Cycling and smoking

Matthew Booth74 said:One could just as easily argue from a smoker's perspective:

What’s the going rate for a decent bike? $2640!
I smoke a pack a day and relax at home without breaking a sweat.

To each their own.

To each their own, certainly, but we are discussing a specific combination here...

It’s always some non-smoker trying to lecture a smoker... they start doing all this math—like, if you smoke this many a day, and a pack costs this much, then over a year it adds up to this, and over ten years it’s basically enough to buy a Mercedes. So, the smoker just looks at them and asks, "Hey, do you smoke?" They say, "No." And the smoker just goes, "Well, where's your Mercedes then?"

^^^ 😁 😁
She's the real deal

Jeffrey Hall5 said:It’s always some non-smoker trying to lecture a smoker, acting like they know everything by doing all that math—you smoke this much a day, a pack costs this much, so over a year or ten years, you could have easily bought yourself a Mercedes. So then the smoker just looks at them and asks, "Do you smoke?" They say no, and the smoker hits them with, "Well, where's your Mercedes then?"

Honestly, all these petty complaints and people trying to act superior is what really gets me, because why even bother with that kind of hostility? If someone wants to do something, let them live their life.
But here is the cold, hard truth, and I’m speaking from direct experience: the second I quit smoking, it was immediately obvious in my lung capacity and how I handled hills.
I used to go driving with a buddy quite often, and we had the exact same smoking history, but just two years ago, I was gasping for air every single time we hit an incline. I felt lighter, so that's basically why. Fast forward a year later, I haven't touched a cigarette in months, and I'm leaving him in the dust at the very first mile while he's practically wheezing just to keep up with me.
It’s the same story when I called over two buddies to help me lug a ton of cement up to the second floor of a house; both of them are smokers. The bags were only about fifty pounds each, and we figured we'd knock it out quickly so we could get back to grabbing beers and hanging out, but they went up those stairs three times and completely burned out.
When I'm driving on flat ground, there isn't much of a noticeable difference, but the moment I start heading up a hill, you see exactly how much things have changed.

Gerald Moore5 said:Can you be a cyclist and still smoke?

Whether you're just riding for fun or getting really serious about it. What have you guys found?

Hey, fifth interval! How's it going? 😍

Gerald Moore5 said:Look at Prosinecki. The guy smoked like a chimney, but he was easily one of the best players at every club he played for.

He was talented, sure, but everyone knew he moved like he was stuck in molasses.

I’m 40 years old and have been smoking about 18-19 packs a day for a long time.

My fitness levels fluctuate depending on the season and how much I train. I honestly have no idea what my stamina would be like if I didn't smoke, though I hope to find out eventually.

In my opinion, if someone trains hard and stays consistent, smoking doesn't make a massive difference in terms of pure athletic performance—cardio training pretty much compensates for it. I'm talking strictly about conditioning here, not the other health risks of tobacco. Let's be clear: smoking is always worse than not smoking, but if you're going to do it anyway, you might as well be a fit smoker.
That's just my observation. Besides, a good workout depends on a dozen different things—time of day, fatigue, diet, motivation, etc. Not being a smoker doesn't magically make you an athlete.

But there is nothing quite like that feeling after a run, a bike ride, or a boxing session when your lungs feel wide open like the Amazon rainforest, and you light up a cigarette.😉

The fitness argument definitely holds water. There are so many variables at play. If you’re sitting at 280 pounds, just starting out, and you’re over 50... how can you even compare yourself to some 130-pound kid who’s in peak shape with 18-25 grams of testosterone running through him, but smokes like a chimney? You don't.
I’m honestly fascinated by those kinds of power-to-weight ratios. Obviously, not smoking is a massive advantage—it's just common sense. Some people don't seem to care how it affects their ride. I saw someone mention earlier that a certain user here is older and spends his time regularly biking up Mount Rainier while still being a smoker.
Back when I was smoking, I couldn't even handle flat ground, let alone a steep climb. I eventually quit, though I ended up packing on the pounds in the process. What’s the smarter move, though? What’s healthier? I haven't regretted quitting for a single second, even if I'm not thrilled about the extra weight. When I weigh the options, being a bit heavier is much easier than struggling to breathe.

And no, you don't just wake up overweight because you quit smoking.
Smoking is a brain-dead habit, whether you want to admit it or not. You stink, it’s expensive, and you're basically a slave to some dried leaves rolled in paper.

James Davis11 said:It’s not like you just gain weight by default because you quit smoking.
Smoking is a mindless habit regardless of whether people want to admit it; you smell, it costs a fortune, and you're essentially addicted to dried leaves wrapped in paper.

No, there isn't necessarily a link, obviously. When I quit, I swung to the complete opposite extreme, which is hardly an excuse. It’s the classic story—weight gain after quitting.
What I’m trying to say is that us older recreational players weighing over 220 lbs don't stand a chance against the younger crowd, whether they smoked or not. Tolerance to any vice or addiction varies wildly from person to person.
Since I haven't been able to ride my bike for a month due to a fall, my midsection has definitely gone to seed, haha... now I actually have to burn it off.

I’ve seen plenty of people pack on the pounds right after they quit smoking. The worst part is when they inevitably relapse; then you’re stuck dealing with both the weight gain and the cigarettes again.

The consensus seems to be that once the habit breaks, the snacking starts. People find themselves constantly reaching for something to keep their hands busy, their appetite spikes, and suddenly food actually tastes good again. They also claim a non-smoker's body processes nutrients more efficiently than a smoker's does, even with the same amount of food.

The smartest move is probably to hit the gym harder the moment you toss the packs. You burn off the extra calories, keep your mind off the cravings, and improve your lung capacity. Instead of hitting the local pub, just head to a hiking trail. Hehehe.

Patrick Mitchell76 said:I know plenty of people who packed on the pounds right after they quit smoking... and the absolute worst part is when they end up relapsing and suddenly you’re dealing with both the extra weight and the cigarettes again..

The reality is that once people stop smoking, they just eat more because they're constantly looking for something to do with their hands, their appetite spikes, and suddenly everything tastes way better... plus, they say a non-smoker's body actually processes nutrients much more efficiently from the same amount of food compared to a smoker...

Honestly, the best move when you ditch the smokes is to crank up the intensity at the gym so you're burning those calories off, keeping your mind off the habit, and getting your lungs back in shape... maybe hit a trail in a local park instead of heading to the bar, haha.

When I finally kicked the habit, I managed to keep my weight steady without any issues, but as soon as I stopped driving as much due to the winter weather and the days getting shorter, I immediately put on 20 pounds during January and February this year, and it has been a total nightmare because I just can't seem to get back to my old self.
It's a fact that people eat more when they quit, because you're basically just swapping one addiction for another and that's where the whole mess starts.

I’m not really buying all those theories about quitting smoking automatically turning you into a balloon...
I kicked the habit myself about six years ago, after a twenty-year streak.
Back then, being in my late thirties, my metabolism was just starting to hit the brakes, so I naturally started packing on a little weight—maybe an extra 20 pounds or so.
I eventually started getting active and hitting the gym, which helped me get back in shape without having to go on some extreme, miserable diet or anything.
Quitting smoking wasn't exactly this life-altering, magical epiphany where I suddenly felt like a superhero, but I definitely have more energy now.
The part that actually blew my mind, though, was the sheer sense of FREEDOM.
I don't have to constantly pat my pockets to make sure I actually have cigarettes before heading out, or obsess over whether I grabbed a lighter, or scout out the nearest 7-Eleven just to find a pack.
At the end of the day, everyone's experience is different.
Can you ride a bike and smoke at the same time?
Why wouldn't you be able to? You just sit there and pedal away; it's as easy as pie.
If you’re riding 15 to 20 miles19 miles every single day, you could probably eat a whole tray of Texas BBQ ribs and still not see any issues. :-)

EDIT: And honestly, you can definitely drink more when you aren't smoking... purely for practical reasons. You can hold a glass in both hands because a cigarette doesn't need a second hand to function. :-)))