Bike Forums - Too much exercise?

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- - Too much exercise? (https://www.bikeforums.net/road-cycling/1022807-too-much-exercise.html)

bt	08-06-15 02:21 PM

a lot of circular logic in this thread.

bowzette

08-06-15 02:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Seattle Forrest (Post 18047873)

What's "high" intake? A triple-shot espresso most mornings is ok, I hope?

also a member of the triple club :thumb:

TexMac

08-06-15 02:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ray9 (Post 18046606)

Someone quite rightly pointed out in another thread there is some evidence that continuing high level training into middle and old age may be detrimental to health and longevity. As an endurance athlete since 1973 I do not dismiss these observations out of hand because they make sense in the respect that our bodies have a mechanical aspect to them and our organs are wear items that are not designed to last forever.

But the observations are not supported by evidence of an epidemic of older endurance athletes dropping dead in races or in training. There is however an epidemic of early deaths among sedentary populations in developed countries particularly highly developed countries like the United States.

We must consider an array of variables that need to be taken into account when comparisons are made between active, vigorous individuals and the static lifestyles of general populations. Endurance athletes are far less likely to use tobacco or abuse alcohol and drugs. They are also less likely to be obese or diabetic. So they exist in a bubble of protection just by virtue of these differences.

This is not to say that there is no credence in warnings that excessive taxation on the heart and respiratory tract could produce symptoms that herald the onset of sudden death. This can occur in athletes of all ages but it is a concern among older adults simply because they have a lot more mileage on their bodies. Atrial Fibrillation is more common in older people and it is likely undiagnosed in staggering proportions. But AF is rarely a cause of death in endurance competitions.

Until I see compelling evidence that high level training will shorten or deteriorate quality of life I will continue to use it because I feel good doing it. And if this is really such a problem then we all might as well just hang up our bikes and go bowling.

I've known/seen guys back in Africa who commute on bikes for 20-30 years with no effect. The intervals are the hills they have to ride over while carrying wood/women/kids/meat/beer etc

GatsbyGlen

08-06-15 02:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RJM (Post 18050991)

yup...I'm 42 and hit 187 on Monday night.

Turn 43 soon. My recent Strava data shows 197, just as I reached the top of a certain climb. My heart rate tends to be high during a ride, although it doesn't really bother me. I do have Mitral Valve Prolapse, but the cardiologist doesn't think biking will be an issue. He told me don't go crazy, and avoid caffeine, including energy drinks. Whenever I drink that stuff, the heart fluttering increases. I don't notice any of that when riding.

As for longevity and exercise ... I think longevity is proportional to nap time :)

Ray9	08-06-15 02:55 PM

My dad lived to be 90. He smoked like a chimney until he was about 70 and his doctor told him to either quit or get another doctor. He had emphysema so bad that he couldn't do much for long. My mom lived to be 83. She was a chronic alcoholic and a heavy smoker right to the end. They had to amputate one of her legs because of smoking related circulatory issues. The first amputation did not work because gangrene set in so they cut again and that's what killed her. We thought about suing but did not.

I've been thinking about this exercise issue and ask myself some questions. Do I want to live past 100 and maybe outlive my kids and grandkids some of whom are overweight and smoke? I do not like to go there. This is far more complicated than just the physiology of exercise. I need to think about what makes me happy and that's riding my bike on a high level and getting lots of clean air into my clear lungs. If I die on the bike then so be it. I will go out on my shield.

Campag4life

08-06-15 03:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Seattle Forrest (Post 18050927)

Yeah, and that's why 220 - age is bunk.

I'm 37 and hit 191 recently, chasing my best time up a hill.

I hit 195 in a sprint and I'm 61. Routinely when riding with fast guys during hard efforts I hit 185.

zonatandem

08-06-15 04:07 PM

1 Attachment(s)

What is 'old age'?
My answer: 10 years older than what I am today.
At age 82, I still average 100+ miles a week.
Oh, I was the 'oldest' person putting in some miles to fight cancer at the recent Tour of Utah
fund raiser.

Campag4life

08-06-15 04:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zonatandem (Post 18051698)

Pretty awesome Zona. I hope to be like you.

bmcer

08-06-15 04:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Campag4life (Post 18051158)

You are a thoughtful man. There is a paradigm shift on the notion of consciousness within he medical community which in many ways is still in the stone age. The changing view is consciousness is not the personal domain of a given person..nor is the voice in a person's head any sort of definition of consciousness. A better explanation is...consciousness is a collective of infinite intelligence and each of our brain's are a reducing valve. This also better fits the concept of genius, idiot savant syndrome and of course precocity like Mozart composing complex music by the age of 3 when a human being can't possibly have the experience to formulate such creativity. This is why when we pass and the brain's restriction dies, we realign with this infinite intelligence...as often written about in NDE's.

Glad you came back to us to ride some more.

I'm not really all that thoughtful. Just intensely observant. I'd be very happy to discuss this topic in a more appropriate venue, but my low post count prevents me from PM'ing you. Maybe later...

DaveWC

08-06-15 04:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ray9 (Post 18051483)

I've been thinking about this exercise issue and ask myself some questions. Do I want to live past 100 and maybe outlive my kids and grandkids some of whom are overweight and smoke? I do not like to go there. This is far more complicated than just the physiology of exercise.

I think too many people think about healthy living leading to a longer life whereas they should consider the quality of their life instead. I don't want to live to 90 if the last 20 years are a series of bed-ridden, painful bouts with health issues. I have friends that are overweight, drink too much, get too little sleep because they believe that due to their family history they won't live long. What do they do when at 60 they find themselves alive but really unhealthy & live a good 20 years in pain & anguish? So I exercise the way I do so that my life will be longer, healthier & hopefully pain free & active.

Alias530

08-06-15 05:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zonatandem (Post 18051698)

I split my time with mountain biking (much less miles in a given amount of time) and weight lifting but during summer that's a hair more miles than I ride every week and I'm 29! Props to you, I hope I'm the same way at your age.

caloso

08-06-15 05:16 PM

"If I knew I'd live this long, I would have taken better care of myself." -- Mickey Mantle

Carbonfiberboy

08-06-15 07:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by merlinextraligh (Post 18051207)

Until you hit the point of diminishing returns, and you begin to get no benefit from more exercise, and then actually have negative return.

The J Curve of Exercising. Exercise, over-indulgence and atrial fibrillation ? seeing the obvious

The study referred to your in link was based on 150 minutes of moderate exercise a week (defined as brisk walking). It doesn't address the potential negative effects of years of intense race training.

That's an interesting link. If I'm reading that correctly, the commenter says that Afib probabilities start to increase at ~2000 hours total lifetime exercise. Thing is, most riders who train for high fitness put in 300-400 hours/year just on the bike. I have 170 hours so far this year, just on our tandem, and we don't put in near the hours that many of our riding friends do. Looking at total exercise time including weights, hiking, and cross training, it comes to 319 hours so far this year.

Given that I started riding a lot again 20 years ago, that's something on the order of 10,000 hours right there. Then there's 20 years of alpine and XC skiing, being on a Nordic ski team, climbing, biking from 8 years old through college, running a few miles a week from 12 to 25, and hiking. Man, that's a lot of hours. I think many of us on this forum have similar histories, or will if they keep at it until they're as old as I am. And I'm not quitting. Like Rudy, I think being old is still 10 years away. Heck, I'm still skiing alpine and this year Stevens Pass will finally sell me a full season pass for $99.

So while I've been careful all my life to limit my hours of high end, I think something is fishy somewhere.

fstshrk

08-06-15 08:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Campag4life (Post 18051653)

I hit 195 in a sprint and I'm 61. Routinely when riding with fast guys during hard efforts I hit 185.

I wish you the best.

Ray9	08-06-15 08:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zonatandem (Post 18051698)

Can you share your secret with us?

exime

08-06-15 08:44 PM

My grandpa was a chain smoker since he was a teen and he died at 88 of smoking related issues. His last year's were severe COPD etc but before that he was healthy as a horse. I believe he would have lived until 110 if he never smoked. He was young at heart.

I think anything in the extreme is bad for you. Albeit I'd wish my grandpa was a chronic exerciser than a chronic smoker, either could have killed him at 88.

So I guess it just depends how much you value old age. If you're ready to go and don't value extending your years as far as possible, then do 400 miles a week and ignore the experts and do what makes you happy. If you crave life and dream of blowing out candles on your 100th birthday cake then I wouldn't be biking 400 miles a week.

Stucky

08-06-15 09:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaveWC (Post 18051821)

I think too many people think about healthy living leading to a longer life whereas they should consider the quality of their life instead.

Very true. I've seen this first-hand among my family and relatives. The ones who smoke[d] heavily and live horrible lifestyles, never giving a thought to diet and health, tend to still live longer than the general public....but many of their years are spent suffering from various ailments and going to doctors continually. The ones who took a little care, are usually quite healthy up until near the time of their passing.

You can probably largely determine if you will croak at 52 or 72.....but whether you live to be 82 or 92 or 102 is probably more about genetics....but the choices you make can definitely largely determine if your last 30 years(especially) will be enjoyable or miserable.

Quote:

Originally Posted by exime (Post 18052361)

I think anything in the extreme is bad for you.

Yep. I think if people abided by moderation in everything, even the "bad things" wouldn't be so bad; and we'd all be a lot better off practicing that moderation, than reading these studies and basing our actions and lives on them. In Italy, smoking is still very common- "everyone smokes"- but you don't see the same high levels of lung cancer, CPOD, etc. as one does here in America, because the Italians tend not to smoke several packs of cigarettes A DAY, as many Americans do. They have an occasional cig, like after a meal.

steingate

08-07-15 05:44 AM

Great info mate! I didn't know that but thanks for letting us know ! =D

Seattle Forrest

08-07-15 09:28 AM

Went for a run last night. My Garmin said my recovery heart rate was 61 bpm, down to 96. Took a while to get an answer, I think that's for 2 minutes.

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