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Comment by goldesel | Hacker News Reader

Stinking is actually a consequence of a sedentary lifestyle. With the right kind of cycling infrastructure, riding a bike in flat terrain is a low intensity exercise to which the body soon adapts. It can become quite relaxing and meditative. Exemplary video of cycling in the netherlands: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hb0QjASuuqI

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> Stinking is actually a consequence of a sedentary lifestyle.

any source for this extraordinary claim?

I believe your parent is alluding to the fact that if you are regularly active & get exercise, biking at an easy pace on flat land in good weather won't even cause you to break a sweat, whereas if you sit on the couch all day it will. (Hopefully don't need a source for this)

I would certainly like a source. As far as I can see, the only way to sweat less over time would be to lose weight. A more-conditioned cyclist still does the same amount of work and thus produces the same amount of heat.

Source: from the Washington Post, "athletes tend to sweat sooner and more." https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/wellness/sweat-its-...

I've been bike commuting in Seattle for ten years and I don't sweat during my commute, except on my way home during the summer.

A more-conditioned cyclist can perform the same amount of work with a lower heart rate & respiration rate. I don't have a source handy, but personally observe that my perspiration rate is directly related to my heart rate, and as I train & improve I can keep my jacket on performing the same work, where I needed to strip layers before.

I'm not a sports scientist but from what I read about and my experience with doing exercise, it modifies your metabolism so that the intensity of exercise that causes sweating goes up.

Also somewhat a consequence of diet. I find I generally smell much better when I'm eating well.

Plus cars stink.

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