When do you call in sick?

[Dickie]

I have been off the bike for close to 6 weeks due to a variety of illnesses. First the flu, then a cold, now suffering with vertigo caused by a severe sinus infection… Yep, bad luck I suppose. I tried riding while I had the cold and it wasn’t too bad… just winded more than normal. Riding with the flu was not going to happen and with this current illness I can’t even look at my bike without throwing up. It got me wondering what threshold the rest of you have? Do you give-in or ride through the pain and sickness?

Topic

[rcannon100]

Geeze Dickie that is horrible! I think this has been a bad winter of persistent little bugs that just wont go away.

One word: Netty Pot! It makes a huge difference, particularly for sinus.

We have VERY good management and good office culture. Telecommuting is easy. The management and culture is – if you are sick, stay the HELL home and dont make other people in the office sick.

There are lots of things I like about my office; that is one of them. If you are not feeling right, just stay home. I usually find I can get more work done at home anyway (as long as I can find some room on the couch between the dogs)

[Greenbelt]

I’ve been lucky. I get a flu shot. And I suspect riding in the cold actually helps prevent colds — you hock up all the germs before they have a chance to settle in to your respiratory system. Also, get an office humidifier.
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[TwoWheelsDC]

I wouldn’t ride with a fever, but I’ll ride with a cold or migraine. When I was in San Diego last week, I had a decent head cold, but I still rode a lot. I think the amount I rode kept me sick longer, but it didn’t really affect my riding (except phlegm and big climbs don’t mix well) and riding made me feel better during the time I was on the bike. If I have a migraine, I find that long rides actually help more than drugs, but generally if I’m sick I try to stay home and limit my exertions (a bit of outdoor exercise helps a lot though). I’ve found that if I’m getting a cold, I heal several days quicker if I take at least one day off work right at the outset.

[KLizotte]

Never underestimate the power of sleep!!! Seriously.

Also, a round of prednisone (requires prescription) can do wonders for sinus infections since it gets the inflammation down real quick. Neti pots, the more electronic version, or simply spray nasal saline also works really well for cleaning out the nasty stuff.

[KelOnWheels]

I hab a code in my node

EDIT: 28 MPH headwinds? OK, I don’t feel so bad about deciding I was too tired to ride in today then.

[Drewdane]

It’s almost always an on/off proposition for me. If I feel too sick to go to work, then I feel too sick to ride; I rarely just feel “a little under the weather”. Makes decision making easy, I guess.

[vvill]

Anything flu-like I’ll skip. Also anything where there’s aching bones/muscles/joints beyond regular fatigue.

For colds, etc I would probably do a mixed-mode commute depending on the severity.

[baiskeli]

@Greenbelt 45570 wrote:

I’ve been lucky. I get a flu shot. And I suspect riding in the cold actually helps prevent colds — you hock up all the germs before they have a chance to settle in to your respiratory system. Also, get an office humidifier.
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So all those drying bike clothes on your heater don’t give you enough humidity?

[baiskeli]

Sorry to hear you’ve been sick. The answer to your thread ‘s question is: the first day of the year when it’s sunny and 70 degrees.

[Steve]

@baiskeli 45590 wrote:

Sorry to hear you’ve been sick. The answer to your thread ‘s question is: the first day of the year when it’s sunny and 70 degrees.

This is exactly what I was thinking! I’m usually not so sick that I can’t ride, but I certainly have called in sick so that I can ride. That being said, I do sometimes not ride when I’m really tired. The one thing I like about my metro ride is that I get a seat and I can sleep really well on the Metro. Sometimes if I’m really tired, I just want to be able to sleep on the way to work.

My general rule of thumb is to ride as long as it’s going to make me more happy than not riding. If you feel too sick to ride, don’t. If you think it’ll make you feel a little better, if only for the joy of getting out and spinning around, then do it. Just hope you feel better soon and that spring is easier on you.

[acc]

A bike is something that fits into your lifestyle in a logical way just like driving a car, walking, or using mass transit. It’s a tool to get from one place to another. It’s a way to solve a problem. Or, it’s a way to enjoy being outside. The bike serves you.

You don’t serve the bike.

When the bike isn’t serving its purpose for you, put it away. Choose another way to solve the problem. The bike will be there when you want it.

[consularrider]

@acc 45597 wrote:

… The bike serves you.

You don’t serve the bike.

When the bike isn’t serving its purpose for you, put it away … The bike will be there when you want it.

But my bikes are jealous mistresses. They can tolerate me spending time at work or with the family, but I better not neglect them, or fail to buy them new stuff when I come back.

[Rod Smith]

Broken bones.

[Dirt]

@Rod Smith 45625 wrote:

Broken bones.

Depends on which bones are broken.

[Author]

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