Original post by master 50
I never remember where I read things but wasn't there a study of old pros to see how long they lived as compared to the general population of the same generation. The findings indicted that ex pros lived 4 to 8 years longer. I just recall the article was addressing the Myth that racing Le Tour shortens your life.
Yesterday 09:38
Alex Simmons/RST said:
The time period that study was done, is so far removed from what happens today, I don't think that qualifies anymore for what we are talking about in the article .
First , cycling was a means of transportation to all . Pro racing was in its infancy and not well paid. People died more from other causes like smoking and lack of personal protective equipment from working in factories than any kind of new age disease we have studied in todays time.
I think people that road tours way back then were just plain stronger to begin with.
So another way of putting that study : 1930 to 1964
I stoker lived longer than a soldier
A welder lived longer than a stoker
A machinist lived longer than a welder
A Farmer lived longer than all of them since they had the most to eat on a regular basis .
All bets are off if the above became a soldier .
Most road bikes to work as major transportation or walked , horses were still used to bring beer to pubs and coal to city apartments and Ice to Ice boxes .
And smoking a cigarette before a major climb was considered good because it was thought it helped you breath better.
A good saying for racing cyclist was : A racer smokes one cigarette less and drinks one beer more .
I think racing during that time of life was still better health wise because it allowed the body heal through fresh air instead of working in the factories for long long hours . Most returned to factories after retirement or back to the farm . Analyse that .
Remember guys , we actually had industry jobs , not everything was made in China like today .
Anyway , enough of this .
Exercise is good , participation is good . But pro sports or extreme sports can have the adverse affect. Period .