Lack Of Self-Respect?

Carrera

How come people seem to be letting themselves go to absurd levels lately? I notice more and more people who are grossly overweight and who smoke ridiculous levels of tobacco.
The guy I mentioned some months ago in one of my posts has had a cancer scare. As I mentioned before, he was smoking 20 - 30 cigarettes a day and his habit was even forced on other people. Months ago I warned him how seriously he was damaging his health yet he laughed in my face on occasions. Now he has had this huge shock but still continues to smoke.
Not only that but more people are getting incredibly fat, gasping and wheezing at the slightest exertion. There are several people I know who have balooned to incredible proportions. Whenever I tactfully suggest the need for exercise, they bite my head off and simply don't listen.

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"Everybody has a philosophy. However, what philosophy you have is a matter of choice, and most people don't make a conscious choice with regard to what philosophy they accept."

Carrera

I think tobacco should be banned outright. This guy had apparently had testicular cancer. They removed that but he has another tumour inside his head near the lobes. It may sound heartless but I warned this guy repeatedly that smoking 30 cigarettes a day would finally get to him. His response was to smoke even more, especially when I objected to smoke being in offices and rooms. But it seems to me that if he's still smoking and being treated on the NHS he must be totally addicted to the point of total loss of control.

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"Everybody has a philosophy. However, what philosophy you have is a matter of choice, and most people don't make a conscious choice with regard to what philosophy they accept."

Don Shipp

He probably thinks that no-one with a modicum of self-respect would ever do anything so undignified as ride a bike.

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"Boudreaux pissed me off, what should I do?"
"Nothing, just shut up and take his advice."

Carrera

I heard it said that very high levels of cycling isn't so good for you. For the average guy, though, 3 - 4 hours cycling every week would combat obesity.
You know, I know this guy who all his life ate only fast food such as fries, burgers, nuggets e.t.c. He never ate veg ever. Well, it nailed him. He winded up with legs that swell up like tree-trunks all blood red and can't work any more.
However, what I loathe is smoking. I'm terrified of breathing in those noxious fumes and open all windows where smoking has been taking place.

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"Everybody has a philosophy. However, what philosophy you have is a matter of choice, and most people don't make a conscious choice with regard to what philosophy they accept."

MountainPro

its not the bike riding that lacks self respect, its the wearing of lycra...

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HARD
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Don Shipp

Not really what I mean.
Even someone who knew that they needed to exercise and recognised the potential benefits of cycling, would not ride a bike to work if they considered it undignified.
Someone like Mr. Justice Morgan, for instance, honestly believes that cycling is something that only proles do.

__________________
"Boudreaux pissed me off, what should I do?"
"Nothing, just shut up and take his advice."

FredC

3-4 hours a week on a bike is peanuts, and won't do anything. Most blokes did that getting to and back from work.
As a pro I was doing 5 hours a day training at about 22mph on 42x16. I'm 'ucked now, but I would never swop it for anything in the world, as I rode against or with the greatest riders in the world. And Eddy Merckx was the greatest ever without a shadow of a doubt. Mind you I did beat him in the Tour of Holland.

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The media is a self perpetuating publicity stunt.

Durangodave

3 to 4 hrs a week, split into 4 or five rides will to a lot to remedy the ills of a totally sedentary lifestyle. Racing and training is another thing altogether....

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"I must (deride me not) be somewhere where I can, without disaster, bicycle." Henry James, 1896

Don Shipp

Hello, Fred.
I only do about 8-10hrs a week these days, and that's all my weekly commute, but it helps keep me in great shape. No amount of training would ever have put me in the Eddy Merckx league and that probably goes for 99.99% of the rest of the population. You must have been one fit bugger.

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"Boudreaux pissed me off, what should I do?"
"Nothing, just shut up and take his advice."

FredC

Thanks Don, I must admit that I don't like posting this sort of thing up, but I know you understand my predicament, all our Redneck Hillbilly pals also understand this, and that's why I'm left alone.
Careera is a chump ( or words to that effect). He doesn't even know Brian Rourke or Les West. He's not in a club, never raced, and does everything wrong.

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The media is a self perpetuating publicity stunt.

Durangodave

I'm totally lost... what do any of these have to do with plain old basic exercise and fitness?

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"I must (deride me not) be somewhere where I can, without disaster, bicycle." Henry James, 1896

FredC

Efficiency.

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The media is a self perpetuating publicity stunt.

Carrera

I recall Limerickman saying you were a top cyclist. Myself I'm not really so good as I don't ride in competition. Even so, I make the effort to keep myself in reasonable shape. A few weeks ago I noticed I was riding on my Scott Sport about 27 mph on the flat although I'd normally drop down to about 21 mph most of the time. I've been known to climb long but not steep hills at about 17 mph.
I recall some weeks ago I was "dropped" by a Sheila! I was on my flashy bike and she was on some old thing that reminded me of the wizard of Oz with a basket on the front of the bars. She overtook me on the downbank I think to teach me a lesson.
I was so humiliated I attacked on the hill going up. I noticed my speedo had me at 17 mph climbing but I didn't dare look behind to see if the girl was on my wheel.
By the time I got to the bridge, I was amazed to see this girl had gone totally. But my own condition was not so good. I put so much effort into defending my honour I was left totally knackered. God knows what my pulse must have been.

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"Everybody has a philosophy. However, what philosophy you have is a matter of choice, and most people don't make a conscious choice with regard to what philosophy they accept."

Carrera

I'm reasonably well known but my identity is a secret. I don't compete.

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"Everybody has a philosophy. However, what philosophy you have is a matter of choice, and most people don't make a conscious choice with regard to what philosophy they accept."