Under the Weather

[cd365]

I know some of you commute all year round, how do you do it when you are under the weather?

For the first time in many months I feel like I am battling a viral infection, one the rest of my family have. I'm still cycling though but it is very hard going, lack of energy more than anything.

 

[ianrauk]

Rest... simples.

 

[cd365]

Means taking the car, and my aim is to cycle every dry day!

 

[ianrauk]

No point killing yourself.

I have been off the bike for three days as I have pulled a muscle in my side. I could have cycled in but would rather it healed. No sense in making it worse.

 

[SatNavSaysStraightOn]

I always found that if I was not well enough to cycle (in all weather) I wasn't well enough for a very stressful day at the school (taking bugs into a boarding school as a major no no - there were enough going round without creating an epidemic as happened most winters!

Ease up and if that doesn't work, take your body's hint! it is using that energy for something else - fighting the infection.

 

[cd365]

I believe that exercise helps to fight colds etc, it increases the white blood cells! Well that's what I keep telling myself.

 

[SatNavSaysStraightOn]

I believe that exercise helps to fight colds etc, it increases the white blood cells! Well that's what I keep telling myself.

to a point... exhausting your body does not help it continue to fight. Under the weather and totally lacking energy/struggling are different things ime.

I would still cycle to work, but take it easy, eat a touch more etc, plenty of vitamin C & zinc etc but there comes a point when you have to say a day's rest or two is more beneficial.

 

[Ganymede]

Wot @ianrauk and @SatNavSaysStraightOn say. Cycling when well improves your immunity so you are less likely to get ill, and when you do get ill you recover more quickly. I can attest to this at an anecdotal level since starting my cycling commute a coupla years ago.

But exercise while ill - especially vigorous exercise - will delay healing. Maybe keep commuting but leave more time to complete the run and make sure you get plenty of sleep.

 

[Drago]

If I'm icky I take the truck.

Last week was torrid for me. First Half of the week my titanium elbow was aching, so I drove in. Jus as I was perking up and was considering cycling in on my last day I suffered an anaphylactic episode (nut allergy, I'd come into contact with something dodgy), so felt too crummy to ride in

 

[ianrauk]

I believe that exercise helps to fight colds etc, it increases the white blood cells! Well that's what I keep telling myself.

It does, to a point.
But when you are actually ill your body is trying to fight what ever infection baddies are giving you jip. But a body needs rest to recuperate quicker and it's telling you so.

 

[MisterStan]

Have a day off the bike - absolutely no point in cycling if you don't feel up to it - you can still feel smug when you get back on the bike.

 

[Deleted member 35268]

I have to take a break one day in a month at least as I get fatigued and grumpy.

 

[Moodyman]

I rest at the weekend.

 

[w00hoo_kent]

I've not been having a great time of it the last week or so, and have resorted to taking the train the last couple of days, I might manage one more day of that, but as an incentive to get back on the bike, it's a pretty strong one...

 

[JoeyB]

What everyone else said! Exercise might help keep you healthy but once something does break through the bodies defence, cycling isn't going to help you! You need to rest.