do you still train if you have a cold?

andy69

Dammit I've just caught a 'man cold' ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VbmbMSrsZVQ ) and it comes just after I've started back from a couple of weeks rest - typical, eh!
I don't really wanna lose another full week.

In general, do yee avoid even using the turbo while sick? (sick as in, just a cold...)

morana

yes.

Bulmers on Ice

I've no choice but to avoid it when I get a man cold. For some reason I have no energy and the heart might be willing to cycle but the body can't handle it. I went out a week ago and after 7km my legs had nothing left to give lol. Man cold is an awful thing.

kingQuez

If I've a headcold (or generally something thats not affecting my throat/lungs) and I feel up to it, I'll still train, but at a lower intensity and with reduced mileage. If I'm tired I wouldn't train at all.

Beasty

One cycling doctor I know says if your symptoms are above the neck (eg head cold) you can continue to train, albeit at a reduced level. If it's below the neck (eg chest infection) you should stop. If you have a throat infection, I've no idea ....

Anyway, I always make sure I only ever get head colds;)

a148pro

I always find heavy exercise clears a cold

Spokes of Glory

If you're sick, heavy exercise will deplete your already overtaxed immune system and can accelerate an infection, if thats what you have. A short, light spin can help clear the congestion of a simple head cold, but don't over exert yourself.

Besides.....its October, not March. Plenty of time to catch up.

Spokes

Slydice

I got a cold recently and switched to commuting by bus for a week. Then it seemed like my cold got worse. Said screw that and got back on the bike and it didn't get worse. It seems to have gone now.

Dermot Illogical

Beasty wrote: »

One cycling doctor I know says if your symptoms are above the neck (eg head cold) you can continue to train, albeit at a reduced level. If it's below the neck (eg chest infection) you should stop.

That's the advice I got when I used to run. Solid advice imho.

andy69

thanks guys!
I've had plenty of colds over the years, and would normally take the week off to rest (i.e. drink beer to numb the discomfort! ), but this one is just at an akward time to catch one, after a couple of weeks off already. But like ye say....it's October, not March, so plenty of time to catch up, and if it just stays as a head cold, sure i might tip out for a handy spin, or use the turbo if i feel up to either one over the next few days. The ambulance crew tell me I should live, despite catching the man-cold...phew!!
Wife was telling me i should lay off the bike, but i thought there might be some of yee out there that might still try to keep ploughing on if ye had a cold. we're such hero's when ye think of it...man cold is not to be sniffed at!

RobFowl

Beasty wrote: »

One cycling doctor I know says if your symptoms are above the neck (eg head cold) you can continue to train, albeit at a reduced level. If it's below the neck (eg chest infection) you should stop. If you have a throat infection, I've no idea ....

Anyway, I always make sure I only ever get head colds;)

+1 on that advice.
Also generally listen to your body.
No benefit from training when ill or overtired.

Oldlegs

andy69 wrote: »

thanks guys!
...man cold is not to be sniffed at!

So my argument works like this ...

Men tend to have larger bodies => more skin area => more pain receptors => more pain.

Obviously (:p) we do not have bigger brains than women, so while the average pain/skin area is probably the same, the total pain per unit brain size is much bigger => Man cold IS much worse than Woman cold.:p

I have not had much success selling this proof to OH or her friends

Rob A. Bank

Beasty wrote: »

One cycling doctor I know says if your symptoms are above the neck (eg head cold) you can continue to train, albeit at a reduced level. If it's below the neck (eg chest infection) you should stop. If you have a throat infection, I've no idea ....

Good advice... you should always listen to your body.

The reasoning behind that advice is to avoid the complications of Viral Myocarditis, which is a significant cause of sudden death in athletes.

More advice on Myocarditis here... "Generally athletes are advised to refrain from sporting activities during flu-like illness - or even during common cold - until the symptoms settle, as the majority of cases of Myocarditis produce no cardiovascular symptoms."

http://www.c-r-y.org.uk/myocarditis.htm