Cycling/Training with a cold

bill_gates

I've developed a cold this week, nothing too major and I still attended my place of work with some days commuting but laterally I gave up and took the car. My breathing is slightly affected and my nose is streaming but nothing to keep me on the sofa.

What's the general consensus on excessing when having a cold? A few years ago I ended up with a deep chest infection which I never attributed to this but I was very much a gym attender for cardio work.

Any opinions?

iPete

Kind of answered your own question...

...not that I ever take my own advice either, crack on

jaxf

my very good, very strong, very focussed friend cycled col de l'Iseran and about 100 miles with a bit of a cold, and now has myocarditis. He has barely been able / allowed to do any cardio since July. What is a week or so of taking it easy compared to that? The old rule of below the neck - just stop really holds true.

cougie

If its just a head cold - I'd carry on - but not do anything silly. You want to let the body fight it off.

If its below the neck - definitely rest up.

kajjal

Treat a cold like an injury and don't push yourself. The main effect will be gone in a few days and you can get back to normal. The older you are and the harder you push yourself the more of a risk you are taking.

kwi

I'm Asthmatic and cold basically have me stopping, even head colds, can't afford developing any form of chest infection.

MartinB2444

Once the pyrexial phase has passed I get on with it. Going out with a high temp isn't going to do you any favours. Nothing like a good bike ride for clearing the sinuses!

bill_gates

I tend to get nasal build-up when exercising anyway whether i have a cold or not. Those footballers are alway 'gobbing' when on the field. I can be like that on a 20m cycle!

I'll take the weekend off then!

ck101

If your breathing is affected whats the point. You could end up with pneumonia and be facing long term lung damage.

getprg

STOP training.

Last Winter I got what I thought was a light cold - but kept on training and rode through it - something I had done in previous Winters. It turned into a chest infection and I ended up on antibiotics (a course of drugs I hadn't had for 20+ years).

Six weeks later I came down with another cold - rode through it - guess what - more antibiotics.

Three weeks later picked up flu - the real thing (not the man flu version). Ended up in bed for 3 days, then a chest infection - more antibiotics. My winter training schedule was completely out the window - I got to Spring the least fit I have been in the last 5 years.

Bad luck maybe but if a bug gets in to you - get off the bike and let it clear up properly. Having spoken with a cycle trainer and club mates many agree that if you press too hard whilst ill or too soon afterwards you are potentially stoking up trouble.

The decision is yours - but I'm much more careful now - and to cap it all I now cough up phlegm even though the infection has cleared up.

trek_dan

I'm not sure if its exactly related (assume it is) but back in March I did my first century ride of the year after a poor winter (which was a sprotive I'd already paid for and didnt want to miss) with a bit of a cold in absolutely crap weather - probably not a good idea. Resulted in Sinusitis and 3 weeks off the bike and about another 3 before I started feeling back to normal again. Should have just stayed in bed for a week and sacked off the ride.

slowbike

getprg wrote:

STOP training.

Last Winter I got what I thought was a light cold - but kept on training and rode through it - something I had done in previous Winters. It turned into a chest infection and I ended up on antibiotics (a course of drugs I hadn't had for 20+ years).

Six weeks later I came down with another cold - rode through it - guess what - more antibiotics.

Three weeks later picked up flu - the real thing (not the man flu version). Ended up in bed for 3 days, then a chest infection - more antibiotics. My winter training schedule was completely out the window - I got to Spring the least fit I have been in the last 5 years.

Bad luck maybe but if a bug gets in to you - get off the bike and let it clear up properly. Having spoken with a cycle trainer and club mates many agree that if you press too hard whilst ill or too soon afterwards you are potentially stoking up trouble.

The decision is yours - but I'm much more careful now - and to cap it all I now cough up phlegm even though the infection has cleared up.

Sounds like you were pushing yourself? I find that getting outside helps alleviate the symptoms of a head cold - cycling is one way to do this, but wrap up warm and take it easy. Doesn't hurt to give yourself a bit of a rest too. I got over a cold in a couple of days last week like this - easy riding and a day off (drove to work instead)...

LegendLust

General rule is any cold or illness above the throat you can ride your bike but nothing too strenuous – throat and below DO NOT ride!