Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > Commuting
Reload this Page >

Do you commute when your sick?

Search
Notices
Commuting Bicycle commuting is easier than you think, before you know it, you'll be hooked. Learn the tips, hints, equipment, safety requirements for safely riding your bike to work.

Do you commute when your sick?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 04-22-09, 03:03 PM
  #1  
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
Kens6161's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Kalamazoo
Posts: 81

Bikes: 2009 Bianchi Axis, 1972 Raleigh LTD-3, Huffy POS

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Do you commute when your sick?

Because I took my new-bike-to-be out for a test ride yesterday and I was out of breath at 3/4 of the way around the block! I figured it is just because I am breathing through my mouth because my head feels like a brick. Sooooo....

do YOU commute when you are under the weather?
Kens6161 is offline  
Old 04-22-09, 04:05 PM
  #2  
Recovering mentalist
 
Randochap's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: On the Edge
Posts: 2,810

Bikes: Too many

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time in 1 Post
Depends how heavy the "weather" is.

A cold doesn't effect me but this winter I had a flu virus so vicious, I ended up in hospital In retrospect, I probably should have stayed off the bike for a couple weeks.
Randochap is offline  
Old 04-22-09, 04:23 PM
  #3  
Senior Member
 
CACycling's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Oxnard, CA
Posts: 4,571

Bikes: 2009 Fuji Roubaix RC; 2011 Fuji Cross 2.0; '92 Diamond Back Ascent EX

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6 Post(s)
Liked 16 Times in 12 Posts
If I'm too sick to ride, I'm too sick to be at work.
CACycling is offline  
Old 04-22-09, 05:21 PM
  #4  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Boise, ID
Posts: 111

Bikes: LeMond Sarthe, Schwinn Voyager 11.8, Specialized Hardrock

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Originally Posted by CACycling
If I'm too sick to ride, I'm too sick to be at work.
+1

Except for the bronchitis I got this winter from the nasty inversion and resulting bad air. Just couldn't breath or ride for about a week.
MikeOnBike is offline  
Old 04-22-09, 05:24 PM
  #5  
Laid back bent rider
 
unixpro's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Burien, WA
Posts: 1,134

Bikes: Bacchetta Giro 20

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
I'm the same -- too sick to ride == too sick to work. However, riding in the winter does, in my opinion, improve your immune system so you don't get sick as often and/or recover more quickly.
unixpro is offline  
Old 04-22-09, 05:33 PM
  #6  
Val
Bike Pilot
 
Val's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Pacific Northwest
Posts: 182

Bikes: Oh, yes

Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Absolutely, but I would say (just for variety's sake): well enough to work = well enough to ride. It's a good test.
Val is offline  
Old 04-22-09, 06:16 PM
  #7  
Infamous Member
 
chipcom's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Ohio
Posts: 24,360

Bikes: Surly Big Dummy, Fuji World, 80ish Bianchi

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 4 Times in 3 Posts
If I am well enough to go to work, I am well enough to ride to work.
If I am too sick to work, sometimes I still go for a ride.
__________________
"Let us hope our weapons are never needed --but do not forget what the common people knew when they demanded the Bill of Rights: An armed citizenry is the first defense, the best defense, and the final defense against tyranny. If guns are outlawed, only the government will have guns. Only the police, the secret police, the military, the hired servants of our rulers. Only the government -- and a few outlaws. I intend to be among the outlaws" - Edward Abbey
chipcom is offline  
Old 04-22-09, 06:21 PM
  #8  
uke
it's easy if you let it.
 
uke's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: indoors and out.
Posts: 4,124
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time in 1 Post
I rode with a cold a few times last year. That's about as sick as I get.
uke is offline  
Old 04-22-09, 06:51 PM
  #9  
Senior Member
 
bcarter6's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2008
Posts: 142
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Same, if I'm too sick to ride, I need to call in. I was sick about a month ago with a bad cold for a week. Only one of those days I had to call in. But the rest of the days I rode.

I think it is good though, I always end up feeling a bit better after the ride. Sure, it takes me a good bit longer to make the trip, but its all good as long as I leave a little earlier. And it gets some endorphins flowing and I feel better for a little while.
bcarter6 is offline  
Old 04-22-09, 07:44 PM
  #10  
In the right lane
 
gerv's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Des Moines
Posts: 9,557

Bikes: 1974 Huffy 3 speed

Mentioned: 4 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 44 Post(s)
Liked 7 Times in 6 Posts
Originally Posted by chipcom
If I am too sick to work, sometimes I still go for a ride.
Hey... me too. No point wasting a whole day lying on the couch.
gerv is offline  
Old 04-22-09, 09:18 PM
  #11  
Señior Member
 
ItsJustMe's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Michigan
Posts: 13,749

Bikes: Windsor Fens, Giant Seek 0 (2014, Alfine 8 + discs)

Mentioned: 13 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 446 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 8 Times in 7 Posts
When my sick what?
OK, end grammar nazi mode.

If I'm contagious I work from home. This is not due to not wanting to ride, it's because I don't think it's right to go in and get everyone else sick.

If I don't think I'm contagious, and I'm feeling well enough to work, I'll ride.
__________________
Work: the 8 hours that separates bike rides.
ItsJustMe is offline  
Old 04-22-09, 09:21 PM
  #12  
Senior Member
 
mechanicalron's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Downtown Detroit, Mi.
Posts: 781

Bikes: Surly LHT, 94 Cannondale track bike, 80's Cannondale track bike, 60's Raleigh 5 speed, 1888 Eldridge wood wheel track bike and my old 76 DG BMX from when I was a kid.

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
If it is bad, I take time off work but after a bit I start to go stir crazy so I have to get out and ride. I can only sleep so much when I am sick!
mechanicalron is offline  
Old 04-22-09, 09:35 PM
  #13  
Senior Member
 
caloso's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Sacramento, California, USA
Posts: 40,865

Bikes: Specialized Tarmac, Canyon Exceed, Specialized Transition, Ellsworth Roots, Ridley Excalibur

Mentioned: 68 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2952 Post(s)
Liked 3,106 Times in 1,417 Posts
If it's just a head cold, I often find that a gentle ride gets the blood flowing and the snot loosened up so I'll feel a bit better.

I think the old roadie rule of thumb is "Above the neck: ride. Below the neck: stay in bed."
caloso is offline  
Old 04-23-09, 03:00 AM
  #14  
The City Cyclist
 
ryanz4's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Province of Niagara
Posts: 100

Bikes: Can't remember the name...I painted over it.

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
The only time I went without biking was when I had this viral infection and I could hardly move from room to room in the house.

Don't drive and IMO taxi is too expensive (even though I had family that worked at a taxi company)

So for me, if I'm too sick to bike, I'm to sick to go out.
ryanz4 is offline  
Old 04-23-09, 03:54 AM
  #15  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: perth
Posts: 116

Bikes: pake, surly pacer

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
i ride to work when sick with a cold, even a bad cold. but, like many have mentioned abov, if i am soooooo sick i can't move i will stay at home. in general though riding is always way, way better than my other transport option - the bus. i could do with taking more sick days than i do. but i will take it easier, and just kinda get to work and back instead of adding extra distance etc.
astroman is offline  
Old 04-23-09, 06:33 AM
  #16  
Senior Member
 
lil brown bat's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Boston (sort of)
Posts: 3,878

Bikes: 1 road, 1 Urban Assault Vehicle

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time in 1 Post
Originally Posted by CACycling
If I'm too sick to ride, I'm too sick to be at work.
For me, I'd modify this to say "If I'm too sick to ride, I'm too sick to go to work," because my alternative is public transit, and that's as tiring as riding the bike -- often more so, plus it can mean being on my feet longer, standing around in the cold longer, etc. Driving might be different, but it's not an option for me.
lil brown bat is offline  
Old 04-23-09, 07:26 AM
  #17  
Strong with the Fred
 
Big_e's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Dallas, TX
Posts: 970
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times in 2 Posts
Originally Posted by CACycling
If I'm too sick to ride, I'm too sick to be at work.
+1. That doesn't mean I won't get on the bike and look for a bite to eat later in the day. Usually if I'm that bad off, I'll order out for a pizza or something.
Ernest
Big_e is offline  
Old 04-23-09, 07:33 AM
  #18  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 14,277
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3 Times in 3 Posts
Like others if I am to sick to ride I work from home. No reason to get everyone sick.
DataJunkie is offline  
Old 04-23-09, 12:50 PM
  #19  
Senior Moment
 
ontheroadid's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Idaho
Posts: 240
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Originally Posted by MikeOnBike
Except for the bronchitis I got this winter from the nasty inversion and resulting bad air. Just couldn't breath or ride for about a week.
My wife had that this year, and the inversion really prolonged her agony.

Originally Posted by caloso
If it's just a head cold, I often find that a gentle ride gets the blood flowing and the snot loosened up so I'll feel a bit better.

I think the old roadie rule of thumb is "Above the neck: ride. Below the neck: stay in bed."
Yeah, when I have a head cold, a cold ride actually allows me to breathe through my nose. But if it gets to my lungs, I'll stop riding for a couple days (and probably stay home from work, too).
ontheroadid is offline  
Old 04-24-09, 08:28 AM
  #20  
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 14
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Depends on how sick, if it is a mild cold, headache or something no real problem, I just take it slower. Today was my first day back on the bike after three weeks because of pneumonia, first two off were because of the illness and the third was because of the very decreased lung capacity, and cold rain. If you don't feel comfortable don't ride, if you think you can go for it, but take it slower.
chicagoredsean is offline  
Old 04-24-09, 08:38 AM
  #21  
L T X B O M P F A N S R
 
apricissimus's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Malden, MA
Posts: 2,334

Bikes: Bianchi Volpe, Bianchi San Jose, Redline 925

Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1641 Post(s)
Liked 5 Times in 2 Posts
Originally Posted by lil brown bat
For me, I'd modify this to say "If I'm too sick to ride, I'm too sick to go to work," because my alternative is public transit, and that's as tiring as riding the bike -- often more so, plus it can mean being on my feet longer, standing around in the cold longer, etc. Driving might be different, but it's not an option for me.
I agree with this. I'd feel far worse being on a train while sick than riding my bike while sick.
apricissimus is offline  
Old 04-24-09, 10:24 AM
  #22  
Senior Member
 
somedood's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: UT
Posts: 398

Bikes: Ibex Xray

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Originally Posted by CACycling
If I'm too sick to ride, I'm too sick to be at work.
Not me.

All last week I had a bad head cold + allergies. I have athsma and it comes out when I am sick and exhert myself. I love biking, but I like breathing even more so when I'm sick I drive. I feels good to be back on the bike, though.
somedood is offline  
Old 04-25-09, 07:06 PM
  #23  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: New York City
Posts: 364

Bikes: 2006 Dahon D7, 2015 Kona Minute

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 15 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
These days, when I'm sick, my asthma usually kicks in. When my peak flow hits 300 or less, I am off the bike for a while. It's frustrating but what can you do?
dschwarz is offline  
Old 04-25-09, 07:11 PM
  #24  
cyclepath
 
daredevil's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: "The Last Best Place"
Posts: 3,550

Bikes: 2005 Trek Pilot 5.0, 2001 Specialized Sirrus Pro, Kona Lava Dome, Raleigh hardtail converted to commuter, 87 Takara steel road bike, 2008 Trek Soho

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time in 1 Post
Fortunately, I guess, I'm usually just sick of work.
__________________
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Without music, life would be a mistake."
-- Friedrich Nietzsche
daredevil is offline  
Old 04-25-09, 07:22 PM
  #25  
Banned
 
dynodonn's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: U.S. of A.
Posts: 7,466
Mentioned: 41 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1268 Post(s)
Liked 78 Times in 67 Posts
I haven't missed a day of work/cycling in 12 years due to being sick, that last time was with a 104F fever, and even if the boss had a million dollars to pay me, I wasn't coming in.
dynodonn is offline  


Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.