Did Eddy Merckx smoke?

Gotte

I've seen a couple of times mention that Eddy Merckx smoked.

Is that true? After reading about his Hour record triumph, I can't believe it's true, but I'd be interested to know for sure.

iainf72

Yes.

andyp

The perception at the time was that smoking opened up the airways, which was beneficial to cyclists.

I doubt many riders smoke now, but I can recall Raul Alcala admitting to enjoying smoking when he was riding for PDM (which was probably less risky to his health than some of the other nefarious team activities!).

NicFrance

http://bike.strangerpixel.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/1937925273_9d901d28c3_b.jpg

deejay

NicFrance wrote:

http://bike.strangerpixel.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/1937925273_9d901d28c3_b.jpg

The early age of USA cycling when there was no Polystyrene needed.

RichN95.

I once heard a reference to Nibali enjoying the occasional smoke, I can't remember where, Real Peloton perhaps. Surely, that can't be true.

ju5t1n

Quite a famous pic this one..

andyp

That was a photo op and no more. As anyone who has ever tried to cycle and smoke will tell you, the two do not mix.

RichN95.

andyp wrote:

That was a photo op and no more. As anyone who has ever tried to cycle and smoke will tell you, the two do not mix.

You need a Zippo lighter. The cheap plastics things don't work very well over 20kph*. Once you've got that sorted there's no problem.


*Or at altitude, something I found out while snowboarding.

Gotte

Thanks for that.

I can't imagine they didn't notice an impact on their ability. I used to smoke on and off, and really felt it when riding.

pat1cp

A colleague over the fence went for his offshore medical. The docter told him, health wise, your better off smoking ten a day than being a stone over weight. He happens to tick both boxes but the doctor was telling him to prioritise loseing the weight, then if you can, cut out the fags.

Not directly related to OP, but something I found interesting.

TheYorkshireMan

I remember an interview with Merck in Cycling Weekly, done when he was in the UK to ride the Glenryck Cup at Eastway back in 1977. They asked him if it was true that he smoked and he said only occasionally, usually at social functions, and certainly not every day.

Gotte

TheYorkshireMan wrote:

I remember an interview with Merck in Cycling Weekly, done when he was in the UK to ride the Glenryck Cup at Eastway back in 1977. They asked him if it was true that he smoked and he said only occasionally, usually at social functions, and certainly not every day.

That would make sense. When I smoked (or rather, when I was a part time smoker, and cyclist) I could smoke on a Saturday night, and it would feel to me that it would take about three or four days for my body to get back to how it was before smoking.

Gotte

pat1cp wrote:

A colleague over the fence went for his offshore medical. The docter told him, health wise, your better off smoking ten a day than being a stone over weight. He happens to tick both boxes but the doctor was telling him to prioritise loseing the weight, then if you can, cut out the fags.

Not directly related to OP, but something I found interesting.

Maybe it was this doctor:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ch-SgOfQTMY

TuckerUK

Apparently he only smoked after sex.

It was eventually traced to a lack of lubrication.

blim

According to the Rik van Walleghem biog, Merckx smoked off-season, or in relaxed company. He tried not to be photographed doing it, or people would say "Merckx is a smoker", and he was conscious of his position as a role model, etc.

donkykong

its been going on for years, long before merckx started doing it..

pottssteve

Boonen doesn't smoke, but he does inhale.......

ynyswen24

Eddy smoked but didn't inhale...

http://www.flandriacafe.com/2010/07/alp ... -memo.html

There's a couple of cracking adverts on there to go with Eddy's.

RichN95.

Gino Bartali was a rider who liked late nights out during stage races puffing on cigars.

donkykong

biggest cigar i,ve seen in a while !!!!