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02-09-2007, 04:42 PM

On Feb 8, 8:44 pm, "runcyclexc...@yahoo.com" <runcyclexc...@yahoo.com>
wrote:
> On Feb 8, 5:29 pm, Mark Hickey <m...@habcycles.com> wrote:
>
>
>
> > "runcyclexc...@yahoo.com" <runcyclexc...@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.
>
> The air could be cleaner (I doubt it... I kee my car windows closed
> anyway), but it would have to be 10 times cleaner to make biking safer
> than driving.

And where is that air that you're breathing coming from? If anything
it apparently is worse in a car than as cyclist since the car air
intakes are lower than the cyclist's air intakes and auto emissions
are less dense as distance from the ground increases.

02-09-2007, 04:42 PM	#22 (permalink)
John Kane Posts: n/a	Re: poisoning yourself by riding On Feb 8, 8:44 pm, "runcyclexc...@yahoo.com" <runcyclexc...@yahoo.com> wrote: > On Feb 8, 5:29 pm, Mark Hickey <m...@habcycles.com> wrote: > > > > > "runcyclexc...@yahoo.com" <runcyclexc...@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. > > The air could be cleaner (I doubt it... I kee my car windows closed > anyway), but it would have to be 10 times cleaner to make biking safer > than driving. And where is that air that you're breathing coming from? If anything it apparently is worse in a car than as cyclist since the car air intakes are lower than the cyclist's air intakes and auto emissions are less dense as distance from the ground increases.