I have a cold

CleeRider

Only been cycling for 2 months on a regular 3 rides per week schedule. Woke up today with a stinking cold, on a ride day.
What do you advise... Go ahead and ride anyway or wait until fully recovered?
I hate having my routine messed up so should I man up and ride through it or is it likely to make it worse resulting in a longer recovery?

What do you normally do in this situation?

MartinB2444

If you've not got a high temp go for it.

neeb

Everyone's different, but my experience is that riding when a cold has just come on generally makes it a lot worse... Wait 2 or 3 days until you are on the road to recovery, then take it gently at first.

turnerjohn

I go out when I've a cold...helps clear it out and makes me feel better then sitting inside feeling sorry for myself
Mind you if you have flu its a different sorry....I went out few weeks ago with flu and can't say it did me much good at all

t.m.h.n.e.t

I rode with the dreaded manflu earlier in the year and ended up with it for a month longer!

Then again, germs are an occupational hazard for me

verylonglegs

It depends on the type of cold for me, if it's just head ie. bunged up with snot then a solid workout and a good sweat seems to shorten it's duration for me. Anything involving a sore throat and/or coughing however means exercise is best left for another day.

CleeRider

Think I'll give it a miss as I have a cough - I'd probably be in a right state when I got back.

Hoopdriver

Go as you feel - your body will let you know. If you've a cough and a sense that it won't be a great idea to ride, it probably isn't

theescapedslave

im in the same situation...currently working a rota of 7 days on and 3 or 4 days off depending on my shift rotation...and i got the dreaded tickly throat wednesday night with thursday being my last day on the current rota...so i am now deep in the illness hole - staring forlornly out the window at the sun and replying to too many topics on bike radar.

Brava210

The biggest problem with a cold can be that it affects your balance, which can be dangerous when cycling
Be careful.

DevonClimber

This is me...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VbmbMSrsZVQ

SenseiSpud

I'm suffering with man flu at the moment and have found a gentle ride helpful, but over did it today and feel worse now. I'd say try your ride, but just ease up on the distance or effort or even both.

stueys

SenseiSpud wrote:

I'm suffering with man flu at the moment and have found a gentle ride helpful, but over did it today and feel worse now. I'd say try your ride, but just ease up on the distance or effort or even both.

This. I went out and did 38 hilly miles yesterday, it noticably hurt on the climbs more than usual but I'm no worse today. I wouldn't do an endurance ride though whilst under the weather.

roypsb

I would say take it reasonably easy and ensure you stay well hydrated. Very unpleasant if you have a streaming cold though!

IMO - if someone's really has flu, they would not be able to get out on their bike for even a few miles (and they would not want to either).

Hoopdriver

RoyPSB wrote:

I would say take it reasonably easy and ensure you stay well hydrated. Very unpleasant if you have a streaming cold though!

IMO - if someone's really has flu, they would not be able to get out on their bike for even a few miles (and they would not want to either).

True, genuine 'flu, or influenza, is a different beast altogether.