Yeah, I smoke and ride; not at the same time – never carry them on the bike, but it sure is stupid. In fact, I’m surprised I do as well as I do on the bike after years of those things. Got the road bike about 18 months ago, could barely get it around the block at first; but was doing centuries within eight or nine months and regularly do 150-200 miles a week. On laps around Central Park, I pass far more often than get passed these days. I’m in my mid-forties and most of the other dedicated cyclists in there are a lot younger than I am. Kind of makes me wonder what I could do if I gave the things up.
I find that I really crave a smoke after about an hour into a long ride, but the craving goes away pretty soon and that’s the end of it. So I get home after hours in the saddle and have no desire for a smoke at all - none. But, of course, the first thing I do is fire up a smoke. Stupid! This does, however, appear to be a quitting method that might just work. When I can, I’m going to take a few days off work and spend those days entirely on long all-day rides; but without smoking when I get home. We’ll see what happens….