Should I ride with a cold?

[Bad JuJu]

I've got the scratchy-throat, stuffy-head feeling that presages a cold, so I'm dosing myself with Zicam and other good stuff, along with plenty of fluids. But the weather's actually pretty nice right now, so I'd love to go out for a ride, but don't want to risk getting a full-blown cold.

What does the brain trust here at TE forums say? Should I ride with a cold getting started, or preserve my body's resources to fight off the nasty invasion?

[limewave]

From what I've understood, you can exercise (ride, run, whatever) when you have a cold---unless it's in your chest.

[TsPoet]

From what I've understood, you can exercise (ride, run, whatever) when you have a cold---unless it's in your chest.

Agreed, I think exercise HELPS. But, protect your chest/throat from the cold. Make sure you are doing what you feel - if you feel too rundown, don't force yourself.
But exercise cures everything, including the common cold

[Blueberry]

I would ride slowly. If you start coughing or get any feeling that something has moved into your chest, stop. I would NOT push yourself - you don't want to run your body down - you just want to energize it to fight the cold

[Grog]

Symptoms from the neck up: ride.

Symptoms below the neck: stay home.

I also find that mild exercise helps clearing up my airways. (Beware of snot rockets and other flying secretions though...)

Just don't get tired. Your body needs energy to fight the cold.

The reason why we get colds in the winter is because we stay inside so much more!!

[mimitabby]

fresh air and a little exercise should make you feel better. If it doesn't, go home.
I think you're the best judge of what you should do.
I ride sometimes when I don't feel so good, and sometimes when i'm done, i feel better than i did when I started!

[Bad JuJu]

Thanks everyone! I've always wondered about that.

I missed the window of sunlight today, but will aim for an "exploratory" ride tomorrow morning.

[elk]

I got a bad cold the very evening of the day I got my new road bike....I waited until I thought i was feeling OK snuck out and rode for a very short while and BOOM I relapsed...

but that was me...I probably wasn't as well as I thought...just eager...

[firenze11]

I had the same experience as Elk. I always thought it was good to exercise with a cold, and I was told to do it at 75% of my normal workout. But I got a regular old cold one year and was not about to let it stop my workouts. Needless to say I ended up with a cold for about a month, I felt awful until I stopped to let my body recover. That might just be how my body works, though. So I recommend going for a ride while you have the weather but taking it easy to see how you feel.

I hope you feel better soon.

[OakLeaf]

I'm a total wuss about it myself.

Years ago I got myself into trouble because I wouldn't stop riding despite a sinus infection. It wound up lasting for 11 weeks, I was miserably sick the whole time (although it never did go into bronchitis the way they usually do with me), and I finally had to take a whole week off work - not just riding - so i could recover.

Exercise does depress the immune system. I might go for a walk outside, but my rule is when I'm sick, I don't want to break a sweat. YMMV. Hope you feel better soon.

[Aggie_Ama]

Everyone has given you good advice but here is my tale of caution. Lower your intensity. I rode (granted it was a century) with what I thought was allergies in August. Ended up with a sinus infection 10x worse than I had ever had because I didn't think anything of it since it wasn't in my chest. I have heard if it is in your chest stay home, in your head go on.

The weird thing is my doctor told me even with bronchitis I can ride, just not in the cold and give myself a few days to enjoy my cough syrup first.

[ummbnb]

I had a cold earlier in the fall which I continued to run and bike through and it lasted well over a month! I had one two weeks ago and sat out...and was better by the end of the week. Both were head colds that moved into my chest. Hard to say if the exercise had anything to do with it.

[Grog]

Thanks for telling your "cold stories", it's interesting to read how others deal with winter illnesses!

I must add a caveat to what I wrote earlier: I think it applies to perfect conditions where we're well hydrated, well rested, get all the necessary sleep, etc. If your body is already stressed or taxed by lack of sleep, it sure can't beat the cold, and it's probably a good idea to err on the side of safety...

Right now I'm getting as many as 9 hours of sleep almost every night, and, now that I think about it, it's probably the reason why I haven't been sick in a long time!!

[teigyr]

The weird thing is my doctor told me even with bronchitis I can ride, just not in the cold and give myself a few days to enjoy my cough syrup first.

I love that quote!

I have/had a sinus thingie that has moved into my chest. Have had it a month. I actually exercise ok but it exhausts me beyond all belief.

So I guess take what we all say then modify it to suit yourself. I have ridden when I didn't feel well and the ride turned out far better than I could have ever imagined. I'm a firm believer in sweating stuff out but you have to make sure that your other obligations (ie work and home) allow you the rest that you need.

[Bad JuJu]

you have to make sure that your other obligations (ie work and home) allow you the rest that you need.

Yes, I think adequate rest is SO important in fighting illness.

The Chief is one to keep working through everything, so often his colds linger for weeks. And he always razzes me about taking it too easy when I feel a cold coming on, but mine are generally much shorter and gentler (if any cold can be called "gentle" that is) than his. And I usually avoid cycling when I'm fighting a cold, too. But what I want to take a rest from are the work things, not the fun things like cycling.

This morning, it's still above the neck, so I'll try a short, easy ride and report back later.

As Grog said, thanks to everyone for sharing your "cold" stories.