Strange conversation

term1te

I was out cycling yesterday and found a new hill, 3.7km at an average of 13%. So by the time I got to the top, which was cold and in cloud, I was not looking my best. An elderly lady immediately came over to me and very politely told me at length the dangers of cycling up hills. Apparently cycling up hills gives your heart too much exercise, which causes it to expand. However, she said that the heart valves don’t expand and can’t cope with the extra force. As a result I will need to have a heart valve replacement when I get older. She went on to tell me of all her relatives and acquaintances who had had heart attacks, including one who tragically died whilst out jogging, which was why she wanted to warn me. Whilst she agreed that sitting on a bike was better than watching TV, she promoted walking as the safest exercise. She was smiling the whole time, and I was rather hoping she would offer me a Werther’s original toffee at any moment. I didn’t feel I could argue to strongly against her position, and just said I’d bear it in mind, and cycled off.

Clearly cardiomegaly is to be avoided, but is there any truth in her dire warning? I suspect strongly there isn’t, and that those of us who cycle up hills are in fact less likely to require heart surgery, but what do I know...

jgsi

The heart is a muscle - with any given exercise/load, it gets stronger to cope.
Lay off the Ricola as yo climb, they giving you hallucinations.

imposter2.0

That would explain why every ex-pro cyclist has had to have heart valve surgery in later years. Oh wait - they haven't...

shockedsoshocked

You also faint if you go too fast, I hope she mentioned that?

meanredspider

It's not for no reason (excuse the double negative) they call them Old Wives' Tales....