Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > General Cycling Discussion
Reload this Page >

IS it possible to be a heavy cigarette smoker and compete in races?

Notices
General Cycling Discussion Have a cycling related question or comment that doesn't fit in one of the other specialty forums? Drop on in and post in here! When possible, please select the forum above that most fits your post!

IS it possible to be a heavy cigarette smoker and compete in races?

Old 05-19-15, 07:51 PM
  #51  
rebmeM roineS
 
JanMM's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Metro Indy, IN
Posts: 16,216

Bikes: Bacchetta Giro A20, RANS V-Rex, RANS Screamer

Mentioned: 15 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 653 Post(s)
Liked 345 Times in 225 Posts
Originally Posted by Stucky
Just as our bloodstreams weren't meant to have viruses injected into them; our teeth weren't meant to have holes drilled in them and and then filled with mercury-based metal; nor our stomachs to absorb mold spores.....but ya call 'em "vaccinations"; "fillings"; and "penicillin pills" and the same people who tell ya smoking is so bad, will tell you that such poisons taken in moderation will be beneficial......
Not a member of the Science Fan Club, I take it.
__________________
Bacchetta Giro A20, RANS V-Rex, RANS Screamer
JanMM is offline  
Old 05-19-15, 07:54 PM
  #52  
rebmeM roineS
 
JanMM's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Metro Indy, IN
Posts: 16,216

Bikes: Bacchetta Giro A20, RANS V-Rex, RANS Screamer

Mentioned: 15 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 653 Post(s)
Liked 345 Times in 225 Posts
Originally Posted by whatapickle
For me, cigaretes and moderation were two words that could never be used in the same sentence. I bought a bike to help me quit and it has been over a year smoke/tobacco free. Coughing up a lung after a good climb is a great incentive to stay off the smokes but to initially quit, it was tough. To quote Mark Twain "Giving up smoking is the easiest thing in the world. I know because I've done it thousands of times."

Along with the chemical addiction, the habit aspect was just as strong. I even tried to chew tobacco to give my lungs a break but still had the urge to light up. When I quit, I did use the e-cig for a month and a half starting with the high nicotine dose and tapering every 1.5 weeks to the zero nicotine cartridges - which I did not need much because by the time I was on the low dosage cartridges, it would be 5-6 hours between puffs. The e-cig experience did not match that of a smooth menthol cigarette, but it kept me from killing someone, getting a divorce, or being fired.
Tobacco is so amazingly addictive. I smoked long ago in my stupid youth and probably have a 3 pack-year history. Last cigarette in 1975. But, even after such a long time, and knowing what I now know about smoking, every once in a while the thought will cross my mind that it would be pleasant to smoke a cigarette.
__________________
Bacchetta Giro A20, RANS V-Rex, RANS Screamer
JanMM is offline  
Old 05-19-15, 08:36 PM
  #53  
Old Fart
 
Stucky's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Bumpkinsville
Posts: 3,348

Bikes: '97 Klein Quantum '16 Gravity Knockout

Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 163 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3 Times in 2 Posts
Originally Posted by JanMM
Not a member of the Science Fan Club, I take it.
You mean "science" as in 40 years of "studies" which said that butter; salt; and eggs are bad for you; and hydrogenated oils are good? And now someone just flipped a switch, and after 40 years of that mantra, it's now the diametric opposite? The same science that preached for decades that ulcers were caused by stress? The one which believed until very recently that petroleum was composed of decayed dinosaurs; which thought bats were blind; yada, yada.....
Stucky is offline  
Old 05-19-15, 08:48 PM
  #54  
Senior Member
 
TCR Rider's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Peoples Republic of Brooklyn
Posts: 879

Bikes: Pinarello Dogma F8 Giant TCR Advanced 2 Jamis Coda

Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 196 Post(s)
Liked 136 Times in 115 Posts
I was a pack and a half a day smoker years ago. Tried to quit more than once but it wasn't until I started running in earnest that made any progress. I would go for a three mile run hack up a lung for ten minutes and stop to buy a pack on my way home. Now that's addiction. This was thirty years ago and there was no pills, gum or e cigs to fall back on. Cold Turkey was the order of the day. My GF's sister told me that she was hypnotized and it worked for her so I gave it a try. I don't know if was psychosomatic but I haven't smoked since. About a year later I ran my first of eight marathons and countless shorter races. I think replacing the smoking with running went a long way to staying smoke free. I was taking something out of my life, smoking, so replacing it with running went a long way to fill the empty space that quitting left.
Now when I see someone smoking it kind of repulses me. IMO there is no upside. It smells bad it's way too expensive and it's just about the worst thing you could do for your health let alone fitness.One other thing even after you quit it does not mean that you're not at risk of contracting lung cancer. My mother smoked for years but quit a few years after me. In her case it was too late. About five years after quitting she developed long cancer. So there is good reason to quit NOW. The longer you smoke the more damage you are doing.
TCR Rider is offline  
Old 05-20-15, 03:45 PM
  #55  
Full Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: North Seattle
Posts: 391

Bikes: Davidson ’81

Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 120 Post(s)
Liked 229 Times in 121 Posts
C9H13N is offline  
Old 05-20-15, 03:51 PM
  #56  
FLIR Kitten to 0.05C
 
Marcus_Ti's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Lincoln, Nebraska
Posts: 5,331

Bikes: Roadie: Seven Axiom Race Ti w/Chorus 11s. CX/Adventure: Carver Gravel Grinder w/ Di2

Mentioned: 30 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2349 Post(s)
Liked 406 Times in 254 Posts
Originally Posted by Stucky
You mean "science" as in 40 years of "studies" which said that butter; salt; and eggs are bad for you; and hydrogenated oils are good? And now someone just flipped a switch, and after 40 years of that mantra, it's now the diametric opposite? The same science that preached for decades that ulcers were caused by stress? The one which believed until very recently that petroleum was composed of decayed dinosaurs; which thought bats were blind; yada, yada.....
There are few certainties in life...but I'm pretty damn certain in any amount of time no one with any kind of serious medical credentials will endorse having lungs that look like the inside of a coal powerplant smokestack as "healthy".

Last edited by Marcus_Ti; 05-20-15 at 03:54 PM.
Marcus_Ti is offline  
Old 05-21-15, 07:48 AM
  #57  
Old Fart
 
Stucky's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Bumpkinsville
Posts: 3,348

Bikes: '97 Klein Quantum '16 Gravity Knockout

Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 163 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3 Times in 2 Posts
Originally Posted by Marcus_Ti
There are few certainties in life...but I'm pretty damn certain in any amount of time no one with any kind of serious medical credentials will endorse having lungs that look like the inside of a coal powerplant smokestack as "healthy".
I should hope not. It really AMAZES me how some people can smoke 20 to 80 cigarettes per DAY...and live as long as they do. A testament to the hardiness of our lungs.....
Stucky is offline  
Old 05-21-15, 10:12 PM
  #58  
Anywhere I roam
 
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Rockies, U.S.A.
Posts: 261

Bikes: Three blind bikes

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 7 Post(s)
Liked 21 Times in 6 Posts
Originally Posted by C9H13N
Oh, I remember hearing about this guy...forgot his name... Yeah, he died couple years back. Cracked his head open when he lost control because he was busy smoking and didn't have a helmet on.
Wolf Dust is offline  
Old 05-22-15, 12:17 AM
  #59  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Fresno, California
Posts: 89
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
You could compete... but probably get smoked.
richeydog is offline  
Old 05-22-15, 03:09 AM
  #60  
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2015
Posts: 20
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
agree with pankwr smokers spend money to kill themselves .
robert20 is offline  
Old 05-22-15, 03:16 AM
  #61  
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2015
Posts: 20
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Originally Posted by Wolf Dust
Oh, I remember hearing about this guy...forgot his name... Yeah, he died couple years back. Cracked his head open when he lost control because he was busy smoking and didn't have a helmet on.
just wear a helmet does not matter if you smoke or not.
robert20 is offline  
Old 05-22-15, 03:21 AM
  #62  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2015
Location: Portland Oregon
Posts: 55

Bikes: Trek WSD 7000

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Originally Posted by whatapickle

it would be 5-6 hours between puffs. The e-cig experience did not match that of a smooth menthol cigarette, but it kept me from killing someone, getting a divorce, or being fired.
Not sure how you meant this but it is a good point, my wife has asthma, and anytime we see a person smoking she has to hold her breath until i can't smell the smoke anymore, the smallest bit of cigarette smoke will trigger her, a few weeks ago she was hospitalized from a person smoking in the park while we having a picnic she very nearly died that day.
Alaraine is offline  
Old 05-22-15, 06:55 AM
  #63  
Senior Member
 
spdracr39's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: Cabot, Arkansas
Posts: 1,538

Bikes: Lynskey Twisted Helix Di2 Ti, 1987 Orbea steel single speed/fixie, Orbea Avant M30, Trek Fuel EX9.8 29, Trek Madone 5 series, Specialized Epic Carbon Comp 29er, Trek 7.1F

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 12 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time in 1 Post
Everyone is different but it can't possibly be of any benefit. All you can do is try and see what happens. You will know quick enough whether you are competitive or not.
spdracr39 is offline  
Old 06-04-15, 01:51 AM
  #64  
Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Mar 2015
Posts: 26
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Sorry took so long to reply..yeah I'm up to 35 per day now..I was just smoking 25 a month ago,.dont know why im smoking more..I've never coughed or hacked..I can climb around 30 grade hills in SF and have to stop 2 mins in not cuz my legs are tired its cuz I'm out of breath..someone said to work out..well I've been working out 3x a week for the past 4 months and bike everyday also but I still smoke ..I'll try the patches and gum ..tried em before but only worked for a few days cuz I wanted the real thing
Observe is offline  
Old 06-10-17, 04:36 PM
  #65  
Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Bloomington Indiana
Posts: 25

Bikes: 1998 road master "little 5" fixed gear, 98ish aluminum GT triple triangle road bike, 8 speed with dura ace lever shifters and Mavic aksiums, 2016 Trek ALR 6/ultegra/Bontrager race lights

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
I smoked a half pack a day when I started and did well as a 4/5. Podiumed, always top ten, a won a few. But, for me I could only get so fast. Quitting was a struggle but getting repeatedly stomped as a 3 I knew I had to stop. And a year later I was much faster and could hold a high pace for much longer. You'll never reach your potential and you throw a lot of hard work out the window
jk_flip is offline  
Old 06-10-17, 05:07 PM
  #66  
Senior Member
 
rgconner's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: Sacramento, CA
Posts: 1,156

Bikes: Curtis Inglis Road, 80's Sekai touring fixie

Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 472 Post(s)
Liked 11 Times in 9 Posts
Or these guys...

rgconner is offline  
Old 06-10-17, 05:08 PM
  #67  
Erik the Inveigler
 
Scarbo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: The California Alps
Posts: 2,306
Mentioned: 17 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1310 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 4 Times in 4 Posts
This fella won five Tours de France. He liked to drink and party too. Of course, he also died of cancer at the age of 53.
Attached Images
File Type: jpg
jacques-w.jpg (96.2 KB, 146 views)

Last edited by Scarbo; 06-10-17 at 05:36 PM.
Scarbo is offline  
Old 06-10-17, 06:17 PM
  #68  
Senior Member
 
1Coopgt's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: Rochester ,NY
Posts: 103

Bikes: Mongoose Reform Sport

Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 34 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Originally Posted by jk_flip
I smoked a half pack a day when I started and did well as a 4/5. Podiumed, always top ten, a won a few. But, for me I could only get so fast. Quitting was a struggle but getting repeatedly stomped as a 3 I knew I had to stop. And a year later I was much faster and could hold a high pace for much longer. You'll never reach your potential and you throw a lot of hard work out the window
Nice Zombie thread you revived .
1Coopgt is offline  
Old 06-10-17, 06:33 PM
  #69  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: buffalo
Posts: 74

Bikes: 86 Trek 330 fixie, 2011 Trek 1.1, POS mb

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 10 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3 Times in 2 Posts
I am now 36 and quit smoking 5 years ago. My performance improved after I quit. That's not to say you cannot compete and smoke. My fastest 5 run was done as a smoker. Today as a father of two with years of smoking behind me I wish I had stopped sooner.
buffalo4life is offline  
Old 06-10-17, 08:23 PM
  #70  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Nashville, TN.
Posts: 2,176

Bikes: 2020 Specialized Roubaix Comp SC - 2016 Specialized Roubaix SL4 - 2015 Giant Roam 2 Disc

Mentioned: 23 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 639 Post(s)
Liked 338 Times in 224 Posts
Shaking my head at some of these posts...

No matter how you slice it, halves, thirds or quarters ...smoking is definitely BAD for you. Very bad.

Also, I suppose some people handle things differently, but I smoked for years, then simply threw them in the trash and didn't ever look back. I missed them all for a day at the most. That was 40 years ago.
one4smoke is offline  
Old 06-10-17, 08:50 PM
  #71  
Senior Member
 
rgconner's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: Sacramento, CA
Posts: 1,156

Bikes: Curtis Inglis Road, 80's Sekai touring fixie

Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 472 Post(s)
Liked 11 Times in 9 Posts
Originally Posted by one4smoke
Shaking my head at some of these posts...

No matter how you slice it, halves, thirds or quarters ...smoking is definitely BAD for you. Very bad.

Also, I suppose some people handle things differently, but I smoked for years, then simply threw them in the trash and didn't ever look back. I missed them all for a day at the most. That was 40 years ago.
That was not the question, good or bad, but CAN you.

Yes you CAN.
rgconner is offline  
Old 06-10-17, 09:14 PM
  #72  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2017
Posts: 142
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 56 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Don't try and rationalize a bad habit in any way shape or form. Quit, bike, live, happy.
skids929 is offline  
Old 06-10-17, 09:50 PM
  #73  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2017
Posts: 363
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 148 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 6 Times in 4 Posts
I did a 1 year stint as a LPN going thru their nursing program. During my time on the hospital floor a guy was in there that was a heavy smoker for years. He was in his 50's to 60's He had a tumor/spot on his lung the size of a small lemon. Hate to say this but we did a biopsy but he died within 3 weeks. Here is the kicker back then you could still smoke on hospital grounds and his wife was still smoking. I don't get it. Quit will you can and your lungs can still recover some.

Wow read a couple of threads and see this was posted 2 years ago I surely hope he has quit by now.

Good luck
Zman
Zurichman2 is offline  
Old 06-11-17, 06:09 AM
  #74  
Ride On!
 
deapee's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2016
Posts: 971

Bikes: Allez DSW SL Sprint | Fuji Cross

Mentioned: 6 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 227 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3 Times in 3 Posts
I mean - some people are naturally faster than others.
If Chris Froome were a smoker, he could win local races for sure.

Regarding the comment of "smoking in moderation ... could even be good for you" - let's not kid ourselves. All the chemicals and carcinogens aside, breathing in the byproduct of incomplete combustion is just never going to be good for you. Period.
deapee is offline  
Old 06-11-17, 05:00 PM
  #75  
Me duelen las nalgas
 
canklecat's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Texas
Posts: 13,522

Bikes: Centurion Ironman, Trek 5900, Univega Via Carisma, Globe Carmel

Mentioned: 199 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4558 Post(s)
Liked 2,798 Times in 1,798 Posts
1970s middleweight boxing champion Carlos Monzon was a heavy smoker. His idea of sacrificing for training was to cut back to around one pack a day. During an era of 15 round title bouts he still had incredible stamina in his early 30s.

And he'd have been even better without the butts. He slowed down toward the end of his championship reign, often relying on controlling the tempo of a bout with a long jab rather than the relentless pressure of his younger days. It made for some unexciting fights that he usually dominated but occasionally came close to losing, including his rematch against the great Emile Griffith, another ageless wonder who fought like a much younger man in his comparative dotage (by boxing standards).

But some folks are gifted with natural superhuman endurance and resistance to stuff that would disable us mere mortals. I love the smell of good tobacco but a whiff of second hand smoke makes my throat swell up. I do miss a good cigar.

Eventually fate caught up with Monzon. He was shot by one woman he'd abused, but he survived. He went to prison for murdering his girlfriend. Then he died in a car wreck heading back to prison after a weekend furlough.

Cigarettes may not always kill but living a smoking fast lifestyle often does.

Former welterweight champ and notorious loudmouthed bully Ricardo Mayorga is another successful athlete who smoked, including lighting up in the ring after a fight.

canklecat is offline  

Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.