Biked 20 miles

[Whistle_Pig]

Yeah, biking 20 miles doesn't seem like much to a lot of riders. Last year, towards the end of summer, I could do 30, but that was only after working up to it starting in April, and biking about every other day.

This year, I haven't ridden much at all. 14 miles was about my limit. Today, I was pretty well pooped after 17, but I also should have taken more water. I'm sure I could not have done this had I been smoking for the past 3 months. (Well, I probably could have pushed on through, but I'd've been a wreck afterwards.)

 

[Upinthehills]

Good for you! It's amazing what we can do when we can breathe, isn't it?

 

[Little Girl]

Congratulations, Whistle_Pig! It must have been glorious! Was it a beautiful ride?

 

[jj2]

Way to go Whistle!!!!

 

[msroulette]

WOOT WOOT for whistle. I hope you have the bike paths in Littleton like we have here in the springs...they are a beautiful ride!

 

[Whistle_Pig]

Thanks, LG. It's always a beautiful ride.

It's kinda funny that I don't notice any significant improvement in breathing, just in my normal day, and I certainly did the other times I quit smoking. Probably just because after 30 years, it will take longer.

 

[Whistle_Pig]

Way to go Whistle!!!!

WOOT WOOT for whistle. I hope you have the bike paths in Littleton like we have here in the springs...they are a beautiful ride!

Thx, JJ and MsR.

I usually ride the Platte River trail, or Highline Canal. Nice because I can get to both with very minimal time on city streets. And either of them gets me to other bike paths. Once I work up to it, a 30+ mile loop (and longer) is easy to do, with maybe a mile on the roads. Platte River trail is concrete, so it's pretty easy. Highline Canal is hardpack dirt/sand/gravel, so a little more work.

The other good thing is for the first 17 miles, I kept up a 15mph avg. Last year it took a few months to get to that point.

 

[Little Girl]

Thanks, LG. It's always a beautiful ride.

Good, because that's half the fun right there.

It's kinda funny that I don't notice any significant improvement in breathing, just in my normal day, and I certainly did the other times I quit smoking. Probably just because after 30 years, it will take longer.

I'm not sure. I smoked for 30 years and quit just a little over a month ago and notice all kinds of difference, including improved breathing. Maybe you were healthy enough that quitting smoking wasn't a significant enough difference to your body. I'm a couch potato, so I notice the improvement.

 

[Whistle_Pig]

Right now, other than the occasional bike ride, I'm a desk potato. In the past, there was a definite feeling of easier breathing when I quit, and I remember it quite well, because it was so astounding. I'm definitely not there.

 

[Whistle_Pig]

Well, just for fun ...
YouTube - Queen - Bicycle Race

 

[Little Girl]

Right now, other than the occasional bike ride, I'm a desk potato.

I am so going to steal that phrase.

In the past, there was a definite feeling of easier breathing when I quit, and I remember it quite well, because it was so astounding. I'm definitely not there.

I'm sorry to hear that! Maybe your memory of how it felt in the past has made you build it up in your mind to being more dramatic than it actually is, so maybe you are feeling better, but not as better as you remember, giving you the impression that you're not any better at all. Or... Maybe now that you're older than you were the last time, the feeling is taking longer to take hold. Or... Maybe you're coming down with something. Or... Maybe something else is acting as an irritant to your lungs (like formaldehyde or something else in the environment). Or... I'm out.

LOL @ the Bicycle Race by Queen.

 

[Whistle_Pig]

I suspect it's a combination of living at another 5000' of altitude, being older, and having smoked for longer.

 

[Little Girl]

I'll bet the altitude is the culprit. I smoked for thirty years and I feel a dramatic difference in quitting.

 

[Whistle_Pig]

I'm still optimistic about continued improvement. Too hot to bike today though.

 

[Little Girl]

Maybe you're just a really healthy person despite the fact that you smoked, so you won't notice much of a difference now. You're not smoking cigarettes, so it's all good.

What does a biker do when it's too hot to bike? Oh wait, you're a member of ECF - you've got enough entertainment right here in these forums to last until the heat wave is over.

 

[Whistle_Pig]

Well, in general I am pretty healthy. But I can do better. Quitting smoking is just one step.

ECF can be pretty amusing at times. But I really ought to be doing something other than surfing the web as much as I do.

 

[Little Girl]

Well, in general I am pretty healthy. But I can do better. Quitting smoking is just one step.

I suppose that's true, although you're ahead of me when it comes to exercise with your biking. What's next? Healthier food choices?

ECF can be pretty amusing at times. But I really ought to be doing something other than surfing the web as much as I do.

Heresy!

 

[Whistle_Pig]

Yep. Diet and exercise. The latter is easier than the former.

 

[Little Girl]

For me it's the other way around, so you can exercise and I'll diet, and between the two of us we'll get 'er done.

 

[johnny bobcat]

keep it up and you'll be doing centuries in no time, that's what happened to me when i switched to vaping