Sometimes you have to take a break

I've been away from posting for the last few days. Last week I was battling a cold, but still staying on the bike. Then on Thursday, it hit me like a hammer. I was exhausted. My head and my muscles ached. I would have gone home sick except I didn't think I could ride 6 km.

Fortunately, I was well enough to ride home by the end of the day, but I took the shortest route home and took the weekend off from cycling.

It's good to push yourself to ride more often, and to ride longer routes, but when you're sick you've got to take it easy.

Here are some factors to consider when you're deciding if you really want to go out:

• Is your throat sore? When you're exerting yourself, you'll breathe much harder, and tend to breathe through your mouth. If you've got a sore throat, heavy exertion can make it much worse. This is a strong signal to take it easy.
• How congested are you? A little bit of congestion isn't a big deal. Within a few minutes of riding, it will probably clear up until you stop. But heavy congestion can make a ride very unpleasant, and will get much worse after your ride.
• How do your muscles feel? Mild muscle aches shouldn't keep you off your bike, but noticeable aches and muscle fatigue are a sign you should slow down.
• How's your temperature? If you've merely got a cold, being a degree warmer than normal isn't a huge concern, but if you've got a fever, STOP and see your doctor.

If you have any doubt about whether you're well enough to ride, see your doctor.

Today's riding stats:

Ride to work this morning: 5.87 km

April month to date: 234.37 km

2016 year to date: 851.27 km

Total on this bike: 8964.86 km