How fast do you push when you have 'flu or a bad cold?

Cotterend

I hate being stuck in when ill, and usually convince myself that to keep moving will be the quickest route to health. As usual, this time, after the initial stages of no energy, followed by a sore throat, then a nose running for England, well, France, bronchitis, and being prescribed antibiotics, I decided it was high time to begin a gentle 20km per day. As usual, I took it really carefully for the outward legs, but each time decided on the return leg that actually making my lungs work would be good for them, so did some of up-slopes out of the saddle (in France, called dancing on the pedals), taking no prisoners. Hot sunshine, 28°, just too tempting!

And by the third day of the 'cure', as usual, I was much worse! Luckily, now it's raining again, so I have little temptation to go out.

And you, do you stay tucked up getting well, or do you go out, too? Any better luck with it than I have? How much better should I really be before getting out there?

fenix

If you properly have flu - you couldn't even get to your bike.

If you're ill - you have to rest. Your body is fighting the bug. It doesn;t need any extra work to do.

drlodge

I go out when I am on my way to recovery, but not too hard otherwise I'll just get ill again. I think the body likes a bit of fresh air and to get the blood pumping a bit, but don't over do it too soon. The body can't recover both from an illness and too much exertion.

mrfpb

Fenix wrote:

If you properly have flu - you couldn't even get to your bike.

If you're ill - you have to rest. Your body is fighting the bug. It doesn't need any extra work to do.

This - it's the £20 note test - if you saw a £20 note on the lawn would you go and get it. If Yes then you don't have flu.

When I have a cold, I find pottering in the garden helps, light exercise combined with fresh air. A potl by bike along the canal might help as well, but I always worry about going too far and being too ill for the return leg.

animal72

I've always gone with the theory that if its throat or above, sweat it out. If below, rest.

voodooman

Got a stinker of a cold, but not on the chest, so have cycled all week. Made sure that my HR has remained around 150 max the whole way except for one big hill.

£20 note test is spot on. Flu = 3 days in bed at least and I didn't even feel like exercise for nearly a month after. Was off work for 8 days altogether as well, people interchange colds and flu, but flu is different, it can kill people.

OnTheRopes

If it is a head cold then train, but possibly stick to zone 2 or maybe 3
If its gone below the neck, rest

kajjal

If it is flu you will be in bed and not thinking about riding.

If a cold then the more effort you spend cycling the less your body has left to fight the illness. Worst case case you can make yourself very ill for a long time. Just listen to your body and be honest.

sloppyschleckonds

Try and keep intensity below 95%

motogull

A timely topic. I had 'something' in the autumn which on reflection I never really got rid of. It bounced back about a month ago and cleaned me out for a bit with all sorts of symptoms, not enough to put me in bed, but pretty close. Penicillin has taken the edge off so I'm gonna get back out and start building up again. Typically, its been fine riding weather in the meantime.

socrates

I stick to the theory that if the cold is above the nect then ok to ride, if below the neck then don't.

iron-clover

I've only had the flu once and I could barely leave one room, let alone go for a ride!
When I know I have a cold in its early stages I avoid riding at all as I know it tends to make things much worse and lessens the chance of the cold just 'passing over'.
When I know I'm not actually ill anymore and just have the gunk to clear out I start gently for a couple of days and gradually build up.

I had a cold 2 weeks ago and unfortunately I still have some of the gunk left which interferes with hard efforts (such as the last 5 mins of a TT or racing) but other than that it's fine.

Mad_Malx

You definately don't want to breathing hard with a chest infection. Will delay recovery and potentially serious consequences if the crap end up in your air spaces.

dazz_ni45

Always rode on whenever I was sick (although not proper flu sick!). Went to Majorca in mid April and brought back a chest infection, road/raced on, got another check infection, took a bit of a rest until i was over a worst of it but didn't finish the antibiotics, then got tonsillitis and 14 day course of antibiotics and now I have a tummy bug and I'm fed up.

Moral of the story is, if you are sick give your body a chance to get over it and your immune system built up again.

kingstonian

I was diagnosed with proper flu in March. Trust me, it was a huge struggle getting from my bed to the sofa, and going out on my bike would have been impossible. Plus, my doc banned me from any exercise for a month as he said the danger of other complications (especially putting excess strain on the heart) was too great.

When I have a normal cold, I will still go out on my bike if I feel up to it but will take it as a steady spin, nothing more energetic than that.