Smoking

Congratulations at making a wise decision. First of all, nicotine is addictive. Ask any 25 yr smoker if you need confirmation. My advice to anyone still "social smoking" is to quit while the getting is good. It wasn't so easy when I hit the 25 yr mark...(by the way, I did manage to kick it)

And yes, it's amazing how much impact it has and quick the recovery is. I smoked for years and although I quit fairly recently (1st of March) I was surprised how quickly my wind came back and the almost immediate effect quitting had on my cycling abilities.

Sitting around and drinking all week probably took its toll as well.

TD

I'm suprised people are still choosing to smoke.

In the UK there is this advert:

Sounds of breathing and shot of Oxygen Bottle. Cut to clear pipe running through hallway into living room. Woman sitting very still wearing oxygen mask and looking distressed, not doing anything, sitting still, but still struggling to breath.

Some of my friends who smoke say "Its better to burn out than fade away", or another favourite, "You gotta die of something" . Crazy!

Its never too late to give up smoking and just because you burn the candle at both ends, doesnt mean one day you will just expire. Death can be a very long drawn out process......

Yep, nix the [censored].

My wife has smoked for many years and noticed a huge improvement each time she quit. 😉

A similar thing applies to fatty foods - everyone knows they're bad for you and will make you fat over time, but even if you are in tip-top shape, they have an immediate effect. Eat healthily for a few days and then ride, and you'll feel good. Then live off McDonalds for a few days and get back on the bike, and you'll be knackered in no time.

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by tyler_derden
Sitting around and drinking all week probably took its toll as well.

TD

In all honesty I dont think it was the drink, im allways drinking beer during the week and it never seems to take its toll!! Ok if i was to never drink, i would probably see a improvement but it was definataly the smoking that caused me to be out of breath on the ride.

I say social smoker, its not even that really!! before last week I hadnt touched a ciggerete for months, maybe that was why I felt such a big difference as it was out of the norm for me to smoke.

Reminds me of the old Steve Martin routine comparing smoking to flatulence - sure, it's a nasty habit that fouls the air and offends people, but sometimes I can't resist the temptation to light one up...

Took me far too long to quit that nasty habit. But I've been smoke free for two years, and it' s like having supercharged lungs. Now, I can smell a smoker from several feet away. It's a dead, decaying smell - no wonder I couldn't get a date.

I used to socially smoke, now I don't. Cigs suck. But, I still occasionally partake in herbal remedies. I know I'm going to get flack for this, but sometimes a nice smoke before a ride (just a little bit) gets me into a strange zone. I didn't want to do it at first because I was concerned about balance and the like, but subesequently I found that I zoned into a cadence that was smoooooooth over 50 miles! I got really connected with my bike and remained agile, if not more so than normal. My mind tends to wander a lot and I get distracted from important things like cadence and spinning circles, but when I ride "lifted", I seem to spin strong and keep a beautiful cadence. Again, this is only OCASSIONALLY and I don't reccomed it to anyone else. My chemistry might be a whole lot different than yours. Also, when I focus, I can still spin strongly and keep a beautiful cadence.

Since I don't race and I'm not into competiton, I like my pipe after a nice 20 plus mile ride. There's nothing better than to put my feet up and sip at a scotch (Pinch) and soda (no ice) and puff my Peterson filled with a rich blend of Latakia tobacco.

PS... I get more people asking me how I can cycle and drink rather how I can cycle and smoke.

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by Sherm
I still occasionally partake in herbal remedies. I know I'm going to get flack for this, but sometimes a nice smoke before a ride (just a little bit) gets me into a strange zone.

Think you're onto something -- the pro's are accused of 'doping' all the time! 😄

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by Trekker2017
Since I don't race and I'm not into competiton, I like my pipe after a nice 20 plus mile ride. There's nothing better than to put my feet up and sip at a scotch (Pinch) and soda (no ice) and puff my Peterson filled with a rich blend of Latakia tobacco.

PS... I get more people asking me how I can cycle and drink rather how I can cycle and smoke.

I find that really strange because most of the "bike culture" types around here are as into beer as they are bikes! Dirt Rag magazine even does a "brew of the month" column in each issue, which reviews a new beer each month. In some circles the two seem to go hand in hand. LOL! Of course riding after drinking probably isn't the best idea.

they go hand-in-hand in Philly too. Big time. Good carbs!

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by Sherm
they go hand-in-hand in Philly too. Big time. Good carbs!

I guess I'd fit right in in Philly then! 😄 I ride with a local club once in a while and there's a certain faction (including myself) that stop for a beer after the ride pretty regularly. There are also some that consider how every little thing that they put in their mouth will effect their cycling. Life's too short for that in my opinion! 😄

I agree meehs. I'm in good shape and can hold my own with most on either a road or mountain bike...but I'm a man who likes to brew his own beer and partake in a little fun now and again. No harm in that FYI...If you ride a MTB, you would love the Thursday evening ride through the crazy tight singletrack at the Belmont Plateau (see the Will Smith song "Summertime". <A place called the Plateau is where everybody go.>😉 It's weird because it's in the city, yet there's some of the better singletrack I've ridden (technically speaking). Log piles, ravines, water crossings, tree-splits to ride through...just terriffic. After the mock race on Thursdays, the fine Philly microbrews come out and we all chill and chat. It keeps the culture cool and the people together.

Bikes and homebrewing seem to be a common denominator out here as well!

Everything in moderation.

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by Trekker2017
Since I don't race and I'm not into competiton, I like my pipe after a nice 20 plus mile ride. There's nothing better than to put my feet up and sip at a scotch (Pinch) and soda (no ice) and puff my Peterson filled with a rich blend of Latakia tobacco.

PS... I get more people asking me how I can cycle and drink rather how I can cycle and smoke.

That would be because any one with a lick of sense, not to mention good taste, is drinking Single Malt instead of blends...and soda...what are you...some manner of HEATHEN???

There's only ONE way to drink a decent whiskey and that is the following recipe:

1. Bottle.
2. Glass
3. Pour
4. Stop bloody mucking about....

Of course, you being a smoker, you've probably ruined your taste buds to the point you can't appreciate a decent drop anyway...so not to matter....

This post, of course, should be read with tongue firmly planted in cheek and a drizzle of Balvenie Double Wood on the tongue...

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by Sherm
I still occasionally partake in herbal remedies. I know I'm going to get flack for this, but sometimes a nice smoke before a ride (just a little bit) gets me into a strange zone.

woaaaa. Dude, we're going soo fast.

I did that once. I was so baked. We'd been partying all night, and then one of my other friends wanted to go mountain biking, so I went. It was a lot of fun, I crashed all over the place, thank goodness for plants.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/pub_bug/
Pub BUG (Bicycle User Group)

Say no more.. ;-)

Oh, it's Mountain Goat open night tonight.. mmm ales...
www.goatbeer.com.au