Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > General Cycling Discussion
Reload this Page >

'I just can't stop': Cyclist dies after confessing he was addicted to riding

Notices
General Cycling Discussion Have a cycling related question or comment that doesn't fit in one of the other specialty forums? Drop on in and post in here! When possible, please select the forum above that most fits your post!

'I just can't stop': Cyclist dies after confessing he was addicted to riding

Old 12-01-22, 01:00 PM
  #1  
3alarmer 
Friendship is Magic
Thread Starter
 
3alarmer's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Sacramento, CA
Posts: 22,932

Bikes: old ones

Mentioned: 304 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 26250 Post(s)
Liked 10,231 Times in 7,100 Posts
'I just can't stop': Cyclist dies after confessing he was addicted to riding

The critical danger of exercise addiction has been thrown into the spotlight following the tragic death of British cyclist Mark Bentley.

Bentley, a 54-year-old business journalist based in Frankfurt, Germany, spoke to Cycling Weekly in early September and confessed that he felt addicted to riding his bike despite experiencing symptoms of heart problems. Three days later, on 10 September, he suffered a fatal cardiac arrest.
.

Interviewed for a CW feature on the subject of exercise addiction, the Briton explained how he had been having chest pain while riding and that his exercise habits were getting in the way of other priorities in his life.

...


Bentley - who averaged more than 2,000km of cycling per month, much of it on indoors on a turbo trainer - spoke to CW as part of the magazine’s 'Let’s Talk About' series, which focuses on rarely discussed health issues affecting cyclists.

“Both my girlfriend and my mother tell me I’m obsessed," Bentley told CW. "If I’m not riding, I’m talking about it or watching cycling. It never ends... I’m aware it’s addictive, but it’s my hobby so why not do it in my spare time? At least this addiction isn’t harmful. Cycling is healthy.”
https://www.cyclingweekly.com/news/i...ted-to-cycling
__________________
3alarmer is offline  
Old 12-01-22, 01:03 PM
  #2  
Lombard
Sock Puppet
 
Lombard's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2022
Location: Planet Earth
Posts: 1,701

Bikes: 2014 Cannondale Synapse Carbon, 2017 Jamis Renegade Exploit and too many others to mention.

Mentioned: 4 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1031 Post(s)
Liked 863 Times in 573 Posts
Nothing in excess is healthy.
Lombard is offline  
Old 12-01-22, 01:17 PM
  #3  
70sSanO
Senior Member
 
70sSanO's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Mission Viejo
Posts: 5,772

Bikes: 1986 Cannondale SR400 (Flat bar commuter), 1988 Cannondale Criterium XTR, 1992 Serotta T-Max, 1995 Trek 970

Mentioned: 20 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1935 Post(s)
Liked 2,150 Times in 1,313 Posts
My wife was getting chest pain when riding. After some tests, she had heart valve replacement and is fine.

It is not the obsession, it is the reluctance to seek medical care/diagnosis when an issue arises.

It is unfortunate that the cyclist died, but a trip to a cardiologist would have been the correct approach. It may have been that he had a defect that could not have been reversed and he would have had to give up obsession, or continue knowing the probable outcome.

John
70sSanO is offline  
Old 12-01-22, 02:12 PM
  #4  
spelger
Senior Member
 
spelger's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: reno, nv
Posts: 2,275

Bikes: yes, i have one

Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1124 Post(s)
Liked 1,171 Times in 682 Posts
shouldn't this be here:

https://www.bikeforums.net/road-cycl...-2022-4-a.html
spelger is offline  
Likes For spelger:
Old 12-01-22, 02:50 PM
  #5  
Vinnems
Full Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Simi Valley, CA
Posts: 248
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 26 Post(s)
Liked 12 Times in 7 Posts
It's weird, a lot of friends and family have developed heart issues in the last couple years when they had none before, all relatively young (30s to 50s). It is I need prudent not to ignore the signs and get checked out. Definitely at least don't keep exercising!
Vinnems is offline  
Old 12-01-22, 03:07 PM
  #6  
tempocyclist
Senior Member
 
tempocyclist's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2021
Location: Australia
Posts: 815

Bikes: 2002 Trek 5200 (US POSTAL), 2020 Canyon Aeroad SL

Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 310 Post(s)
Liked 664 Times in 324 Posts
I guess "Man in his 50's dies after failing to seek medical attention for chest pain" is a less clickbait worthy article title...
tempocyclist is offline  
Old 12-01-22, 03:15 PM
  #7  
Koyote
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2017
Posts: 7,768
Mentioned: 37 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6882 Post(s)
Liked 10,873 Times in 4,637 Posts
He averaged "more than 2,000km of cycling per month, much of it on indoors on a turbo trainer."

I'm surprised he didn't die of boredom.
Koyote is offline  
Old 12-01-22, 03:22 PM
  #8  
indyfabz
Senior Member
 
indyfabz's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 39,059
Mentioned: 210 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 18320 Post(s)
Liked 15,299 Times in 7,231 Posts
Originally Posted by Koyote
He averaged "more than 2,000km of cycling per month, much of it on indoors on a turbo trainer."

I'm surprised he didn't die of boredom.


I can stop any time I want.
indyfabz is offline  
Likes For indyfabz:
Old 12-01-22, 03:24 PM
  #9  
indyfabz
Senior Member
 
indyfabz's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 39,059
Mentioned: 210 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 18320 Post(s)
Liked 15,299 Times in 7,231 Posts
Originally Posted by spelger
Don’t be hatin’.
indyfabz is offline  
Old 12-01-22, 03:46 PM
  #10  
livedarklions
Tragically Ignorant
 
livedarklions's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: New England
Posts: 15,613

Bikes: Serotta Atlanta; 1994 Specialized Allez Pro; Giant OCR A1; SOMA Double Cross Disc; 2022 Allez Elite mit der SRAM

Mentioned: 62 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 8186 Post(s)
Liked 9,094 Times in 5,053 Posts
Originally Posted by Koyote
He averaged "more than 2,000km of cycling per month, much of it on indoors on a turbo trainer."

I'm surprised he didn't die of boredom.
Snark aside, he was averaging about 40 miles per day. I seriously doubt the riding was what killed him.

Ignoring chest pains is a pretty stupid thing to do.

*edited to correct math error.

Last edited by livedarklions; 12-02-22 at 12:45 PM.
livedarklions is offline  
Likes For livedarklions:
Old 12-01-22, 03:49 PM
  #11  
Koyote
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2017
Posts: 7,768
Mentioned: 37 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6882 Post(s)
Liked 10,873 Times in 4,637 Posts
Originally Posted by livedarklions
Snark aside, he was averaging about 24.4 miles per day. I seriously doubt the riding was what killed him.

Ignoring chest pains is a pretty stupid thing to do.
I suspect you're correct on that. The cycling may have caused the problem to manifest earlier, but there was likely an underlying problem.

And on your theme of "snark aside": I have an in-law relative who, I suspect, has long suffered from exercise bulimia. Obsessive exercising is sometimes (not always) a sign of some emotional issue.
Koyote is offline  
Old 12-01-22, 03:58 PM
  #12  
livedarklions
Tragically Ignorant
 
livedarklions's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: New England
Posts: 15,613

Bikes: Serotta Atlanta; 1994 Specialized Allez Pro; Giant OCR A1; SOMA Double Cross Disc; 2022 Allez Elite mit der SRAM

Mentioned: 62 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 8186 Post(s)
Liked 9,094 Times in 5,053 Posts
Originally Posted by Koyote
I suspect you're correct on that. The cycling may have caused the problem to manifest earlier, but there was likely an underlying problem.

And on your theme of "snark aside": I have an in-law relative who, I suspect, has long suffered from exercise bulimia. Obsessive exercising is sometimes (not always) a sign of some emotional issue.

True, if you couple an eating disorder with large amounts of exercise, you can definitely create a heart problem.

My math was wrong, though, he was averaging about 40 miles a day.
livedarklions is offline  
Old 12-01-22, 04:06 PM
  #13  
Lombard
Sock Puppet
 
Lombard's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2022
Location: Planet Earth
Posts: 1,701

Bikes: 2014 Cannondale Synapse Carbon, 2017 Jamis Renegade Exploit and too many others to mention.

Mentioned: 4 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1031 Post(s)
Liked 863 Times in 573 Posts
Originally Posted by Koyote
He averaged "more than 2,000km of cycling per month, much of it on indoors on a turbo trainer."

I'm surprised he didn't die of boredom.
I knew of a guy who died of boredom. A guy who was bored shot him.
Lombard is offline  
Likes For Lombard:
Old 12-01-22, 04:22 PM
  #14  
Koyote
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2017
Posts: 7,768
Mentioned: 37 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6882 Post(s)
Liked 10,873 Times in 4,637 Posts
Originally Posted by Lombard
I knew of a guy who died of boredom. A guy who was bored shot him.
Hey, I believe it. After all, Johnny Cash shot a man in Reno -- just to watch him die.

​​​​​​https://www.google.com/search?q=fols...id:xd14cBeAfU4
Koyote is offline  
Old 12-01-22, 06:25 PM
  #15  
DangerousDanR
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2018
Location: Fargo ND
Posts: 901

Bikes: Time Scylon, Lynskey R350, Ritchey Breakaway, Ritchey Double Switchback, Lynskey Ridgeline, ICAN Fatbike

Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 460 Post(s)
Liked 539 Times in 302 Posts
Originally Posted by Koyote
Hey, I believe it. After all, Johnny Cash shot a man in Reno -- just to watch him die.

​​​​​​https://www.google.com/search?q=fols...id:xd14cBeAfU4
And then went to Folsom? No way! I call BS. Just like dying from riding 40 miles a day will kill you.

Untreated cardiac dysrhythmia... fatal. Riding 40 miles a day? A vacation.
DangerousDanR is offline  
Old 12-01-22, 06:29 PM
  #16  
Flip Flop Rider
Senior Member
 
Flip Flop Rider's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: South Carolina Upstate
Posts: 2,104

Bikes: 2010 Fuji Absolute 3.0 1994 Trek 850

Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 761 Post(s)
Liked 555 Times in 322 Posts
all that riding probably let him live longer than he would have
Flip Flop Rider is offline  
Old 12-01-22, 06:32 PM
  #17  
OldTryGuy
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: SW Fl.
Posts: 5,604

Bikes: Day6 Semi Recumbent "FIREBALL", 1981 Custom Touring Paramount, 1983 Road Paramount, 2013 Giant Propel Advanced SL3, 2018 Specialized Red Roubaix Expert mech., 2002 Magna 7sp hybrid, 1976 Bassett Racing 45sp Cruiser

Mentioned: 17 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1063 Post(s)
Liked 771 Times in 499 Posts
Originally Posted by Koyote
Hey, I believe it. After all, Johnny Cash shot a man in Reno -- just to watch him die.

​​​​​​https://www.google.com/search?q=fols...id:xd14cBeAfU4
Cash is good but I prefer Marty Robins and a different kind of ride that was a cause of death

El Paso -- https://www.google.com/search?q=mart...id:k5k6R4Z1BC8
OldTryGuy is offline  
Old 12-01-22, 07:50 PM
  #18  
Koyote
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2017
Posts: 7,768
Mentioned: 37 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6882 Post(s)
Liked 10,873 Times in 4,637 Posts
Originally Posted by OldTryGuy
Cash is good but I prefer Marty Robins and a different kind of ride that was a cause of death

El Paso -- https://www.google.com/search?q=mart...id:k5k6R4Z1BC8
Yeah, that's a good one, too.
Koyote is offline  
Old 12-01-22, 08:19 PM
  #19  
wolfchild
Banned
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Mississauga/Toronto, Ontario canada
Posts: 8,721

Bikes: I have 3 singlespeed/fixed gear bikes

Mentioned: 30 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4227 Post(s)
Liked 2,488 Times in 1,286 Posts
Originally Posted by Koyote
He averaged "more than 2,000km of cycling per month, much of it on indoors on a turbo trainer.".
Riding indoors is what killed him, if he rode outdoors he would still be alive.
wolfchild is offline  
Likes For wolfchild:
Old 12-01-22, 08:22 PM
  #20  
Koyote
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2017
Posts: 7,768
Mentioned: 37 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6882 Post(s)
Liked 10,873 Times in 4,637 Posts
Originally Posted by wolfchild
Riding indoors is what killed him, if he rode outdoors he would still be alive.
If you're going for humor, you failed. I already made that joke, and did it better.

If you're serious, you're nuts.
Koyote is offline  
Likes For Koyote:
Old 12-01-22, 08:23 PM
  #21  
Camilo
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Posts: 6,760
Mentioned: 10 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1107 Post(s)
Liked 1,197 Times in 758 Posts
Snark aside, he was averaging about 24.4 miles per day. I seriously doubt the riding was what killed him.
Ignoring chest pains is a pretty stupid thing to do.


Isn't it more like 40 miles per day? Doesn't contradict your point though. What killed him was his reluctance to pay attention to his heart, not the cycling "addiction"

Although, I'd have to say it must have been a huge addiction to compulsively ride that much indoors regardless of whether it's 24 or 41 miles. Yeah, I might understand it for a serious competitor trying to maximize fitness for competition or some other event. But just because someone likes riding?
Camilo is offline  
Old 12-01-22, 09:08 PM
  #22  
indyfabz
Senior Member
 
indyfabz's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 39,059
Mentioned: 210 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 18320 Post(s)
Liked 15,299 Times in 7,231 Posts
Originally Posted by wolfchild
Riding indoors is what killed him. If he had ridden outdoors he would still be alive.
fify
indyfabz is offline  
Old 12-01-22, 09:14 PM
  #23  
indyfabz
Senior Member
 
indyfabz's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 39,059
Mentioned: 210 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 18320 Post(s)
Liked 15,299 Times in 7,231 Posts
Originally Posted by Koyote
If you're going for humor, you failed. I already made that joke, and did it better.

If you're serious, you're nuts.
Maybe he was going for inane. If so, he nailed it, and he did garner some attention.
indyfabz is offline  
Old 12-01-22, 09:54 PM
  #24  
downtube42
Senior Member
 
downtube42's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 3,804

Bikes: Trek Domane SL6 Gen 3, Soma Fog Cutter, Focus Mares AL, Detroit Bikes Sparrow FG, Volae Team, Nimbus MUni

Mentioned: 11 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 878 Post(s)
Liked 2,019 Times in 1,055 Posts
Originally Posted by Koyote
Hey, I believe it. After all, Johnny Cash shot a man in Reno -- just to watch him die.

​​​​​​https://www.google.com/search?q=fols...id:xd14cBeAfU4
I don't know if Cash was inspired by Leadbelly, but if he wasn't he shoulda been. That is real prison blues.
downtube42 is offline  
Old 12-01-22, 10:07 PM
  #25  
Vinnems
Full Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Simi Valley, CA
Posts: 248
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 26 Post(s)
Liked 12 Times in 7 Posts
You guys think he was on an indoor trainer just staring at the floor? It's easy to forget your exercising if you watch TV or listen to music or read. I usually hit the rower while watching a baseball game and put in quite a few kilometers without realizing it.
Vinnems is offline  

Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.