Unintended side effect of cycling: I'm now a human air pump!
08-15-16, 12:30 PM
#1
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Unintended side effect of cycling: I'm now a human air pump!
So, before getting into road biking, I smoked for 27 years. Quit last summer, with all the expected benefits...and an unexpected one...
Yesterday, My girlfriend's Brother and family were visiting, and had a HUGE inflatable swan floating toy with them. And I mean huge, big enough for two adults to ride on. Only problem? They had left the pump at home, and the only hardware store in town closed at 2. What to do? So first I tried my Joe Blow Fat, figuring it probably put out enough air, but it was taking FOREVER. So I said F*** it, I'm going to do this the old fashioned way, and set about blowing the thing up by mouth. I cannot believe how easy it was!
Didn't even take me 20 minutes to blow up the whole body, plus the wings and head, even with the huge air valve I had to get my mouth around and clamp in my teeth. I just pictured DIALING IT UP TO 400 WATTS and puffed away like I was taking on a big climb. (I got a little light headed once or twice, and had to pause for a minute, but after the second pause, it was done!)
Seriously, I am amazed at what my lungs can do now, after 3 years of riding a mere 50-100 miles a week. (I was never a heavy smoker. Maybe half a pack a day.) I would NEVER in a million years think something that big could be inflated by mouth with so little effort. I'm in the best cardio-vascular health of my life, and didn't even notice, thanks to being obsessed by road biking!
Some very happy children got to float around in the bay, and a giggling happy little girl got to get pushed around by me as I hummed "Swan Lake" and she waved like the Queen of England. Yay cycling!
Yesterday, My girlfriend's Brother and family were visiting, and had a HUGE inflatable swan floating toy with them. And I mean huge, big enough for two adults to ride on. Only problem? They had left the pump at home, and the only hardware store in town closed at 2. What to do? So first I tried my Joe Blow Fat, figuring it probably put out enough air, but it was taking FOREVER. So I said F*** it, I'm going to do this the old fashioned way, and set about blowing the thing up by mouth. I cannot believe how easy it was!
Didn't even take me 20 minutes to blow up the whole body, plus the wings and head, even with the huge air valve I had to get my mouth around and clamp in my teeth. I just pictured DIALING IT UP TO 400 WATTS and puffed away like I was taking on a big climb. (I got a little light headed once or twice, and had to pause for a minute, but after the second pause, it was done!)
Seriously, I am amazed at what my lungs can do now, after 3 years of riding a mere 50-100 miles a week. (I was never a heavy smoker. Maybe half a pack a day.) I would NEVER in a million years think something that big could be inflated by mouth with so little effort. I'm in the best cardio-vascular health of my life, and didn't even notice, thanks to being obsessed by road biking!
Some very happy children got to float around in the bay, and a giggling happy little girl got to get pushed around by me as I hummed "Swan Lake" and she waved like the Queen of England. Yay cycling!
08-15-16, 02:18 PM
#2
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You BLOW HARD!!!!! 
08-15-16, 02:35 PM
#3
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Your story made me smile. You deserve all the happiness healthier choices bring.
08-15-16, 03:14 PM
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