geo_10

This is will begin my second year road riding and I've never felt and looked better. Most of my life from early high school until 2 years ago (currently 31 years old) I was a 3/4 pack day smoker. In the past 2 years I've probably slipped and smoked 1-2 packs total in 2 years. It may suprise some people but I'm able to ride an avg of 18-20 mph for 50+ miles. I admit that I probably breathe heavier than those that have never smoked or smoked less, but I still feel good about my accomplishment.

Are there other ex-smokers here and have you noticed improvments in lung function over time?

peachthief2

i'm not an ex-smoker, but I ride with one sometimes. She is also a pro racer now, so keep riding.

joetronic

I smoked from age 16 to last year (age 22.) I quit because of my riding. I also feel better and every time on the bike it seems like my lungs are feeling better and better. Congrats on the quiting. I know its hard to stop a 1-2 pack a day habit.

fastbub

I was a 1.5 pack a day smoker from age 15 to 25 and this is my second year back on the road as a non-smoker. I feel great and am proud to have a new addiction. I am very much into racing and do pretty well so don't be discouraged or feel that your performance has to be limited because you used to smoke. It doesn't take long to get it out of your system and for your lungs to get back to normal. Congratulations on quitting I know it is very difficult and riding is what allowed me to go cold turkey and never look back.

pedex

riding fast, even racing, and smoking are not mutually exclusive

lala

I've just a year more or less (with some cheating). I compounded my quitting with a move to high altitude. Not riding much lately, but I've found my lungs are still not great.
Think I need another year before I have better results?

kevinmcdade

It will be one year on January 16th that I quit smoking after 13 years of smoking. I am finally taking off those "quit smoking pounds" and am feeling and looking better. After quitting I put on some pounds and topped the scale at 230 pounds in September. I have been riding alot and watching what I eat and am back down to 212. My goad is 195 by March/April.

Congrats for giving up the smoking!!! Keep up the good work.

Poppaspoke

I quit smoking 15-17 years ago. I had a number of relapses for the first two years before I was able to quit completely. Don't give up! For every year that you are able to remain smoke-free, the closer your health and lifespan comes to matching those who have never smoked.

bertt

I quit 5 years ago after smoking 2-2.5 packs a day for 16 yrs. Would have to agree with you about breathing a little harder than the people I ride with. Congrats on quitting.

iamtim

My parents smoked like a house a'fire pretty much all their lives. A while back my mom went through intense chemo and radiation therapy for the lung cancer she picked up.

I wholeheartedly applaud anyone who kicks that particluar habit. Good job.

BillyD

Like you, I began smoking early in high school.

I smoked while playing high school baseball (no big deal, baseball).

I smoked while playing college basketball (now THAT'S a big deal).

I smoked while biking since back in the seventies ... I mean actually riding with a cigarette hanging out my mouth, blowing ashes in my eye ... or, stopping for a break and lighting up a smoke. I didn't leave the house without a pack of smokes in my saddlebag!!

Through the grace of God I was able to maintain my health until quitting last year, this past April, after 43 (forty three) years of smoking. I consider myself lucky . . . that's a long time of unsuccessfully trying to kill yourself!

Have I noticed a biking improvement ? . . . without a doubt! I climb better, sprint better, with improved stamina and endurance.

Looking forward to more improvement next season.

I'm so proud of BillyD!!

jslopez

Quit 2 years ago and picked up a road bike last year.

Best two (out of three) decisions of my left.

PS the last one has a sappy answer so don't say I didn't warn you.

DocRay

yes. they are.

Smokers who use high lung volume are just pumping more carcinogens into their bodies. Dumb idea.

DocRay

The good news is the epidemeology studies show that smokers who quit actually have a similar incidence of lung cancer as the rest of the population after ten years smoke free. However, emphysema is still a big problem.

jsf252

Same here, I smoked from 17 until 23 (now) 1/2pack a day, and hopefully I can stay quit. Congrats!

geo_10

Help me understand. I thought that emphysema like other smoking related illnesses decrease after quitting.

DocRay

Decrease yes, but still much higher chance than a non-smoker.

webist

My second year as a former smoker starts in 4 days (23 Dec). Went cold turkey after 42 years of smoking. And yes, performance is improved. I'm still old and heavy though so pro racing will probably have to wait.

Sprocket Man

Hey BillyD, I'm proud of you too. Must have been really difficult to quit - you smoked longer than I've been alive. Kick butts!

RC2

I am encouraged by your success and am also one who has smoked since H.S. and consider myself a "light smoker", no more than 10 cigarettes in a day. I have competed in triathalons and am looking forward to being a "non smoker" in 2006. I wonder how much easier it will be to compete once I am finished with the abuse I have put body through.

Keep me posted on your success and continued good health.

Extort

Congrats on quitting. Seems that most reformed smokers become bikers as I also started before high school and only quit December 2004 (with lapses). I just did a lung test with my doctor and he said I am at 91% of normal!
I does get better after quitting, I finshed the triple crown in 2005...

Markio

I honestly don't mean to dampen spirits, but do your lungs ever return to normal from smoking? I was under the impression that the effects were fairly permanent... I'm no doc though.

Congrats on quitting!

pedex

somebody should probably tell mario cipolini that

oldcrank

Eddy Merckx was a smoker . . . when he set the Hour record and when he won the Tours. One can only imagine what boost to his already-renowned legacy would have been if he had not been.

I am still a light smoker . . . but continue to decrease and hope to totally eliminate during the upcoming year.

badkarma

I'm not an ex-smoker, but I am an anti-smoking advocate. I'm glad to see cycling helped you break your smoking habit. Keep riding.