Fifty Plus (50+) - When to resume riding after a cold?

And how fast do you get back up to speed?

My cold celebrated its 1 week anniversary today. I pedaled a little on last Monday, which was followed by it's main assault on my sinuses and lungs. So since then, I've limited myself to very short trips around the neighborhood to go to the bank and post office. But tonight, the call of the road was too much and I pedaled over the hill and all the way to the grocery store and managed to rack up about 6 miles total.

What are your rules of thumb for colds?

I don't have a lot of choice, being car-free. If I want to get to work, I have to ride my bike.

Of course, when sick or recovering, I generally take the direct route.

I brought a cold back from Colorado with me. It was about ten days from onset before I felt like riding more than the minimum required. I was (and am) still hacking up junk, especially in the first couple of hours after a ride.

But boy, that time of reduced riding did me a world of good. I'm riding much faster, much longer than before.

Just let your body tell you. I had a nasty cold in mid-July and I'd be hacking up all kinds of stuff after a short ride (actually, it started during the ride). I just did what I could like I did when I had the flu last winter (my wife thinks I'm nuts - she's probably right).

I generally just ride but less energetically. It clears things out.

Al

As long as I don't have a fever, I ride. I keep the rides less aggressive and pay particular attention to getting enough rest/sleep. So, intervals, serious hill climbing and especially long rides get put on hold until my body's capable of the higher work loads.

It wouldn't occur to me to not ride because of a cold. I might take it a bit easier than normal though.

Everyone debates this one, I think. As long as I don't have a fever, I ride. But if I don't feel well, it's probably going to just be at recovery speed.