Cycling Mob Cycling Forums - View Single Post

02-08-2007, 09:47 PM

Mark Hickey wrote:
> "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.
....
> 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.

That agrees with what I remember of a study done many
years ago in the Washington, DC area comparing cycle
commuters to motorists along the same route. As I recall,
they took blood samples and analyzed them for the
presence of air pollution components and concluded
that the cyclists were less affected than the motorists.
I believe there was a summary of the study in the LAB
(LAW back then) magazine. Unfortunately I don't
recall the details and couldn't find online references.

In addition to the cars traveling ' nose to tail' there is also
the factor that car air intakes are generally lower than
cyclists' heads. Also the cyclist has more of an
opportunity to minimize exposure to spot concentrations
of pollution - on my bike I'll slow down and hold my breath for
a short period if a truck comes by belching black smoke.

02-08-2007, 09:47 PM	#13 (permalink)
peter Posts: n/a	Re: poisoning yourself by riding Mark Hickey wrote: > "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. .... > 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. That agrees with what I remember of a study done many years ago in the Washington, DC area comparing cycle commuters to motorists along the same route. As I recall, they took blood samples and analyzed them for the presence of air pollution components and concluded that the cyclists were less affected than the motorists. I believe there was a summary of the study in the LAB (LAW back then) magazine. Unfortunately I don't recall the details and couldn't find online references. In addition to the cars traveling ' nose to tail' there is also the factor that car air intakes are generally lower than cyclists' heads. Also the cyclist has more of an opportunity to minimize exposure to spot concentrations of pollution - on my bike I'll slow down and hold my breath for a short period if a truck comes by belching black smoke.