Is Coke an energy drink?

tailwindhome

I have seen over the last couple of weeks riders in the TDF drinking from cans of coke.*

Last week I rode out to watch a local stage race. Having left home without the normal bottle of water and banana I stopped for supplies and decide to give the Coke a go. I felt full of riding on the return trip (25miles each way)

So is Coke a good energy drink?



I assume as they were drinking from the can that it was actually Coke they were drinking.

AndyManc

It's a sugar and caffeine rush, small doses only.

Too much and you'll be farting and burping all the way home.


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dennisn

Sure it's an energy drink. It's got sugar in it, just like all the other enrgy drinks. Probably just as good too. And I know it tastes better.

jonny_trousers

In the same way as you will get a sudden burst of energy from drinking Coke, you will also then get a massive low.

Before energy drinks were available competitive cyclists would drink flat coke towards the end of a race for that last energy hit.

I suspect the riders seen drinking it on The Tour will either get sponsorship from
Coca Cola or, they will require that sudden carb hit after expending so much energy. Caffeine has been found to aid muscle recovery also.

warpcow

I'd think it's just for a quick hit (and associated sponsorship concerns). what little evidence their is that caffeine aids recovery involved impractically large quantities to be taken whilst riding.

tailwindhome

Jonny_Trousers wrote:

In the same way as you will get a sudden burst of energy from drinking Coke, you will also then get a massive low.

Warpcow wrote:

I'd think it's just for a quick hit

Is this different from other energy drinks and gels. (I haven't tried any yet)

get sponsorship from Coca Cola

Got to be more to it than that....if it was just sponsorship they would drink a.n.other drink from a Coke branded water bottle,

tjwood

Most of nutrition is pretty simple. Sure, you can get bogged down in the detail about different types of sugar and the way they are used by the body etc but it mostly boils down to:

- when exercising hard, you need energy, and water
- sugar is the form of energy most rapidly absorbed by the body
- Coke is mainly composed of sugar and water

So drinking Coke will give you a rapdily-absorbed form of energy.

The riders will be drinking things other than Coke, and eating solid food too (including some food which releases energy more slowly).

So of course Coke can be drunk by elite cyclits, "as part of a balanced diet"...

Pokerface

Plus - Coke tastes good. It provides a nice change from the usual energy drinks that suck back all day. They don't get it because they get paid to and most of the time you won't even see them doing it.

It IS an anergy drink, just not the BEST energy drink.

shouldbeinbed

I'd heard that its drunk flat to avoid the bloating and gassiness

gb155

TailWindHome wrote:

I have seen over the last couple of weeks riders in the TDF drinking from cans of coke.*

Last week I rode out to watch a local stage race. Having left home without the normal bottle of water and banana I stopped for supplies and decide to give the Coke a go. I felt full of riding on the return trip (25miles each way)

So is Coke a good energy drink?



I assume as they were drinking from the can that it was actually Coke they were drinking.

Its good if your right on the edge and need sugar, otherwise its not a good drink no.

Eau Rouge

The HTC Columbia Tour diet I've seen for providing about 9,000 calories a day included 400ml of coca-cola during the race and anothwe 330ml afterwards, but it also has 4000ml of a carbodrink and another 1000ml of water both during the race and then 500ml recovery drink and 400ml water after the race.
I imagine the coke is nicer to drink immediately after a tough stage and gives that little kick to deal with the melé that is the journey from finish line to hotel or team bus.

I thought I'd read somewhere of teams replacing coka-cola witha different fizzy drink this year though.

I remember seeing a phot0 (which I can't now find) of a cyclist proudly showing off the two mini-mars bars he'd in his musette bag during a race to the bike TV cameras

bmca2010

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M3g6F3fTg_I

at 2.05 its shows whats in a HTC columbia feed bag, it included a can of coke

all that stuff hardly looks like a balanced diet tho, i would have though all them gels would have been full of all the preservatives, aspartame etc of the day , it must do the job tho

danowat

While it is an "energy drink", personally, I don't think its a very good one.

They use high fructose corn syrup, which is linked with obesity and type 2 diabetes.

If you can find it, Coke "classic" which uses cane sugar is "better".

bunter

doesn't all this stuff really f**k their teeth up? do they take a dentist on tour with them?

MonkeyMonster

from various rowers I know - it was used (by them) for the caffiene primarily, the sugar was a bonus. Gets you hyper and pumped up to race on.

DonDaddyD

Normally Coke wouldn't be entertained (I assume) but, I think, in this (energy sapping) heat and up those hills extreme measures are being taken to give the riders a quick energy boost of sugar and caffine hence Coke. The come down must be pretty brutal...

When they start drinking Pespi Max you know sh*t has really hit the fan...

snailracer

TdF riders are not drinking Coke or any other energy drinks for their health.
IMO if you actually NEED an energy drink, you are overexerting.

lastant

DonDaddyD wrote:

When they start drinking Pespi Max you know sh*t has really hit the fan...

Don't reckon they'd get very far drinking that at around 1kcal per can...!

Reminds me of the story about an IronMan training event regarding those in charge of the cycle feed stations. They saved the organisers hundreds of pounds, but bought Diet Coke as it was on offer...

...cue pretty much every participant bonking come the bike stage!

paulbox

snailracer wrote:

TdF riders are not drinking Coke or any other energy drinks for their health.
IMO if you actually NEED an energy drink, you are overexerting.

I've got a sneeking feeling that those fellas are pushing it a bit... :P

thelawnet

danowat wrote:

While it is an "energy drink", personally, I don't think its a very good one.

They use high fructose corn syrup, which is linked with obesity and type 2 diabetes.

If you can find it, Coke "classic" which uses cane sugar is "better".

Um, no.

HFCS is only used in the US, where corn is massively subsidised by the government.

Elsewhere, including the UK, SUGAR is used.

danowat

thelawnet wrote:

danowat wrote:

While it is an "energy drink", personally, I don't think its a very good one.

They use high fructose corn syrup, which is linked with obesity and type 2 diabetes.

If you can find it, Coke "classic" which uses cane sugar is "better".

Um, no.

HFCS is only used in the US, where corn is massively subsidised by the government.

Elsewhere, including the UK, SUGAR is used.

Really?, hmmm........any links?

Peasoup

Cadel Evans was drinking a can during one of the climbs yesterday.

DonDaddyD

It was Cadel Evans drinking it on yesterdays ride that made me think "wow, energy levels must be really low or being sapped at an alarming rate for him to be drinking that mid-ride".

prawny

The little cans of coke are a regular sight during races. Sean Kelly is always going on about them, I think the riders drink a lot more than you'd think.

The rider with the mars bars was Jens Voight (i think) can't find a pic now tho.

mrc1

Coke is pretty common in the triathlons and similar events that I have done. I drink a fair bit of coke (i dont drink coffee) and often have it while out on a ride when i need an energy kick. It does have two major drawbacks though:

1. The fizziness makes for an uncomfortable stomach.

2. Warm coke is foul - it makes your mouth feel furry!!

vorsprung

DonDaddyD wrote:

It was Cadel Evans drinking it on yesterdays ride that made me think "wow, energy levels must be really low or being sapped at an alarming rate for him to be drinking that mid-ride".

Remind me DDD...have you ever ridden 100 miles?

tailwindhome

vorsprung wrote:

DonDaddyD wrote:

It was Cadel Evans drinking it on yesterdays ride that made me think "wow, energy levels must be really low or being sapped at an alarming rate for him to be drinking that mid-ride".

Remind me DDD...have you ever ridden 100 miles?

asprilla

mrc1 wrote:

Coke is pretty common in the triathlons and similar events that I have done.

A lot of triathletes drink coke because of the old wives tale that the acidity will kill anything like weil's disease that may be in the water you've swallowed (forgetting that your stomach acid is much stronger).

cougie

Evans was drinking the coke with about 32k to go if i remember. It gives you a nice boost. I only use it for the last couple of hours of a loooong triathlon - caffeine +sugar plus it makes a change from sports drinks.

mrc1

Asprilla wrote:

mrc1 wrote:

Coke is pretty common in the triathlons and similar events that I have done.

A lot of triathletes drink coke because of the old wives tale that the acidity will kill anything like weil's disease that may be in the water you've swallowed (forgetting that your stomach acid is much stronger).

That's a bit of a bizarre one! My triathlon experience is limited to the UK so I doubt that's the major driver behind drinking it. Probably more down to the fact that it is a cheap, easy to find source of fast energy and caffiene!

Edit - just done a google of Weil's and i see it does seem to be a pretty common reason! Haha I drink it because it tastes nice!

thecrofter

There's a mate of mine swears by Irn-Bru.....he let's it go flat first tho'

Actually seems quite sensible, you get the sugar boost but without the gassy-ness