Riding bicycles with a COLD [ugh, cough, sniffle, sneeze, wheeze...!]
 

Fella at work had a cold. Sure enough, now I caught it. I asked him, if this is the same virus, how bad was it? He comes back, well, it lasts for several weeks. "Several Weeks", I exclaim. NO way. I mean, I simply refuse to stay off my bike for two solid weeks dealing with this D*** thing.

So, stupid question or not, how do others think about the idea of riding with a cold? Can I end up with pneumonia or what? Or maybe 'babying' things is bad too.

Geese, I hate these things. 2 weeks; and I'll have to start all over again for any century rides coming up. I absolutely HATE colds!!!!!!!!!!!

Try a short ride and see.

I've found that if I'm feeling up to it mild excercise under decent conditions can help make a cold feel better.

A nice sunny day and a plesent not to hard ride helps, cold ride with killer hills, not a good idea.

I've been riding with a cold for about a week. When it first hit, I took a couple days rest, but have been riding since then. Best I can tell it has not made it any worse and feel like I'm starting to get over it.

I used to go the the gym in sweats and play basketball for an hour or two each day I was sick. I found that when I did this I would only stay sick for about 4 days; the exercise helped sweat the virus out. I would figure that riding would be similar just make sure your wearing weather appropriate attire and that you dont over exert yourself.

you will get practice , at 'air hankie' at least.. ;)

I believe the common wisdom is not to exercise when you have any type of lung or airway involvement with the infection. If its confined to sinuses then its supposed to be okay.

OH poor baby has a cold and can't ride HE HE!!

It is just a bit harder to breath. I have ridden with colds, and while it stinks (especially in Jan and Feb in Mass) it is nothing compared to riding with bad hangover!

No fever, I ride. I usually feel better riding than I do sitting around with a cold. Probably not a good idea to do extreme/endurance riding though, as that suppresses the immune system.

When I get a cold the worst thing for me is a plugged nose. When I start riding my nasal passages instantly open up and I can breathe freely. Actually with a cold, riding is the only time I can breathe freely.

Head cold, ride reeaal easy
Throat and below, don't.

A member of my old club, many years ago (cycling and athletic club) came back too early from heavy chest infection. Dead within 36 hours.
Fit runner, early 30s.

He had something way different than a cold (virus) if he dropped dead...maybe pneumonia (bacterial) or some other underlying issues.

A FEVER will usually interfere with your coordination, as well, so that's a good indicator. Congestion, though? Come on. The ramp-up of your metabolism will help CLEAR it (spitting it up & out).

AND, let me point out, MOST COLDS don't include a FEVER. If you can stand & walk, and not look like an extra for the Living Dead movies, you should be OK to ride. Personally, I STAY plugged up during the winter, always have; if I walked past the bike every day I was congested, I'd be on the bike maybe HALF the time! NOT GONNA HAPPEN.

Don't do it. Your recovery will take much longer if you do lots of cardio. Take a break, drink lots and lots of liquids and recover.

Once I come down with a cold, I tend to take it easy and stay off the bike.
I must say though, that since I've been bicycling, most colds that have swept through our office have had a mild effect on me. Maybe I'm tougher than my non-bicycling co-workers, heh!