How are your lungs?

I just wanted to see how the good people on here cope with the pollutants that are rammed into our lungs when we cycle, especially during times of busy traffic.

I am currently working with an ex-triathlete who is close to being diagnosed with having COPD. He believes that years of high intensity training in the city (remember I'm in Birmingham) have caused his lungs to be saturated with lung deteriorating pollutants.
When we finish our training sessions together - he has to "expectorate" large volumes of mucus from his lungs, which is awful to hear and watch... in most instances he has to regularly collect these samples and have them analysed. Not pretty.

So how are your lungs........?

I'm careful always to use a protective coating of Lucky Strike on them.

I work in part of a cardiovascular disease research group and we have a couple of people do analysis on how particulate matter in air bourne pollutants alters blood clotting.
All I can say is their presentations really make me want to try wearing a pollution mask again when riding in cities.

Mmmmmm. May actually be better than sitting behind an old "D reg" transit....

i in no way condone lucky strike as a preventative measure to respiratory complications
ha ha

lol @ your tarry protection Steff ^^

I find I get a weird metallic taste in my mouth after commuting on days when the traffic is particularly bad, but I have no idead if it's really pollutants I can taste.

I did read somewhere that sitting in a car in traffic is just as bad for your lungs, but I think the fact cycling makes you breath more deeply probably sucks the poisons in deeper.

My asthma caught up with me last year, after nearly 20 years of no problems. It was an A&E job. Interestingly, the hospital and my GP both agreed with my theory that my total lack of fitness at the time was mainly to blame.

I've now got one of those lung capacity meters which is interesting to use before and after riding - even after a commute through central London I tend to have better capacity than at the start.

my lungs are shit

asthma means I find it hard to breathe in very cold or very hot weather and resort to the inhaler.

haven't smoked for years.

I also stay the fuck away from car exhausts, by getting to the front of traffic but mainly using quieter alternative routes when possible (something I notice few people do)

Yeah - Asthma must be a bitch... especially during the summer, when that cloud of fumes can often lend to that "bitty, gritty" sensation in the eyes....

When Birmingham gets through the industrial revolution, you will eventually realise how bad the smog is for everyone and begin to clean up the belching furnaces until you have the sweet clean air that we enjoy in London's famous London today.

Brum:

London:

I hold my breath when overtaking buses. Bus exaust fumes make me feel physically sick.

^I hear that.

my lungs are shit hot. really, they are. that's what my personal cardio-vascular physician told me. shit hot. his exact words.

anyway, i thought being in cars is worse for your lungs than being around them. no?

mine aren't shit hot, but they are pretty good, much better since I quit the smokes.

Anyone smoke whilst cycling?

[quote=RPM;559216]my lungs are shit

asthma means I find it hard to breathe in very cold or very hot weather and resort to the inhaler.
+1

I take my inhaler before i ride, and really rely on it to get me through.
But i does'nt help much that i smoke (i know i should'nt but i'm young and stupid)

I've been known to potter along with a roll-up whilst on the bike, probably doing wonders for my health.

Anyone smoke whilst cycling?

If it's a nice day and I'm dawdling along in no hurry I've been known to ignite a cheroot and puff merrily on my way ;)

I'm not about to give the big "smoking" lecture, but those who smoke and cycle, do you have days where you can cycle the fuck out of your lungs, and days where you just can't inflate those bad boys to get the bike moving?

First dayback on bike after about of month of no exercise,
got a face full of bus exhaust half way down kentish town,
gagging while riding hurts,
throwing up because of it hurts even more.

Yeah HTFU

Brum:

When did Birmingham move to the coast? I must have missed that meeting...

I'm not about to give the big "smoking" lecture, but those who smoke and cycle, do you have days where you can cycle the fuck out of your lungs, and days where you just can't inflate those bad boys to get the bike moving?

For me, the former was last summer when I was going out into Essex with Cycling Club Hackney every Sunday - even felt OK after the Dynamo. The latter is now, sadly. I suspect things will improve once I get used to carrying twelvety-three tons of Almax chain and lock about with me.

That'll do it Steff - keep churning those cranks.
I'm finding that this guy i'm working with can only really achieve maximal output in the late afternoon, when obviously his lung capacity is at it's peak. I can't begin to explain how different he is in the morning - he quotes it as having elastic bands around each lung.
Often this means that the midday warmth and lunchtime traffic means a higher level of irritants in the air - so we're forced to train indoors. Not great for a former triathlete...
Does anyone else find a difference in their capacity to train - with regards to timings during the day?

I'm not about to give the big "smoking" lecture, but those who smoke and cycle, do you have days where you can cycle the fuck out of your lungs, and days where you just can't inflate those bad boys to get the bike moving?

My lungs are pretty mash up, I've got asthma and I smoke. After say 15 minutes of riding hard I'll need a quick puff of the inhaler, but after that its fine.. This is mainly because of the cold air and general winterness.

I work in part of a cardiovascular disease research group and we have a couple of people do analysis on how particulate matter in air bourne pollutants alters blood clotting.
All I can say is their presentations really make me want to try wearing a pollution mask again when riding in cities.

I might try wearing surgical masks, if its good enough for Cambodians it'll work for me.

The particulates in question are down the the nano metre range. Surgicals are worthless for removing them!