Commuting with a bad cold

tangled_metal

As a new commuter I am trying to do all my commutes by bike. If i miss any day it is more likely I'll drop out of cycle commuting.

With that in mind what do you guys do when you are full of a horrendous cold? Talking aches, bad coughs, sore throats, sinus issues and congestion. I'm still riding in about 8 miles each way in 30 minutes on a hybrid bike. Not that far or fast but for me it is energetic. I'm also a hayfever sufferer which doesn't help one bit. The trouble is the cycle in and out are the only times I feel ok. I guess that is the endorphin's from the exercise. It is later on that I dip badly, bad cough that lasts a minute shortly after stopping riding. I can use the car 2 or 3 days a week or take the train in and walk 10 minutes into work, but I just don't want to unless absolutely necessary.

The question is am I prolonging the cold? Should I take another way in until it is over? What do you guys do? Any input would be gratefully received.

SlipSpace

I tend to ride through mine tbh. All the sweating and snotting on the bike seems to make it last less time than if I use the car or sit at home. YMMV

The Rookie

Ride through them, back off a few percent so you don't wipe yourself out - it only adds about 5% to your journey time but leaves you in a much better state, but yes if you have a cough you'll be having a good hack after you arrive.

t4tomo

yes man up and ride in (unless its appalling weather which is likely to you do more harm than good).

I did a 100 miler last month with the tail end of a coughing virus and hay fever.

What doesn't kill you makes you stronger and all that.

tangled_metal

In that case I will continue to man up and ride in. I usually do man up but never commuted by bike with a cold so was curious.
Last time I truly manned up with a cold was a 50 miler walk with a perforated ear drum, inability to hold down much food and a few days before the tendency to just collapse without warning even when sitting down in cafe with a nice mug of coffee. Hate when a cold stops me doing stuff. I'll stop riding in if I start collapsing but until then I will man up.

Good advice about backing off a bit. Now how do I do that? First time I see someone turn in just ahead of me and I'm racing again!!!

POHB

I recently read some advice that you should continue to ride if the symptoms are from the neck up, take it easy if they're below the neck. I.e. heavy exercise with a rattly chesty cough might not be a good idea but don't worry about tickly coughs and snot.

Anyway it's very antisocial to spread your germs around on public transport.

tangled_metal

It was a nasty one that was all over from chest up. Yesterday I was close to booking gp. I've never been diagnosed asthmatic but my partner used to be and has an inhaler after a bad cold left her with it again and a chest infection. She tried to get me to use it last night I was so bad with the breathing. Car today and much better. I don't think bike was a good idea tbh.
Anti-social on public transport but also at work. Will wait and see how many get it too.

eltonioni

If you genuinely need med's you should already know the answer, but the Neck Test is always my go/no-go for any proper exercise. What you really don't want is strain on your heart no matter what those pesky endorphins are telling you.

tangled_metal

Week after it finished and I'm still clearing the system out. Sinus, etc.
I ended up in the car. Still got the chest rattle going on but my gentle ride in and out is helping. I get a clear chest for a few hours afterwards. Do not ride with a full cold that runs through from chest to head. It only makes for a longer spell with it. Man up and accept your cold.

Initialised

No, keep going but use a heart rate monitor and keep the BPMs low, for me this usually means not going over 140BPM on the climbs and mainly just ticking over at 125BPM.