02-08-2007, 04:29 PM
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#2 (permalink)
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| | Re: poisoning yourself by riding
"runcyclexcski@yahoo.com" <runcyclexcski@yahoo.com> wrote:
>http://www.cyclingnews.com/fitness/?id=code_red
>
>Has anyone here experienced chronic lung sickness that can be traced
>back to when they started riding more/harder?
>
>I think I have developed chronic lung inflammation after an enjoable
>season of riding on urban CA. By riding a road bike alongside with
>cars you are reduce polution and get in shape, but you are poison
>yourself with car emissions. Cyclists, especially when going hard,
>expose their lower airways and alveoli to pollution at least 10 times
>more compared to the case of no exertion (i.e. compared to car
>drivers). A cyclist going hard passes at least 100 lliters of air
>through his/her lungs per minute (compared to ~10 liters per minute
>when not exertiing, assuming 500 ml average breaths and ~20 breaths
>per minute). Not everyone will develop problems, but susceptible
>people will. If I could go back, I would have switched to m.biking or
>trail running.
Hmmmmm... the information I've read suggests that the air the cyclists
breath is CLEANER than that of the motorist (at least, those in a
closed vehicle), because of the trapping of the noxious gasses in the
****pit, and the fact that they tend to trail along nose to tail.
You're absolutely right about us using more air though - but I have to
wonder how much getting in "in and out in a hurry" matters to how much
nasty stuff actually gets absorbed.
I've ridden in places that would make the air in Los Angeles look
positively pristine, and never had any major lung issues (though I
could feel "something wrong" after a long ride in really bad air).
Mark Hickey
Habanero Cycles
http://www.habcycles.com
Home of the $795 ti frame
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