Caffeine before riding

[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."

[Torrilin]

That will raise the total cholesterol. Fatty trigs are bad for the heart. Caffeine is bad for the heart. I can't see taking caffeine as being beneficial for the body in the long-term.

Darcy

Caffeine is a drug. It has stimulant effects, which can improve concentration for most people (and of course has performance enhancing effects). It is one of the oldest asthma drugs. It is a diuretic (which you actually *want* sometimes). It can also be used as a "booster" for other drugs, to help them take effect sooner. It's powerful stuff, and used appropriately has few undesirable side effects.

For someone like me, who is asthmatic and allergic to the standard emergency treatment asthma drugs, caffeine is a godsend. It means I can get safe and effective emergency treatment almost anywhere.

Just like any drug, not everyone should take caffeine. But I'm glad it's available, or my life would be a lot worse.

[Triskeliongirl]

VERY INTERESTING post! Since I was diagnosed as a type 1.5 diabetic, and had to eat low carb even on the bike, I started ordering an iced coffee at the rest stop on my long rides and feel great. Now I know why it works. I agree with the posters that say triglycerides in the blood during cycling is a GOOD things, at least for those of us who ride to burn excess body fat, or need to burn a higher ratio of fat than glucose for fuel for whatever reason.

[Geonz]

For me, there is a strikingly direct correlation between having that ucp of tea in the morning and being able to think clearly. I have done too many things like put my wheel on backwards (chain facing the wrong way) to even remember 'em all (don't ask me about that meeting...) too many times. I quite honestly am risking my life more not drinking small amounts of the stuff than doing it.

[GLC1968]

Can I just say how happy I am to read this? I LOVE a cup of coffee in the morning and I have one just about every day. I have been skipping it on morning ride days for fear of the dehydrating effects, but I swear that I don't pee any more frequently on my non-ride days.

Good, now I'm going to go ahead and have my normal cup of coffee and feel good about it!

[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.

[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.

[northstar]

My days aren't right if I don't have my coffee in the morning. Might have to try having a small cup before rides now...

I start every morning ride with a double espresso latte, scrambled eggs, and croissant!

Lisa, if I am ever in NY, I'm tracking you down and livin' la vida Lisa for a day. Too cool.

[emily_in_nc]

I always drink 1-1.5 cups of coffee before morning rides. Less than I typically drink at work (2-2.5 cups), but I have to have some as I am definitely addicted and will get an afternoon headache if I don't indulge. After reading this study, I think I'll start having a little caffeine fix before after-work rides too (just 1-2 times per week). Probably just a cup of tea, nothing so strong that it will keep me up at night, but riding in the summer heat, anything legal that helps endurance is a good thing in my book!

As far as some of the negatives of caffeine mentioned in this thread, so far I'm fine - very low BP, low LDL/high HDL, low triglycerides....not sure about my bones since I'm pre-menopausal, but I do eat a fair amount of dairy. My mom has enjoyed coffee all her life and at 72 still has great blood work and BP, so I'm not too worried. Everyone's body chemistry is different, though, and some cannot tolerate caffeine for one reason or another, and that's fine too. Just don't take my organic, shade-grown, free-trade brew away!

Emily

[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.