2old

IMO (not necessarily scientific), if you dress properly, cold won't affect your resistance; otherwise you need to use energy to overcome the cold and could be more susceptible; the same could occur if you're too hot in the summer. My wife and I ride early AM and are alone on the trails, but encounter lots of individuals on the return whether it's an out and back or some kind of loop. Nobody is coughing or sneezing now, and since the trails are pretty wide, it seems safe; however if there are individuals coughing and/or sneezing later in the year, it could be a problem.
Possibly I'll mask up for the return.

Clyde1820

Myself, I'm no more concerned than usual, during "flu" season.

Which is to say, I avoid as much of the wettest and coldest days as I can, but don't overthink it. It's possible to contract something, and this year there'll be the normal and customary stuff along with this newfangled thing. But with similar precautions along with some of the newer constraints, I won't be riding much differently this season as compared to the same season any other year.

mstateglfr 

I am not worried about riding during the upcoming flu season any more than I have been worried about riding during prior flu seasons. To be clear, I havent given a second thought to riding in the past.

If its a nice day and I have time, I will ride. If its a crappy day and I want some sadde time, I will zwift. Its quite simple.

I-Like-To-Bike

My wife and I got flu shots yesterday at a drive-in site at the local Hy-Vee pharmacy. Turned in paperwork at the drive-in window, and was directed to a special parking spot. The masked pharmacist came to us and gave us the shots without our needing to even exit our car. The pharmacist sat in a nearby chair and waited with us for 15 minutes to assure that we had no ill effects/reaction prior to departure. Cost to us-nothing, thanks to Medicare, and better yet, gave us a credit of 40¢ off every gallon of gasoline at our next fill up at a Hy-Vee or Casey's convenience store gas pump.

I went for a bike ride later that day.

Milton Keynes

Hell no! I don't want the government injecting nanochips into my body to track my movements!


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Milton Keynes

I bet you also had to wait 30 minutes after eating before going swimming.

genejockey 

I see what you did there.

JanMM

CDC recommends waiting until September or October to get influenza vaccine. Hey! It's September as of yesterday! Don't forget to ask for the High Potency version if you're old like me!

indyfabz

Mos def.

And I was not allowed to go out in the cold with a wet head. I have a friend who is a well-respected pediatric immunologist at a major hospital for children. One night after dinner we were laughing about the old wives' tail claiming that going out in the cold with a wet head causes colds. "There goes that whole virus theory down the drain." she said.

bikecrate

The only danger here is excessive hand wringing while riding.

wolfchild

I knew another " cycling hazards thread " was coming soon...Definitely subscribed.

wolfchild

I never take flu shots....I find that cycling all winter is far more effective at preventing flu and colds than any flu shot out there...The only time I ever had a serious flu was when I decided to take 1 year off from riding my bike....Big mistake I don't want to do that ever again.

prime winner

I've been thinking about how much Id like to ride a local 12 ft paved bike trail but not ready to chance breathing in someones COVID. Its a busy trail. All my riding takes place on residential roads but Id like some new scenery and a route thats not traffic heavy.

Elbeinlaw

I have it on excellent medical authority that flu is transmitted by not putting on a sweater when your mother is cold.

Elbeinlaw

Badger: I don't think that's what they told you would ruin your eyesight by doing it in a dark room.

Elbeinlaw

Yeah. And get off my lawn MUP you snowflakes.

The Old Peddler

Neither Flu nor snow nor rain nor heat nor pandemic will keep me from my daily ride. I take reasonable precautions such as wearing a mask while riding. That is a part of my "ride gear" just like a helmet. I ride in semi-isolated locations where there are few other people outside (riding or walking). I need the exercise to stay in reasonable health. So it's a very real health risk not to ride vs a low probability of a infection risk while riding. I choose to ride.


The Old Peddler

Reflector Guy

You've got it!

I remember as kids, we used to have to follow some very specific rules about dressing for cold weather. If the temperature was predicted to be 45 and rising, a lightweight jacket was permissible but the zipper had to be zipped up unless the temperature was 65 or greater. Below 45, or if it 45 and falling, we had to wear our heavy coats. Similar rules were in place about hats, gloves, scarves, etc. I am sure all of this stems from some recommendation Mom read in a book somewhere.... If the "rules" were published, they MUST be followed!

Toadmeister

MattTheHat 

FINALLY! Someone has finally noticed what the evil cold weather germs living in my garage have now known since last winter!

JWalters

Last time I had the flu was 1959...never had a flu shot...won't be starting that foolish practice any time soon.

dkatz1

I coudl be wrong, but I don't think that's how flu is transmitted. It's mostly caught inside (I think) from OTHER PEOPLE who have it...I THINK from droplets, just like covid. However, if I'm wrong about this, I apologize in front.

dkatz1

yeah, that "you'll catch your death from the cold" thing ain't right...

79pmooney

+1 Get vaccinated. Do it anyway, never mind riding. I got mine last Wednesday at the local department store. (At their pharmacy. Very well done. Organized and clean.) Billed my insurance with no cost to me.)

This is not the year that we need to risk a sickness that can put us in the hospital, both because of the risk to us and the overburdening of our medical resources. Yes, this year's vaccine is biggie. Wasn't a ton of fun. But 12 hours of flu? NBD. I got the flu 18 months ago. I know the full routine. Didn't need the hospital (and in fact was never diagnosed) but not fun at all and set my bike training back 6-8 weeks. Felt like I got run over by a truck.. (And after that shot, I KNOW what I got before was flu! I never want to go there again.)

While I was going through the post-vaccinaton symptoms, I kept thinking "there are those who step up, get the shot, suffer the symptoms, don't complain and step up again next year. Real men. There are those who get the shot, complain and step up again next year. Lessen men, but men. And there are those who don't; claiming "rights', "government intervention" or whatever. Not men willing to step up and do the right thing. (There are those who cannot get the flu shot for physical reasons. I don't envy them and hope they do not get exposed.)

Ben

I-Like-To-Bike

Wife and I got the High Dose Flu shot last week and had absolutely no ill effects or negative reaction from it, not even any soreness the next day.