Do you guys still ride when sick?

[OakLeaf]

I saw that NYT story that Thorn posted, and I'll try to be less of a wuss in the future. BUT, I think the key is keeping it very low intensity, because any time I do a normal intensity workout, it definitely suppresses my immune system. Normally that's good news because it means my allergies go away for the duration of the workout - but when I'm sick, not so much.

Back in my racing days I had a sinus infection that lasted 11 weeks (despite I think four rounds of antibiotics), all because I didn't have the sense to take some rest. I wound up having to take a week not only off the bike, but off work, before I could get better. And when I have a sinus infection, I am sick. Ever since then I've been a total wuss about working out when I'm sick.

[Aquila]

I'd ride if it were warm enough, but if it's cold enough outside that it hurts to breath, then I wouldn't. And I'd try to take it easy, but I have a tendency to want to play when I ride, and sometimes don't have good sense.

Good luck getting over your cold; they're nasty!

[five one]

I agree with those who say lay low if the cold is in your chest.

I came down with my first cold in years the week before Christmas. It started as a head cold, but traveled south, and turned into bronchitis. I finally went to the doctor who put me on a round of antibiotics. That helped, but the bronchitis seems to have triggered my semi-dormant asthma. I've been using an old inhaler with albuterol so old it's probably not helping much, if at all. I'm hoping to get an appointment tomorrow to get this development checked out and get a new inhaler prescription.

I had been hoping to at least try a short easy ride today, but the temp is low enough outside for me to hesitate filling my lungs with cold air. It's been about a month since I've ridden outdoors and it's making me crazy. I feel like I've lost my endurance base completely. I'm hoping it's just the asthma related chest tightness that's making me feel this way. I haven't even felt like trying the trainer, but may give it a try this afternoon if I feel up to it.

Hope you feel better soon.

[NbyNW]

I agree with those who say lay low if the cold is in your chest.

+1.

I had the flu over Thanksgiving which involved a terrible sinus infection which then turned into a chest cold. After three weeks I thought I was well enough to start riding to work again, but I ended up setting myself back.

This season's cold seems to be especially tenacious.

Like five one, I have a history of asthma and my doctor gave me a fresh inhaler prescription to help keep the lung congestion in check. She also suggested that I should dial back on the physical activity until the cold clears up, particularly outside.

I've told myself that I'll stay off my bike while the weather is cold. Something about the cold and staying warm and being able to regulate my body temperature. I'm still doing some light indoor exercise. Pilates, some of my old PT routine to keep up my muscle tone around the parts of my body that have a history of trouble, and if I want to get my heart rate up I'll play a little Wii Tennis or Boxing. It's not where I'd like to be physically, but at least it keeps the muscles from stiffening up.

This is probably not for everyone, especially if your symptoms are severe, but I've done a couple of sauna sessions this past week and that also seems to have helped. I don't think the virus likes those higher temperatures.

[SheFly]

At the risk of having things thrown at me, I will confess to riding through too many types of illness.

I started getting a cold on NYD, but had plans for a ride - it was 15 degrees with wind chill temps in the -20 range, and I went anyway for 1.5 hours. Saturday the cold had progressed, but didn't stop me from 1.5 hours of skate skiing at Mt Washington (can you say cold and windy???), and then an hour on the trainer in the basement. Today might have been the nail in the coffin though - felt like cr*p when I got up, but need to do at least a 2 hour ride. Went out and rode MTB in the snow (it was pure torture) for 2.5 hours. Now I can't breathe - all stuffy .

I have, in the past, also ridden a VERY hard ride while I had walking pneumonia (in my defense, I wasn't diagnosed until AFTER the ride ).

Ducking for cover (and hoping not to end up with bronchitis)...

SheFly