'I just can't stop': Cyclist dies after confessing he was addicted to riding
12-01-22, 01:00 PM
#1
Friendship is Magic
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: The Big Tomato
Posts: 21,569
Bikes: old ones
Mentioned: 300 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 24536 Post(s)
Liked 8,271 Times
in
5,785 Posts
'I just can't stop': Cyclist dies after confessing he was addicted to riding
The critical danger of exercise addiction has been thrown into the spotlight following the tragic death of British cyclist Mark Bentley.
Bentley, a 54-year-old business journalist based in Frankfurt, Germany, spoke to Cycling Weekly in early September and confessed that he felt addicted to riding his bike despite experiencing symptoms of heart problems. Three days later, on 10 September, he suffered a fatal cardiac arrest.
.
Interviewed for a CW feature on the subject of exercise addiction, the Briton explained how he had been having chest pain while riding and that his exercise habits were getting in the way of other priorities in his life.
...
Bentley - who averaged more than 2,000km of cycling per month, much of it on indoors on a turbo trainer - spoke to CW as part of the magazine’s 'Let’s Talk About' series, which focuses on rarely discussed health issues affecting cyclists.
“Both my girlfriend and my mother tell me I’m obsessed," Bentley told CW. "If I’m not riding, I’m talking about it or watching cycling. It never ends... I’m aware it’s addictive, but it’s my hobby so why not do it in my spare time? At least this addiction isn’t harmful. Cycling is healthy.”
Bentley, a 54-year-old business journalist based in Frankfurt, Germany, spoke to Cycling Weekly in early September and confessed that he felt addicted to riding his bike despite experiencing symptoms of heart problems. Three days later, on 10 September, he suffered a fatal cardiac arrest.
.
Interviewed for a CW feature on the subject of exercise addiction, the Briton explained how he had been having chest pain while riding and that his exercise habits were getting in the way of other priorities in his life.
...
Bentley - who averaged more than 2,000km of cycling per month, much of it on indoors on a turbo trainer - spoke to CW as part of the magazine’s 'Let’s Talk About' series, which focuses on rarely discussed health issues affecting cyclists.
“Both my girlfriend and my mother tell me I’m obsessed," Bentley told CW. "If I’m not riding, I’m talking about it or watching cycling. It never ends... I’m aware it’s addictive, but it’s my hobby so why not do it in my spare time? At least this addiction isn’t harmful. Cycling is healthy.”
__________________
12-01-22, 01:03 PM
#2
Sock Puppet
Join Date: Oct 2022
Location: Planet Earth
Posts: 1,243
Bikes: 2014 Cannondale Synapse Carbon, 2017 Jamis Renegade Exploit and too many others to mention.
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 760 Post(s)
Liked 663 Times
in
442 Posts
Nothing in excess is healthy.
12-01-22, 01:17 PM
#3
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Mission Viejo
Posts: 5,445
Bikes: 1986 Cannondale SR400 (Flat bar commuter), 1988 Cannondale Criterium XTR, 1992 Serotta T-Max, 1995 Trek 970
Mentioned: 20 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1815 Post(s)
Liked 1,960 Times
in
1,202 Posts
My wife was getting chest pain when riding. After some tests, she had heart valve replacement and is fine.
It is not the obsession, it is the reluctance to seek medical care/diagnosis when an issue arises.
It is unfortunate that the cyclist died, but a trip to a cardiologist would have been the correct approach. It may have been that he had a defect that could not have been reversed and he would have had to give up obsession, or continue knowing the probable outcome.
John
It is not the obsession, it is the reluctance to seek medical care/diagnosis when an issue arises.
It is unfortunate that the cyclist died, but a trip to a cardiologist would have been the correct approach. It may have been that he had a defect that could not have been reversed and he would have had to give up obsession, or continue knowing the probable outcome.
John
Likes For 70sSanO:
12-01-22, 02:50 PM
#5
Full Member
It's weird, a lot of friends and family have developed heart issues in the last couple years when they had none before, all relatively young (30s to 50s). It is I need prudent not to ignore the signs and get checked out. Definitely at least don't keep exercising!
12-01-22, 03:07 PM
#6
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2021
Location: Australia
Posts: 600
Bikes: 2002 Trek 5200 (US POSTAL), 2020 Canyon Aeroad SL
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 218 Post(s)
Liked 493 Times
in
239 Posts
I guess "Man in his 50's dies after failing to seek medical attention for chest pain" is a less clickbait worthy article title...
Likes For tempocyclist:
12-01-22, 03:15 PM
#7
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2017
Posts: 6,667
Mentioned: 35 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6052 Post(s)
Liked 9,164 Times
in
3,956 Posts
He averaged "more than 2,000km of cycling per month, much of it on indoors on a turbo trainer."
I'm surprised he didn't die of boredom.
I'm surprised he didn't die of boredom.
Likes For Koyote:
12-01-22, 03:22 PM
#8
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 36,123
Mentioned: 205 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 16649 Post(s)
Liked 11,746 Times
in
5,617 Posts
Originally Posted by Koyote
He averaged "more than 2,000km of cycling per month, much of it on indoors on a turbo trainer."
I'm surprised he didn't die of boredom.
I'm surprised he didn't die of boredom.
I can stop any time I want.
12-01-22, 03:24 PM
#9
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 36,123
Mentioned: 205 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 16649 Post(s)
Liked 11,746 Times
in
5,617 Posts
Originally Posted by spelger
12-01-22, 03:46 PM
#10
Knurled Nut
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: New England
Posts: 14,869
Bikes: Serotta Atlanta; 1994 Specialized Allez Pro; Giant OCR A1; SOMA Double Cross Disc; 2022 Allez Elite mit der SRAM
Mentioned: 62 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 7835 Post(s)
Liked 8,375 Times
in
4,679 Posts
Originally Posted by Koyote
He averaged "more than 2,000km of cycling per month, much of it on indoors on a turbo trainer."
I'm surprised he didn't die of boredom.
I'm surprised he didn't die of boredom.
Ignoring chest pains is a pretty stupid thing to do.
*edited to correct math error.
Last edited by livedarklions; 12-02-22 at 12:45 PM.
12-01-22, 03:49 PM
#11
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2017
Posts: 6,667
Mentioned: 35 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6052 Post(s)
Liked 9,164 Times
in
3,956 Posts
Originally Posted by livedarklions
Snark aside, he was averaging about 24.4 miles per day. I seriously doubt the riding was what killed him.
Ignoring chest pains is a pretty stupid thing to do.
Ignoring chest pains is a pretty stupid thing to do.
And on your theme of "snark aside": I have an in-law relative who, I suspect, has long suffered from exercise bulimia. Obsessive exercising is sometimes (not always) a sign of some emotional issue.
12-01-22, 03:58 PM
#12
Knurled Nut
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: New England
Posts: 14,869
Bikes: Serotta Atlanta; 1994 Specialized Allez Pro; Giant OCR A1; SOMA Double Cross Disc; 2022 Allez Elite mit der SRAM
Mentioned: 62 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 7835 Post(s)
Liked 8,375 Times
in
4,679 Posts
Originally Posted by Koyote
I suspect you're correct on that. The cycling may have caused the problem to manifest earlier, but there was likely an underlying problem.
And on your theme of "snark aside": I have an in-law relative who, I suspect, has long suffered from exercise bulimia. Obsessive exercising is sometimes (not always) a sign of some emotional issue.
And on your theme of "snark aside": I have an in-law relative who, I suspect, has long suffered from exercise bulimia. Obsessive exercising is sometimes (not always) a sign of some emotional issue.
True, if you couple an eating disorder with large amounts of exercise, you can definitely create a heart problem.
My math was wrong, though, he was averaging about 40 miles a day.
12-01-22, 04:06 PM
#13
Sock Puppet
Join Date: Oct 2022
Location: Planet Earth
Posts: 1,243
Bikes: 2014 Cannondale Synapse Carbon, 2017 Jamis Renegade Exploit and too many others to mention.
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 760 Post(s)
Liked 663 Times
in
442 Posts
Originally Posted by Koyote
He averaged "more than 2,000km of cycling per month, much of it on indoors on a turbo trainer."
I'm surprised he didn't die of boredom.
I'm surprised he didn't die of boredom.
Likes For Lombard:
12-01-22, 04:22 PM
#14
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2017
Posts: 6,667
Mentioned: 35 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6052 Post(s)
Liked 9,164 Times
in
3,956 Posts
Originally Posted by Lombard
I knew of a guy who died of boredom. A guy who was bored shot him.
https://www.google.com/search?q=fols...id:xd14cBeAfU4
Likes For Koyote:
12-01-22, 06:25 PM
#15
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2018
Location: Fargo ND
Posts: 583
Bikes: Lynskey R350, Ritchey Breakaway, Ritchey Double Switchback, Lynskey Ridgeline, ICAN Fatbike
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 294 Post(s)
Liked 314 Times
in
177 Posts
Originally Posted by Koyote
Hey, I believe it. After all, Johnny Cash shot a man in Reno -- just to watch him die.
https://www.google.com/search?q=fols...id:xd14cBeAfU4
https://www.google.com/search?q=fols...id:xd14cBeAfU4
Untreated cardiac dysrhythmia... fatal. Riding 40 miles a day? A vacation.
12-01-22, 06:29 PM
#16
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: South Carolina Upstate
Posts: 2,075
Bikes: 2010 Fuji Absolute 3.0 1994 Trek 850
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 752 Post(s)
Liked 542 Times
in
311 Posts
all that riding probably let him live longer than he would have
12-01-22, 06:32 PM
#17
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: SW Fl.
Posts: 5,465
Bikes: Day6 Semi Recumbent "FIREBALL", 1981 Custom Touring Paramount, 1983 Road Paramount, 2013 Giant Propel Advanced SL3, 2018 Specialized Red Roubaix Expert mech., 2002 Magna 7sp hybrid, 1976 Bassett Racing 45sp Cruiser
Mentioned: 17 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1009 Post(s)
Liked 682 Times
in
438 Posts
Originally Posted by Koyote
Hey, I believe it. After all, Johnny Cash shot a man in Reno -- just to watch him die.
https://www.google.com/search?q=fols...id:xd14cBeAfU4
https://www.google.com/search?q=fols...id:xd14cBeAfU4
El Paso -- https://www.google.com/search?q=mart...id:k5k6R4Z1BC8
12-01-22, 07:50 PM
#18
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2017
Posts: 6,667
Mentioned: 35 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6052 Post(s)
Liked 9,164 Times
in
3,956 Posts
Originally Posted by OldTryGuy
Cash is good but I prefer Marty Robins and a different kind of ride that was a cause of death
El Paso -- https://www.google.com/search?q=mart...id:k5k6R4Z1BC8
El Paso -- https://www.google.com/search?q=mart...id:k5k6R4Z1BC8
12-01-22, 08:19 PM
#19
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Mississauga/Toronto, Ontario canada
Posts: 8,122
Bikes: I have 3 singlespeed/fixed gear bikes
Mentioned: 23 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3572 Post(s)
Liked 2,046 Times
in
1,044 Posts
Originally Posted by Koyote
He averaged "more than 2,000km of cycling per month, much of it on indoors on a turbo trainer.".
12-01-22, 08:22 PM
#20
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2017
Posts: 6,667
Mentioned: 35 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6052 Post(s)
Liked 9,164 Times
in
3,956 Posts
Originally Posted by wolfchild
Riding indoors is what killed him, if he rode outdoors he would still be alive.
If you're serious, you're nuts.
12-01-22, 08:23 PM
#21
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2007
Posts: 6,118
Mentioned: 8 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 835 Post(s)
Liked 807 Times
in
512 Posts
Snark aside, he was averaging about 24.4 miles per day. I seriously doubt the riding was what killed him.
Ignoring chest pains is a pretty stupid thing to do.
Isn't it more like 40 miles per day? Doesn't contradict your point though. What killed him was his reluctance to pay attention to his heart, not the cycling "addiction"
Although, I'd have to say it must have been a huge addiction to compulsively ride that much indoors regardless of whether it's 24 or 41 miles. Yeah, I might understand it for a serious competitor trying to maximize fitness for competition or some other event. But just because someone likes riding?
12-01-22, 09:08 PM
#22
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 36,123
Mentioned: 205 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 16649 Post(s)
Liked 11,746 Times
in
5,617 Posts
Originally Posted by wolfchild
Riding indoors is what killed him. If he had ridden outdoors he would still be alive.
12-01-22, 09:14 PM
#23
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 36,123
Mentioned: 205 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 16649 Post(s)
Liked 11,746 Times
in
5,617 Posts
Originally Posted by Koyote
If you're going for humor, you failed. I already made that joke, and did it better.
If you're serious, you're nuts.
If you're serious, you're nuts.
12-01-22, 09:54 PM
#24
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 3,418
Bikes: Soma Fog Cutter, Volae Team, Focus Mares AL, Nimbus MUni, Trek Roscoe 6, Detroit Bikes Sparrow FG
Mentioned: 8 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 705 Post(s)
Liked 1,602 Times
in
822 Posts
Originally Posted by Koyote
Hey, I believe it. After all, Johnny Cash shot a man in Reno -- just to watch him die.
https://www.google.com/search?q=fols...id:xd14cBeAfU4
https://www.google.com/search?q=fols...id:xd14cBeAfU4
12-01-22, 10:07 PM
#25
Full Member
You guys think he was on an indoor trainer just staring at the floor? It's easy to forget your exercising if you watch TV or listen to music or read. I usually hit the rower while watching a baseball game and put in quite a few kilometers without realizing it.
