Re: That's It! No More 9-to-5 for Me!

[Bill Baka]

NYC XYZ wrote:
> Matt O'Toole wrote:
>
>>
>>At street level it's probably worse, with all the dust created and stirred
>>up by traffic. CA has a lot of dust too but most of it is soil, blown by
>>the wind. In NYC it's brake and tire dust, and bus/truck exhaust soot.
>>Yuck!
>
>
> Yep -- I didn't even have black mucus in the infantry, but
> bike-messengin' in NYC, first day!
>
>
>>That doesn't sound like much, especially in NYC.
>
>
> Nope. I heard some 'Frisco messengers had tried unionizing...wonder
> what ever happened?
>
> I'm acquainted with one messenger service owner...I wonder if he was
> already rich, or whether such a humble-seeming business provided the
> luxury....
>
>
>>Matt O.
>
>
I once read an article that said that people in the city who jogged at
lunch or on the weekends were doing themselves more harm than good due
to the pollutants. Something about they may feel healthy now but just
wait 20 years until your lungs realize what you have done to them. Kind
of like coal miners 'Black lung'. I have been to Los Angeles when you
could not see the mountains 2 miles away and could not imagine running
or riding 'For my health' in that kind of air.
Any stats on how many bike messengers have breathing problems after 40,
or maybe even younger?
Bill (country rider) Baka

[gds]

Bill Baka wrote:
> >
> I once read an article that said that people in the city who jogged at
> lunch or on the weekends were doing themselves more harm than good due
> to the pollutants. Something about they may feel healthy now but just
> wait 20 years until your lungs realize what you have done to them. Kind
> of like coal miners 'Black lung'. I have been to Los Angeles when you
> could not see the mountains 2 miles away and could not imagine running
> or riding 'For my health' in that kind of air.
> Any stats on how many bike messengers have breathing problems after 40,
> or maybe even younger?
> Bill (country rider) Baka

Nonsense! I lived in metro areas including NYC my whole life. I've done
outdoor cardio my whole life.
I'm over 60 and no breathing problems. Same for all my friends.

I'm not arguing that air pollution is good for you but unless you are
already compromised (immuno suppressed) working out is a plus.

[Bill Baka]

gds wrote:
> Bill Baka wrote:
>
>>I once read an article that said that people in the city who jogged at
>>lunch or on the weekends were doing themselves more harm than good due
>>to the pollutants. Something about they may feel healthy now but just
>>wait 20 years until your lungs realize what you have done to them. Kind
>>of like coal miners 'Black lung'. I have been to Los Angeles when you
>>could not see the mountains 2 miles away and could not imagine running
>>or riding 'For my health' in that kind of air.
>>Any stats on how many bike messengers have breathing problems after 40,
>>or maybe even younger?
>>Bill (country rider) Baka
>
>
> Nonsense! I lived in metro areas including NYC my whole life. I've done
> outdoor cardio my whole life.
> I'm over 60 and no breathing problems. Same for all my friends.
>
> I'm not arguing that air pollution is good for you but unless you are
> already compromised (immuno suppressed) working out is a plus.
>
I said I read an article. I lived in Silicon Valley from 1963 to 1978
but most of my exercise was in the mountains above the smog, plus the
fact that the smog was never as bad as LA or NYC. Since 1978 I have been
a country dweller and worked mostly in Electronics companies that were
not in 'The Valley'. Within the circle of people I know, both at work
and home, I am the only one who can hold my breath for a full minute
while riding, or 3 when driving, if I need to. How many 57 year olds can
lay claim to that? Exercise AND clean air. You have me by a few years
but I think my lungs are in better shape than most 30 somethings. The
only pollution I get is people and their wood burning stoves in the winter.
Working out is a plus, no argument, but a lot of people do it in gyms
where the air is probably cleaner than on the streets.
Point of view, good, bad, or indifferent.
I do hate inhaling bugs though.
Bill

[gds]

Bill Baka wrote:


<big snip>

> Within the circle of people I know, both at work
> and home, I am the only one who can hold my breath for a full minute
> while riding, or 3 when driving, if I need to. How many 57 year olds can
> lay claim to that?

Actually, you are the only 57 year old I know of who would think to
brag about it. It's comforting to know that while driving you are
concentrating on holding your breath rather than on the road.
Well, you could always become a pearl diver.

[Bill Baka]

gds wrote:
> Bill Baka wrote:
>
>
> <big snip>
>
>>Within the circle of people I know, both at work
>>and home, I am the only one who can hold my breath for a full minute
>>while riding, or 3 when driving, if I need to. How many 57 year olds can
>>lay claim to that?
>
>
> Actually, you are the only 57 year old I know of who would think to
> brag about it. It's comforting to know that while driving you are
> concentrating on holding your breath rather than on the road.
> Well, you could always become a pearl diver.
>
It is more of a self diagnosis while driving, and since I often work 150
miles away from home driving can get really boring on a 30 mile stretch
of nothing. If I can't do 3 minutes while essentially sedate then
something is wrong. Holding my breath for 1 minute while riding has me
turning blue in the face, but it is better than inhaling all the stink
of a cattle farm. I think most active cyclists can do the same and
almost all 30 year old non-smokers should be able to, so I did not
consciously think of it as a brag. I often approach cattle farms at a
sedate 12 to 14 MPH so that I will not be in the huff and puff mode and
will be able to get past without a stinky inhale.
You should be able to do the same if you work out and don't smoke, so I
put it up thinking "Benchmark" not brag.
Bill

[Tom Keats]

In article >,
Bill Baka > writes:

> Holding my breath for 1 minute while riding has me
> turning blue in the face, but it is better than inhaling all the stink
> of a cattle farm. I think most active cyclists can do the same and
> almost all 30 year old non-smokers should be able to, so I did not
> consciously think of it as a brag. I often approach cattle farms at a
> sedate 12 to 14 MPH so that I will not be in the huff and puff mode and
> will be able to get past without a stinky inhale.

Hey, cows don't smell /that/ bad, and I know fer sher 'cuz I've
done my stints of kickin' ****-assed cows around.

Are you sure you're not riding past goat farms or commercial
mushroom grow-ops or sumpthin'?

What's really eye-wateringly painful is when farmers plough-in
pig manure, which seems to be the local favourite fertilizer
for corn (maize) fields. They plough it in while it's fairly fresh,
and then let it age in situ before planting. I suspect that's
really what you're smelling. Especially if it has a strong, acidic
edge to it.


cheers,
Tom

--
-- Nothing is safe from me.
Above address is just a spam midden.
I'm really at: tkeats [curlicue] vcn [point] bc [point] ca

[Bill Baka]

Tom Keats wrote:
> In article >,
> Bill Baka > writes:
>
>
>>Holding my breath for 1 minute while riding has me
>>turning blue in the face, but it is better than inhaling all the stink
>>of a cattle farm. I think most active cyclists can do the same and
>>almost all 30 year old non-smokers should be able to, so I did not
>>consciously think of it as a brag. I often approach cattle farms at a
>>sedate 12 to 14 MPH so that I will not be in the huff and puff mode and
>>will be able to get past without a stinky inhale.
>
>
> Hey, cows don't smell /that/ bad, and I know fer sher 'cuz I've
> done my stints of kickin' ****-assed cows around.
>
> Are you sure you're not riding past goat farms or commercial
> mushroom grow-ops or sumpthin'?
>
> What's really eye-wateringly painful is when farmers plough-in
> pig manure, which seems to be the local favourite fertilizer
> for corn (maize) fields. They plough it in while it's fairly fresh,
> and then let it age in situ before planting. I suspect that's
> really what you're smelling. Especially if it has a strong, acidic
> edge to it.
>
>
> cheers,
> Tom
>
Nope,
It is cattle and the runoff goes into a ditch next to the road. Used cow
**** and patties fermenting in a ditch can just about ruin your nose or
make you want to lose your lunch.
Bill

[Bill Baka]

catzz66 wrote:
>> In article >,
>> Bill Baka > writes:
>>
>>
>>> Holding my breath for 1 minute while riding has me turning blue in
>>> the face, but it is better than inhaling all the stink of a cattle
>>> farm. I think most active cyclists can do the same and almost all 30
>>> year old non-smokers should be able to, so I did not consciously
>>> think of it as a brag. I often approach cattle farms at a sedate 12
>>> to 14 MPH so that I will not be in the huff and puff mode and will be
>>> able to get past without a stinky inhale.
>>
>>
>>
>
> In cattle country, natives remark that the aroma smells like money.

Not to me. My money gets made with a computer and sometimes the dreaded
cubicle. I ain't no farm hick, just live where there is an out of doors
to enjoy. The commute to a real city in a cage is what bothers me most,
being one of 'them' by necessity of income sometimes.
Bill

[catzz66]

> In article >,
> Bill Baka > writes:
>
>
>>Holding my breath for 1 minute while riding has me
>>turning blue in the face, but it is better than inhaling all the stink
>>of a cattle farm. I think most active cyclists can do the same and
>>almost all 30 year old non-smokers should be able to, so I did not
>>consciously think of it as a brag. I often approach cattle farms at a
>>sedate 12 to 14 MPH so that I will not be in the huff and puff mode and
>>will be able to get past without a stinky inhale.
>
>

In cattle country, natives remark that the aroma smells like money.

[Tom Keats]

In article >,
Bill Baka > writes:

>> What's really eye-wateringly painful is when farmers plough-in
>> pig manure, which seems to be the local favourite fertilizer
>> for corn (maize) fields. They plough it in while it's fairly fresh,
>> and then let it age in situ before planting. I suspect that's
>> really what you're smelling. Especially if it has a strong, acidic
>> edge to it.

.....

> Nope,
> It is cattle and the runoff goes into a ditch next to the road. Used cow
> **** and patties fermenting in a ditch can just about ruin your nose or
> make you want to lose your lunch.
> Bill

Actually, as cow pies age and oxidize, they become less objectionable,
because a crust forms on 'em that seals in the fragrance. When they're
completely aged, they become a quite olfactorily benign growth medium
component for zinnias.

Just don't step on 'em. Especially in wet grass. And that's
not because of the smell.

I'd still rather smell cows 'n horses than car fumes.

One of the odours I find most objectionable is where mice
have infested. Eww!


cheers,
Tom

--
-- Nothing is safe from me.
Above address is just a spam midden.
I'm really at: tkeats [curlicue] vcn [point] bc [point] ca

[NYC XYZ]

Bill Baka wrote:
>
> I am the only one who can hold my breath for a full minute
> while riding, or 3 when driving, if I need to. How many 57 year olds can
> lay claim to that?

HOLY ****ING ****!!!!! ARE YOU SERIOUS???? IS THIS PHYSICALLY
POSSIBLE???????????????????????????????????????

Exercise AND clean air. You have me by a few years
> but I think my lungs are in better shape than most 30 somethings.

YOU CAN SAY THAT AGAIN!!!!

Or do I only just look good? It's true...a FAT GUY beat me in a sprint
once!!!!

> <SNIP>
>
> I do hate inhaling bugs though.

This is very very rarely a problem for me...maybe that's 'cause they're
too busy biting me!

> Bill

[Bill Baka]

Tom Keats wrote:
> In article >,
> Bill Baka > writes:
>
>
>>>What's really eye-wateringly painful is when farmers plough-in
>>>pig manure, which seems to be the local favourite fertilizer
>>>for corn (maize) fields. They plough it in while it's fairly fresh,
>>>and then let it age in situ before planting. I suspect that's
>>>really what you're smelling. Especially if it has a strong, acidic
>>>edge to it.
>
>
> ....
>
>
>>Nope,
>>It is cattle and the runoff goes into a ditch next to the road. Used cow
>>**** and patties fermenting in a ditch can just about ruin your nose or
>>make you want to lose your lunch.
>>Bill
>
>
> Actually, as cow pies age and oxidize, they become less objectionable,
> because a crust forms on 'em that seals in the fragrance. When they're
> completely aged, they become a quite olfactorily benign growth medium
> component for zinnias.
>
> Just don't step on 'em. Especially in wet grass. And that's
> not because of the smell.
>
> I'd still rather smell cows 'n horses than car fumes.
>
> One of the odours I find most objectionable is where mice
> have infested. Eww!
>
>
> cheers,
> Tom
>

It smelled like there was a sewer line dumped into it. Cattle plus other
gunk. Bad enough to make me miss auto fumes. Once I get past it I can
detour the other bad areas.
Bill

[Bill Baka]

NYC XYZ wrote:
> Bill Baka wrote:
>
>>I am the only one who can hold my breath for a full minute
>>while riding, or 3 when driving, if I need to. How many 57 year olds can
>>lay claim to that?
>
>
> HOLY ****ING ****!!!!! ARE YOU SERIOUS???? IS THIS PHYSICALLY
> POSSIBLE???????????????????????????????????????

Yeah,
It is possible but my lungs are about to burst after I get past it.
I have a large lung volume, way better than my heart capacity or when my
legs give out, partly due to yawning excessively deeply. I used to jump
off my boat and go down about 15 to 20 feet and grab some weeds on the
bottom and just sit there and wait to see if any fish came up to me. If
they did then it was probably a good spot to fish. My wife told me or a
woman who can hold her breath for well over 7 minutes and can free dive
down to about 700 feet. 700? Yes, I thought it was bull too but she
claims it is real. Your body is mostly limited by your mind.
>
> Exercise AND clean air. You have me by a few years
>
>>but I think my lungs are in better shape than most 30 somethings.
>
>
> YOU CAN SAY THAT AGAIN!!!!
>
> Or do I only just look good? It's true...a FAT GUY beat me in a sprint
> once!!!!
>
Happened to me once too. I can invariably beat the local adults on bikes
because they are just DUI's with no license and the seat set way too
low. Looking cool does not make you go faster, but why should I tell them?
>
>><SNIP>
>>
>>I do hate inhaling bugs though.
>
>
> This is very very rarely a problem for me...maybe that's 'cause they're
> too busy biting me!
>
>
>>Bill
>
>
Don't you just love mosquitoes?
Bill Baka

[Bill Baka]

Don Wiss wrote:
> On Sun, 02 Apr 2006 06:28:10 GMT, Bill Baka > wrote:
>
>
>>I can invariably beat the local adults on bikes
>>because they are just DUI's with no license and the seat set way too
>>low. Looking cool does not make you go faster, but why should I tell them?
>
>
> Yes, you should tell them, as having a seat too low will mess up the knees.
>
> Don <www.donwiss.com/joyrides> (e-mail link at page bottom).
All the kids do it around the neighborhood and the drunks/drug-users
seem to think so too. Maybe one in five will have it set up nearly
correct, but not many. They seem to find it easier to carry their beer
and drink it on the go with the seats down. Like I said, I live in the
country 'burbs and you don't have to go far to see some odd things.
Bill