that will stay with me since it's not returning to some cycling but a busy work week ahead....and Maui thereafter!! That's where restarting cycling again.

[Crankin]

I have learned the hard way about riding when sick. I get to a certain point and I know that a cold will go into my chest. Sometimes riding outside will make me feel better, but then hours later I get worse. It's just hard for me to go slower than usual when I'm outside.
What I do is go for a brisk walk or go to yoga if I'm sick, but not too bad. That way, I feel like I've done something. Of course, I'm not training for anything. But, I've given myself pneumonia and bronchitis in the past, because I wasn't willing to rest when I should have.

[Aggie_Ama]

My doctor said if it is in your head you can ride, in the chest stay home. I on the other hand cannot ride with a sinus infection or head cold, I am too miserable to sit upright and too out of it to be safe on the road. I can handle a low intensity hike and that is all. I was cleared to ride with bronchitis after it calmed down. Bronchitis lasts 4-6 weeks so I rode with it when the weather was warmer and at a low intensity. HOWEVER at the start I would not ride since my own brother worked hard with bronchitis and had it turn to full blown walking pneumonia which put him in bed an entire winter break from his senior year of high school. Maybe try a short easy pace ride and judge your own body.

[OakLeaf]

See, if I get something in my head it WILL go to my chest. Very, very few exceptions. It might be mild and it might be more severe, but it will go to my chest.

I don't know if that's because of my extremely mild asthma (doubtful) or the scar tissue in my one bronchial tube from a bad bronchitis years ago (possible, it's that area that always seems to get infected first) or something else (who knows).

Does anyone else have that problem?

[Possegal]

Oakleaf - I have that problem too. I blame it on my asthma. When I'm a good girl and taking my meds regularly, that doesn't happen. I had a dr tell me that there was no way that had any impact. I told her I was an N of 1 in my own research project, and I believe my data. * I have years of data! Any time I'm not on the singulair and advair when I get a cold, it goes to my chest and then takes about 1-2 months to go away. And there is no way I can workout when I'm coughing constantly. It is a hideous time, and I had it last year and it took me out for all of February and part of March. Not fun! Because of the fear of it going to my chest though, I don't workout when I've got a headcold. Not worth the risk of being down and out for weeks. (just in case my research study is flawed)

*I'm a research scientist, and a dr of pharmacology, so I tend to believe my data.

[Crankin]

I pretty much am the same way. I also have mild asthma, not on any regular meds because I have been pretty much symptom free for years, except when I get sick. I just do not get a "cold." It always ends up in my chest. I've had years of being sick from November to February, even in AZ. Then miraculously, when I stopped teaching this stopped. Except for last March, when I was subbing and all the kids had some horrible virus/flu. After I had been working about a month, I thought I had been lucky enough to beat it, but I got horribly sick with a 102 temp., a real cold, and wheezing. I had to miss 2 days of work and they had to get a sub for the sub.
I'm certainly still around people, but just not lots of snotty nosed teens!

[jobob]

My head cold was considerably worse today. I had to take the day off from work and hang out semi comatose, coughing & wheezing. Yeah, it's gone into my chest. Crud.

I honestly don't know if the short easy rides I did on Saturday & Sunday made any difference (the ride I did on Sunday was a lot shorter than I originally planned).

But in the interests of full disclosure I thought I'd let ya's know.