Red Bull!!??

steve23

i never drink coffee and hardly ever drink tea, but i was thinking, would drinking a red bull before an event gear me up for it!!??

i read of a lot of riders drinking a coffee or something before a ride to perk them up?

also, if i drunk one red bull, wouldnt i just crash after it wore off?

cheers

Wappygixer

From experience I've always found Red Bull over rated.
It nevers gives me anything but then neither does pro plus, maybe its the amount off coffee I drink?
Anyway if it was that good I'm sure the guys in the tour de France would be drinking it?
Save your money and use PSP22 or similar

chrisw12

Yes

yes

yes, but who cares what happens after the event. Timing is crucial and be careful on long events. For every high there will be a low.

steve23

yea maybe, just been reading up on it!!!

the tour riders were drinking cans of coke though werent they last year!!??

mclarent

I thnk they get electrolyte replacement from Coke as well - doctors recommend drinking flattened soft drinks when you have a "dodgy tummy"

Vivid

steve23 wrote:

yea maybe, just been reading up on it!!!

the tour riders were drinking cans of coke though werent they last year!!??

Depends which riders you look at and if its legal or not. Many people take legal and illegal substances to increase there performance. I wont discuss anymore as some people take offense.

I find caffeine tablets help and give you the buzz and energy that you need for some rides, however it should be used rarely to give the best effects e.g. every competition etc.

Gavin Gilbert

Wappygixer wrote:

Anyway if it was that good I'm sure the guys in the tour de France would be drinking it?

I doubt it, Red Bull has been banned in France since 2004.

I've resorted to it a couple of times on long Audax rides, but only at the point where the alternative was to lay by the roadside and let the vultures pick at my cadaver. On both occasions it did stick a finger of ginger up my bum.....but then I respond to caffeine :shock:

RedAende

Red Bull -Yes, but I use supermarket own brands as a lot cheaper. Caffeine boosts performance but best if you stay off coffee for couple of days before so you get the hit.

I dont drink coffee before an event as it makes my mouth feel dry even though I am hydrated so started using the red bull substitutes.

Gav888

Last night I thought I would have a go using Red Bull, and energy wise I was good for an hour, and I could have kept going but had commitments so had to stop training, but I had a horrible sick feeling in my throat from 40min onwards, although my tummy was ok it put me off using it again.

Im not sure if its because I had a can and a banana before I started, or im just not suited to Red Bull and exersize together?

Ive got pro plus tablets aswell, 2 are the same as a good cuppa coffee and as I dont drink coffee or tea then hopefully they will give me some good results, and hopefully no sick feeling, will give it a go later in the week.

Gav888

Whilst we are on the subject, ive just found this.

Caffeine is rapidly absorbed through the stomach and small intestine into the bloodstream, where it takes about 15-45 minutes to reach peak levels. The level of caffeine in the blood reaching the brain determines the potency of its effects on the body. Usually the central nervous system is maximally stimulated within 30-60 minutes. Caffeine is metabolized by the liver and eventually its metabolites are excreted in urine, although caffeine can also be secreted in saliva.

Caffeine will continue to have an effect on the body as long as it remains in the blood. The time required for the body to eliminate one-half of the total amount of caffeine consumed (or caffeine's half-life) varies from several hours to several days, but for the average non-smoking adult it is about 3-4 hours.1, 2 Several factors can lengthen caffeine's half-life, such as some medications, liver diseases, pregnancy, and the level of enzymes in the liver needed for caffeine metabolism. The half-life of caffeine in a pregnant women is 18-20 hours; the half-life in women taking oral contraceptives is up to 13 hours. Other factors, such as smoking can shorten caffeine's half-life.

Gavin Gilbert

well that's okay then. The next time I overdose on Red Bull I'll smoke a Benson & Hedges to calm me down :?

sportbilly1976

Red Bull is illegal in France....but on the stops abroad they might get some 8)

homercles

Red Bull isn't banned in France any more...

http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/06/08/technology/ad09.php

Ricardo H

still banned in some places though (iceland is one i think?)
personally i cant stand the stuff, gives me seriously bad stomach cramps.

steve23

if i drunk a red bull and had a ride, wouldnt i just be on a massive downer after it had warn off?

antfly

It`s not that strong you know,it`s not like snorting cocaine or anything,it`s just like having a weak coffee.There`s no big up and no big down.The French only banned it because it`s British,probably.

steve23

no but its the same after a sugar rush isnt it!? im not expecting to be bouncing from the walls!

Jonathan Mcp

Mixed evidence for caffeine and riding.

Historically there used to be a school of thought of training on an empty stomach except for a cup of black coffee, the idea being that the caffeine would help to speed up fat metabolism.

There is some truth in the fact that caffeine can help metabolise fat, but it is also a stimulant and can dilate the heart arteries.

It is banned over certain limits, which I understand to be equivalent to 8 cups of coffee.

It is also a diuretic, and can cause gastrointestinal upset.


Personally I do have a caffeine habit, I always start the day with a cup of coffee, for riding it doesn't really feature except in the last hour of really long rides.

RedAende

steve23 wrote:

if i drunk a red bull and had a ride, wouldnt i just be on a massive downer after it had warn off?

Why ? there are no magic ingredients in it. A sugar energy drink with added caffeine about the equivalent of a double expresso iirc. Do you get a massive downer after a coca-cola or a coffee ?

Anyone tried the new SIS gels with added caffeine ? I use the regular ones, not tried the caffeine ones yet.

antfly

Caffeine is a marvellous stimulant drug,it wards off drowsiness,increases alertness and increases endurance significantly,there`s really no downside.

singlespeedexplosif

there`s really no downside.

I beg to differ.

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=sHzdsFiBbFc

SteveR_100Milers

Personally I have found that a 500ml bottle of full fat coke has frankly an amzing effect when consumed during exercise - e.g. 15 minutes before a huge climb it has a massive effect on my ability. Interestingly, All of the TT PB's have been done when I have sipped on coke before the event rather than "sports" drink. It's better than lucozade sport with caffeine which i put down to the massive quantities of sugar in it.

eh

Red Bull is awful stuff, full of junk. If you want a caffine boost whats wrong with a coffee, and for the true Italian pro style how about a nice espresso before riding.

Coke (flat) is a great drink for the last lap or so of a race; sugar for energy and caffine to keep you alert.

antfly

They are all full of junk but red bull has over twice as much caffeine as coke.Of course coffee or espresso would be better but it doesn`t come in cans.

singlespeedexplosif

I can't fit my Gaggia in my jersey pocket otherwise I would take it on rides. But a can of Red Bull fits in there just fine.

squired

Sometimes I think the amazing results people get is partially down to the placebo effect. However, I think some people are more responsive than others. I for example, could have a strong coffee shortly before going to bed and get straight to sleep. I know other people who wouldn't go near one a few hours before bed as it will apparently keep them awake all night.

Would a Red Bull give you a boost - if you believe it will, then probably it will. Purely on a scientific basis I reckon the benefit is probably negligible.

Vivid

I have taken caffeine tablets equal to 6 Red Bulls each in competition.

neil²

Would a Red Bull give you a boost - if you believe it will, then probably it will. Purely on a scientific basis I reckon the benefit is probably negligible.

I also had an instinct that this was the case, but then one of my friends (2008 Olympic finalist in kayak) told me that they can bench press more after Red Bull than before. Gutted! There goes my naive-athlete-placebo theory!

I have also heard of people taking ibuprofen so that the legs don't hurt as much :roll:

The slippery slope to doping begins here.... !

antfly

squired wrote:

Sometimes I think the amazing results people get is partially down to the placebo effect. However, I think some people are more responsive than others. I for example, could have a strong coffee shortly before going to bed and get straight to sleep. I know other people who wouldn't go near one a few hours before bed as it will apparently keep them awake all night.

Would a Red Bull give you a boost - if you believe it will, then probably it will. Purely on a scientific basis I reckon the benefit is probably negligible.

Surely you are not saying caffeine has no effect and it`s all in the mind!This is a whole new school of thought that goes against all scientific research done on caffeine so far.

Jonathan Mcp

Vivid wrote:

I have taken caffeine tablets equal to 6 Red Bulls each in competition.

Possibly quite close to the limit for caffeine in competition????

ColinJ

Jonathan Mcp wrote:

Vivid wrote:

I have taken caffeine tablets equal to 6 Red Bulls each in competition.

Possibly quite close to the limit for caffeine in competition????

I think that the rules have been changed. I don't think that caffeine is controlled any more. Hang on, (Google)...

Yes, Caffeine taken off WADA list in 2004.