Caffeine before riding

[DirtDiva]

But if I gave up coffee, I'd be giving up half my daily calcium intake...

[Jo-n-NY]

Thank you for posting this Emily. I have always wondered. I enjoy just one cup of coffee in the morning, but before rides some have said that it dehydrates you. I have not found that to happen to me, however, find like everyday, perform at my best with just that one cup. I will know "really" enjoy drinking my cup of coffee before my ride.

Just to touch a bit on what others have mentioned, my Grandmother is 98 and has and still does drink coffee, black, throughout the day and has no heart or bone problems. My dh Grandmother lived to 100, drank coffe and expresso (with sambuca sp?) everynight and had not heart or bone problems. Maybe it depends on the individual and how their body handles. Maybe it is a hereditary thing. hmmmm

~ JoAnn

[cinnamon_toast]

The US Postal team bus had a built-in cappuccino maker. I am pretty sure that most of the riders indulged in pre-race coffees. One other benefit (if you're going on a long ride) is that it gets your bowels moving. I really can't go on without my morning coffee and the caffeinated gels REALLY made a difference for me when I was training for a marathon years ago.

[RoadRaven]

Oh yes, wise use of caffiene (to wake up or stay awake, to finish an essay due the next day, to race...) is a gooood thing.

SuzyBrd... yes caffeine does elevate the HR... but in a race this can be a good thing. Before a TT (time trial) for example, you ride about, warming up your muscles, for as long as you can until the start... but the other thing you are doing as you ride back and forth is you are lifting your heart rate so you can start and get straight into maximum effort.

I TT, and I always have a "V" (similar to Red Bull I guess). In 250ml of liquid it gives me 78mg of caffiene and 28g of sugar. I drink it about 10mins before my start time.... I use that timing because after a morning coffee i feel it hit my system 10-15 minutes after drinking it.

I also take a GU a minute and a half from starting - it will kick in and give me extra punch in my thighs when I am 10-15 minutes from the finish line.

[quint41]

Coffee makes me PEE! One cup in the morning, and if I'm doing an early ride, I've got to get up early to get that cup with plenty of time to pee before the ride!

Just read this in the August issue of Bicycling:

"Reserve caffeinated gels or drinks for later in long training sesssions, because if you start with a stimulant early on, you won't be able to get a boost later in the ride when you really need one. Drink 6 to 8 ozs. of water when you eat a gel, and don't dilute sports drinks because when mixed as directed, they're specifically formulated for optimal absorption."

[chickwhorips]

Woo Hoo! More justification for that sugar free red bull.

don't dilute sports drinks because when mixed as directed, they're specifically formulated for optimal absorption."

I didn't know that. Thanks for the info. I use the mix and don't make it as strong.

[SadieKate]

But if I gave up coffee, I'd be giving up half my daily calcium intake...

Coffee-flavored milk. Yum.

[Susan126]

I love coffee and swear by it! Whether it's all in mind or not I do notice a difference.

On a normal day I have 2 cups in the morning. If I am going on a ride I have to stop by Starbucks for my pre-ride grande 2 pump white, 1 pump dark, non-fat mocha, with whip. Mmmmm delicious!

Cycling is my first vice and I would have to say that coffee is my second vice.

[Triskeliongirl]

A funny story. There is a local starbucks with a great big parking lot that is a common ride start point in our area. There is a very nice climb we do from thre to a hill country town, but then to get a rest stop we all used to have to ride on trafficky roads into the town, until starbucks built another shop at the top of our climb. They are so friendly to us there too. As I was waiting for my iced coffee, the clerk noted my empty water bottle, and said, let me take care of that for you, and she proceeded to wash it and fill it with fresh water and ice. Super clean restrooms too. So they get us 3 times now, waiting to go out, at the rest stop, and waiting for folks to get back in...............

[rapid cycler]

My latest "favorite product in the whole wide world" is Trader Joe's bergamot orange green tea, sold in 30-something-ounce bottles. It goes down easier than water for me and seems more hydrating—I recognize that this is unlikely in reality. At any rate, it's goin' in my bike bottle next ride for sure.