skinnyone

As part of biking, one thing I have learnt is to listen to my body. You know intensity, eating and drinking before you bonk or dehydrate etc etc. I got the flu last week and still got some lingering aftereffects with sniffles, sinuses and such. My mind wants me to HTFU and put a session on the trainer to clear the airways and get a decent sweat. The body, though, doth protest and says "mucho take it easy". The muscles are sore, there is still some congestion and all it wants to do is rest. My common sense wants to take it easy and not bike but my brain wants to me to HTFU and go ride like crazy.

What do you think/do.

curiouskid55

If you have a fever rest. If not HTFU. Seriously you can work out just take it easy.

Zinn-X

cold = go
fever = no

if you're throwing up, just make sure you stay in the back when riding in a group.

Doctor Who

Get off the Internet and go eat a pizza or something. It seems pretty clear to me that there's no reason for you to get on the bike. If you feel lethargic, do some push-ups or go for a long walk.

brian416

Go for it, if you don't feel good you can quit whenever you want and plop down on the couch and finish watching whatever you watch while on the trainer there

skinnyone

I guess I should have typed that I have to go the stationary bike as the trainers been busted. so there is added inertia in the equation.

merider1

I don't know why getting on the bike is HTFU. You can just jump on and if you feel truly awful, get off. Now, if you were considering riding a century, that would be different story.

I rode the stationary bike while injured and I didn't feel tough, I just needed the exercise. You may need it too as it will help you sweat out some gunk.

However, like another member mentioned, if you have a fever, don't do it. At least, that's the advice I've always been given.

I hope you feel better.

Zinn-X

WTF is HTFU?

asherlighn

Harden the f*** up.

StephenH

Do some riding but don't wear yourself out. Just take things easy but let your muscles know they aren't supposed to atrophy.

skinnyone

Dinner makes me feel strong. Gym bound I am.

grahny

HTFU and listen to your body... if it says don't ride... then HTFU and don't ride.

Pharmr

listen if you're in pain or just totally blown out....then don't ride....if you think that a good sweat and a easy ride might help, then HTFU already and get on the trainer for an easy spin....you'll be sweating before you know it and you might just feel better afterwards.

ZXiMan

Sometimes it's just harder to say "No ride today". I listen to what the body says but I also feel guilty if I don't ride. Today I was less than my usually motivated self to actually throw a leg over a bike and go for a ride. I made myself go anyways. I didn't feel very comfortable on the bike and my legs were non existant for the first hour and 20 minutes of my ride. I decided not to push very hard. This week is an overreaching week for me so volume has been up and intensity has been higher than any previous weeks this year. Tommorow I get to do lots and lots of climbing. Next week will be a dedicated "recovery" week. I'll still ride, but I will cut volume and intensity significantly.

If you really do feel like sh*t (I'm not talking about being lazy) a day off the bike usually will do you wonders.

Made_In_Warsaw

Listen to your body... I just F*d my knee up for a while.. it's going to set me back a good 20-30 days.

bo00on

i once had the flu and decided on a compromise between HTFU and rest - i did rides at recovery pace. i just needed to get the blood flowing and clear the nose. felt really good after the rides and those rides did not delay my recovery from the flu.

waterrockets 

HTFU for efforts, not go/no-go ride decisions.

stevegor

Don't push yourself too hard for too long like I did, two very bad doses of glandular fever a few years apart isn't much fun.

lukewall

I've always done the opposite when i have a fever. Throw on some sweats, a beanie, and a hooded sweatshirt; then break a sweat. I've always felt better after sweating it out.

merider1

You sound like my Dad. But then again, he never needs to HTFU. The man is almost 70 and was riding a bike less than eight weeks after having his hip replaced last year, and he crashed a couple of times (nothing serious, just spills, but still...), and he kept riding anyway.

wfrogge

You cant sweat out the flu. I say as long as the body aches and fever are not bad then ride at least tempo pace. If you have a fever of if the body is really aching then take a day off.

marin1

It is an acroynm started by Stuart O'Grady and repeated ad nausem by people in bike forums.
Funny thing is the people repeating here have no idea what hard is in comparision to a pro bike racer.
Should be followed immediatly by STFU.