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@tiktok
I quit february 14th 2005.
fell off the wagon once or twice but all in all am off them and now consider myself a nonsmoker. first 9 months was pure hell. Any riding, flats, uphills even descending (wernt long enough to recouperate from the climb) was shear torture. Almost started smoking again a few times because quitting seemed to make things harder.
I was a VERY heavy smoker (if anyone in the group had a flat, ide use it as an excuse for a quick roli) and after quitting after a ride was the wrost time coughing up all kinds of things (most were black a tarry) this could go on for a while even till the next morning.
At about 12months the black stuff stopped but i was still coughing up stuff. but now it looked (and tasted) much more healthy. at 16 months the coughing had eased totally.
Afterthree years I dont think i can say that I am any fitter than i was before the same hills and routes feel just as hard although i can recover on descents again. times have imrpved but weather this really is becasue of quitting or just natural prgression i cant say,. truth is i was prgressing quite well with times before i quit and when i did quit the times got all fkd up anyway and i pretty much had to start again.
I think i am healthier though, my little toe on my left foot had had been numb for a while, after quitting I have realised recently that I have full sensation again. Also fingers and toes warm up much quicker after cafe stops, infact overall warmth in general is far better now (better circulation perhaps)
As far as all the money I was going to save, well i did have plans for new bieks and holidays etc etc. But to be honest , i dont knwo how i managed before cos ime still skint and cant afford the bike i had my eye on.
Not sure thats what you wanted to hear but when it comes down to it, i quit because ive lost a few mates from smoking related illnesses (all guys who were young and in very good shape, a couple of handy cyclists, boxers who were in the forces and a couple of runners too, all much fitter than i ever could be) so i beleive smoking kills and I realised i was fooling myself cos i though I would be ok becasue of the ammount of exercise i do.
cheers
tiktok