Cycling UK Forum

Yes. Part of low carb/keto diet. If adapted to this you use fat as your source of fuel. It means you have available stores of thousands of calories as opposed to the 2000 or so if you fuel on carbs.

"The art and science of low carb' living" and "The Art and science of Low carb performance" by Volek & Phinney will tell you all about it.

The science is sound.I've used it for weight loss but wouldn't like to continue it for ever. Tom Watson's book is with reading though.

Mick F: asthma was my specialist subject. You need to read this:

https://erj.ersjournals.com/content/44/Suppl_58/P4049

nb levels are given in ng/ml. To convert to nmol/L multiply by 2.5. So 20 ng = 50 nmol.

Pandodave asks for further elucidation on autoimmune disease and vitamin D. There is very little in the way of Randomised Controlled Trials, and mostly we are talking about association which does not prove causation.
My own experience is that I was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis in 2003. This grumbled on for 7 - 8 years. I got my vitamin D level checked and it was 30nmol/L. I went on to 1000 units a day 10 years ago and have no symptoms ever since. OK, so n=1, it's an anecdote. A friend with severe inflammatory bowel disease would not settle on all sorts of new therapies (which made him ill) went on to 2000 units a day and is now well. OK, n=2, it's an anecdote. Prof Rhodes from Liverpool has done work on this which can be found on line for those interested.
One of the big problems is trying to sort out whether or not the disease drops the vitamin D level or the low vitamin D predisposes to the disease.
Most doctors seem unaware of vitamin D and its role in immunity. They haven't really grasped that it's actually hormone and a significant minority of the population have deficiency. It probably accounts for the seasonality of Flu. It will be interest to see what happens to Covid rates in the next winter, although hopefully immunisation will have reduced this.
For further reading (which is not easy) try this:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3166406/

Best wishes to you all.
(Mick F will probably have a good level because he spends so much time out on his bike!!)

Vitamin D is a steroid hormone made by the action of sunlight on the skin. Small amounts are found in food, especially oily fish. None is made by sunlight at UK latitudes between October and March. It is essential to prevent Ricketts and about 400 units a day as a supplement will achieve that. However it has many more functions apart from maintaining bone health. About 17 tissues have vitamin D receptors, but especially important is its effect on immunity. Vitamin D deficient individuals are susceptible to respiratory infection. The big question is 'what is deficiency?'
Levels above 50nmol/L are just about sufficient. Some endocrinologists consider the optimum level for immunity to be 125nmol/L.

I took 2000 units a day from March to September which gave me a blood level of 99 mol/L .I have increased the dose for winter. A friend took no supplement and had a level of 120 mol/l.
Many GPs will not know this, nor indeed the importance for immunity. It begs the question "Why do T cells have Vitamin D receptors?" For a bit of light reading do a search for vitamin D and immunity.
I (retired consultant physician) would suggest 2000 - 4000 units a day to be adequate and safe. If you have sarcoidosis or metabolic bone disease it is best avoided. People worry about taking too much. You need to take 10000 units a day for months to do this.
GP's may not be keen to to check blood levels. Kits are available on line to send a finger prick sample off for about £30.
It also seems to have a role in auto immune disease such as Rheumatoid arthritis and inflammatory bowel disease.

I agree with the low carb approach. No calories between 8.00 pm and noon. No refined carb in diet, and just a little wholemeal to have with your eggs. Definitely no pop or beer. Get a second hand hybrid which will get you cycling. You cannot out run a bad diet to quote the very sensible Zoe Harcombe.

That's true for the Cheviot tourer, but he also advertises Reynolds and Columbus tubing frames for other road bikes.
Might be worth giving him a ring anyway. I've always found him very helpful.

You could try Paul Hewitt in Leyland. He gets frames built somewhere!

Thanks Cunobelin, That’s reassuring. I should have read your post properly!

Thanks AK.

Yes I am aware. I am actually a retired physician but worked in trauma surgery when young! Perhaps I know too much!
The advice I have had has been wear a helmet, don't fall off, don't do hairy off road biking. The 'don't fall off' advice has led me to put the post question on 'on the road' entitled 'staying safe'.
Mrs m not keen on me cycling at all!

Rivaroxaban requres no blood test monitoring and as yet has no antidote to reverse it.

Crikey that’s high tech!
I had an ablation for flutter a year ago. My mother and both brothers had atrial fib. so I am at high risk of AF. Had an episode lasting one minute about one month ago (I have a Kardia ecg thingy on my phone) so it hasn’t been a problem to me yet.
On beta blocker too.

Am on rivaroxaban (anticoagulant) to reduce risk of stroke from paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. Slightly concerned about risk of bleeding in case of accident....ruptured spleen, sub dural haematoma, fractures etc. Probably just have to be careful!
See my post on risk reduction in On The Road.

A friend of mine has just had his 3rd serious accident in 4 years.
First was on a bright frosty January morning. Slipped on black ice and fractured neck of femur. Helicoptered to hospital and had total hip replacement.
Second was caused by tyre blow out. Artificial hip broke a big fragment off femur. Two further ops.
Third one unknown cause. Just came off going round a bend. Shattered pelvis. Big op with screws and plates to put him back together.
Dexa scan ok so no obvious bone fragility. I’ve never been out with him so don’t know if he rides like a mad man.

What do readers here do to lessen risk? Has anyone with metal in lower limbs been advised to stop cycling because effects of further accident could be catastrophic? Any self imposed rules about staying in if frosty or slippy leaves?

Do you have arthritis in your knees?
If so:
Use them (you are doing, but bike fit and shorter cranks may help).
Strengthen quads.....going to gym and other exercises...sport physiotherapist.
Are you overweight? If so, lose some.
I have arthritic knees and did all of the above except the short cranks.
Been much better
Gears: Triple with 48 36 26 chain wheel and 12-30 cassette helpful.

I agree. I've started in shorts and tee shirt at the bottom and had full winter gear on at the top. Have a clear idea of how to navigate off the summit if bad weather comes in.Harveys do a useful map.