Well, we're never going to know, for the reasons given. Personally I was never short of breath even when I was a smoker, and I've certainly not felt that lung capacity was a constraint on my performance since I got back on the bike. Of course, for all I know I might have been Miguel Indurain in another, non-smoking, life.

In any event, there's more to aerobic fitness than just lung capacity. It's a whole-system thing.

I never was a particularly strong or fast rider. And don't expect or aspire to become one as a sexagenarian.

Huh huh, he said sex.

I took up smoking late in life.... when I was in Army Basic training serving my obligation (at the time). I quit smoking shortly after I retired and noticed had noticed health issues with my breathing. I then developed a foot problem (gout) with a bit of weight gain. I returned to cycling to get exercise... or at least get outside. I've never really enjoyed exercise. But was thrilled to find I still loved cycling as much as when I was eight.

The first couple of years of cycling I was convinced my breathing would never return to normal. Thank God... I was mistaken. I ride everyday I can... just because that is what I want to do... and I still can.

I tried smoking one evening as a teenager. Remember the Bugler tobacco for rolling your own? Smoked one of those followed by a short hot pipe. Then I ran out into the yard and vomited all over the place. Wow, I was sick! Some years later I took up chewing tobacco and that got to be a real habit and very addictive. For at least 5 years after I stopped I would have dreams about having a mouth full of tobacco and savoring it's taste. What prompted me to stop was that I had neighbors on all four sides of me die of tobacco related cancer, plus two cousins. I felt someone was trying to tell me something.