colds and cycling

trevtherev

There must be lots of riders like me out there who have had constant colds/sorethroats/snots etc the last few weeks. Some 4 weeks ago I was off work with sore throat etc but even though I went back to work after 3 days the cold/cough is still there. I am sure that it is irritated by my daily commute but it's a price I must pay as I love cycling. I have cut down on my running until I stop coughing but the blocked up feeling in the morning is awful anyone else got the winter blues!

cjcp

If you're running as well, it's likely that you're not giving yourself the chance to recover properly. Stop running altogether.

(I can't tell you to stop cycling without being an awful hypocrite. How can you run with a cough btw? I'm asthmatic and don't get further than the end of the road if I run with a cold.)

Mike Healey

Rule 1: cold in head - ride easy, very easy
Rule 2: cold in throat or below, do not ride at all

In either case, take a couple of days off, unless you really hate your fellow workers.

gb155

Woke up yesterday to the feeling of being stabbed in the head, Then threw up, exorsist style, proceeded to sleep for about 90% of yesterday, However im feeling a LITTLE better now, Just cracking open the bike and I will be gone for 630, I lost my Sunday but its a small price to pay

snakehips

trevtherev wrote:

There must be lots of riders like me out there who have had constant colds/sorethroats/snots etc the last few weeks.

Yes , you can add me to the list. If we don't all get better soon there are going to be some seriously compromised Xmas celebrations.
Does anybody know of a way to 'dry up' all that fluid (mucous ?) that gets in to your head. I seem to recall some medication aimed at that some years ago.

DonDaddyD

I'm notoriously known for getting colds/flu at winter.

In my office of 7 (including me) everyone has had the flu (this particular strand is a nasty bugger), which has resulted with a week off for each of them. My brother had the same flu, as did my Mum. My Girlfriend has had an ongoing cold/cough (we live together) I thought it was only a matter of time till I dropped as colds, coughs and flu have me surrounded.

For the most part I've got a sore throat and am short of breath, I didn't ride last week and during that time my health had gotten progressively worse. I cycled into work today, throat still sore that has developed into a cough and I've had to use my asthma puff (inhaler) for the first time in years (didn't work). After my commute I've never felt better.

Personally I think that cycling is the one reason I haven't succumbed to a proper cold/flu all winter.

My advice, if its not proper flu or cold and you don't have a headache, feel drowsy or generally "not with it". Basically as long as you haven't been overcome with illness. MTFU, put vicks vapour rub on your chest and nose, cycle and "sweat it out".

lost_in_thought

snakehips wrote:

Does anybody know of a way to 'dry up' all that fluid (mucous ?) that gets in to your head. I seem to recall some medication aimed at that some years ago.

Sudafed - or another more powerful decongestant. I use Actifed imported (by me) from Australia. And I only use 1/4 of the stated dose.

Be careful, they dehydrate you, or seem to.

My rule is that unless I have a temperature I'm on the bike.

EDIT: Sudafed/Actifed may not be suitable for Asthmatics. Check.

snakehips

lost_in_thought wrote:

Sudafed - or another more powerful decongestant. I use Actifed imported (by me) from Australia. And I only use 1/4 of the stated dose.

Be careful, they dehydrate you, or seem to.

Thanks , they sound familiar. They may be the things I had somewhere deep in my memory.
Dehydration is something that wouldn't go amiss at the moment. I am a walking fluid excess.

boybiker

My coach told me that if I rode with a cold then he would refuse to coach me again.I do know people who have made themselves quite ill by riding when they had a cold and ended up with something much worse.

always_tyred

lost_in_thought wrote:

snakehips wrote:

Does anybody know of a way to 'dry up' all that fluid (mucous ?) that gets in to your head. I seem to recall some medication aimed at that some years ago.

Sudafed - or another more powerful decongestant. I use Actifed imported (by me) from Australia. And I only use 1/4 of the stated dose.

Be careful, they dehydrate you, or seem to.

My rule is that unless I have a temperature I'm on the bike.

EDIT: Sudafed/Actifed may not be suitable for Asthmatics. Check.

You do know that they are the same thing, right? (Like Marmite and.....)

lost_in_thought

Always Tyred wrote:

lost_in_thought wrote:

snakehips wrote:

Does anybody know of a way to 'dry up' all that fluid (mucous ?) that gets in to your head. I seem to recall some medication aimed at that some years ago.

Sudafed - or another more powerful decongestant. I use Actifed imported (by me) from Australia. And I only use 1/4 of the stated dose.

Be careful, they dehydrate you, or seem to.

My rule is that unless I have a temperature I'm on the bike.

EDIT: Sudafed/Actifed may not be suitable for Asthmatics. Check.

You do know that they are the same thing, right? (Like Marmite and.....)

But like the old mar vs vege mite debate, the Australian version is very similar to the English one, only better...

always_tyred

The English version, I think, is the "is warm beer from a can the same as warm beer from a tap?"

Those of us who regard warm beer as a very strange concept carried over from the time before refrigeration would assert that they are equally revolting. Conversely, those who regard flat caps as desirable pieces of headgear, might argue that the beer from a tap is infinitely better, despite the chemical similarity.

That should keep the thread ticking over......

Feltup

There's a reason for nearly freezing aussi beer - to numb your taste buds so you can't taste it.

Who drinks warm beer? It should be cool (not COLD) and definitely not warm :shock:

Light exercise can help clear a cold but gulping down litres of freezing air into poorly lungs is not a great idea imo.

firvulag

A couple of years ago I had a cough when cycling in to work. Kept bringing up glut.

Was ok otherwise. Thought it was just a cold / cold air.

After a month or so I was at the doc for something else and mentioned it. He also thought it was just the cold air / winter cough but sent me for a chest x-ray just to be sure.

Lucky he did.

1 X-ray plus 2 biopsys later it turned out to be early stage Hodgkins lymphoma. The cough was caused by a swollen lymph node in my chest. Cue 3 months chemotherapy.

All better now and back on my bike now though.

don_don

Went for a very cold, wet, muddy MTB ride yesterday and got nicely chilled cleaning the bike off afterwards.

And yes, now I have a nice tickly cough and a sore throat developing :evil:

Serves me right for leaving the road-bike in the garage :roll:

don_don

firvulag wrote:

A couple of years ago I had a cough when cycling in to work. Kept bringing up glut.

Was ok otherwise. Thought it was just a cold / cold air.

After a month or so I was at the doc for something else and mentioned it. He also thought it was just the cold air / winter cough but sent me for a chest x-ray just to be sure.

Lucky he did.

1 X-ray plus 2 biopsys later it turned out to be early stage Hodgkins lymphoma. The cough was caused by a swollen lymph node in my chest. Cue 3 months chemotherapy.

All better now and back on my bike now though.

And if I ever complain about having a cough again, I deserve to be shot!

Glad to hear you have an 'on-the-ball' Doctor firvulag. Glad you are OK too

snakehips

So I've been out got my Sudafed decongestant and taken my first one. I'm feeling comfy and relaxed , a bit drowsy even. Is that a side effect or am I just a derelict old s*d ?

Somebody wake me at 8 o'clock for my next dose please

trevtherev

I feel worse having read all the replies! I must ride each day as it is my only means of commute...the wife uses the car...also I have to ride...or I go mad...and the riding of the bike is prob keeping the chesty cough hanging on...cold air getting in my chest etc..so I'll get on with it and not complain...I have stopped running for a couple of weeks...but plan to start on Thursday....I just love all that fresh cold air...pity my chest doesn't. It does however appear to me that loads of people have chesty caughs this year...roll on spring

Hey Jax

My theory is that cycling in the freezing cold weather kills all the bugs deep in your throat/ lungs..as you inhale they become cryogenically frozen and hopefully die! yey!

simon_e

snakehips wrote:

Does anybody know of a way to 'dry up' all that fluid

Drying it up means it stays inside, so you'll harbour the bugs for longer. That's why the snot runs - to wash 'em out. My recommendation is drink lots of warm water, eat a pile of fresh fruit and get plenty of rest. Cutting down on cow's milk and cheese might help reduce mucus production.

Don't indulge in vigorous exercise when you're ill, it can kill you. If it doesn't it still prevents your body from giving the immune system the resources it needs and can make a condition more severe. If your muscles are aching or if you have any symptoms below the neck do NOT ride. Otherwise if you have to ride wrap up well and take it very easy.

Despite there being colds, runny noses and coughs all around me, at home and work, for weeks now I have yet to succumb. I like to think the commuting gives me the edge.

For anyone who reckons they've had 'flu it's only 'flu if you are too ill to get out of bed for a couple of days. Otherwise it's a cold, so get over yourself

prj45

Not had so much as a sniffle so far this Autumn/Winter, but yes, whilst processing a cold bug not a good idea to exert yourself too much.

Cold remedies just cover up the symptoms, so even if you feel OK still not a good idea.

fossyant

Just ease off - but if you have the flu - i.e. temps, aches...don't ride. Chest infections no. Slight cough - yeh carry on !!!

prj45

fossyant wrote:

Just ease off - but if you have the flu - i.e. temps, aches...don't ride. Chest infections no. Slight cough - yeh carry on !!!

If you have the flu you wouldn't be able to ride, or get out of bed, it's a proper near death experience without the bright lights and feeling of calm.

always_tyred

prj45 wrote:

fossyant wrote:

Just ease off - but if you have the flu - i.e. temps, aches...don't ride. Chest infections no. Slight cough - yeh carry on !!!

If you have the flu you wouldn't be able to ride, or get out of bed, it's a proper near death experience without the bright lights and feeling of calm.

I've had flu twice. First time, I tried to ride to the lab during early stage flu (so I didn't actually think it was flu). Total lack of balance, problem with loss of power from the engine, climbed off after 5 minutes and went to bed for a week. Second time I spared myself the effort.

itboffin

I've had two colds back to back WTF is up with that!?!

I find lots of alcohol + curry + large doses of drugs (legal) work wonders for my colds, there is no cure for man flu as all us men know, you can only be made comfortable.

Edit: and my 10 mile time is down by 6-8 mins, 8 mins!!! how is that possible...

boo hoo I hate winter