ok here goes. nothing scientific... sorry.. I used to smoke. Social smoker i.e. only when out but still. Did a race and really suffered - lack of training etc. etc. however, when I arrived home my then 13 year old asked how the race was and upon hearing my moans and groans suggested: "mom, you dont think that if you stopped smoking it would help ?" That was the decision made in 5 secs flat (and the pic i had created in my mind with me attending my son/daughters wedding with my main accessory being an oxygen tank) - I gave up smoking right there and then and haven't touched, lit or had a drag since... I am sure it has made a difference to my cycling but the best part of this whole experience was that my children were so happy that I had quit - I never realised that it worried them.
