Creatine....

milese

I've just had a look at myprotein under the sports specific supplement recommendations and it recommends creatine.

would benefit from the addition of Creapure, an extremely pure form of Creatine Monohydrate. Particularly beneficial to sprint cyclists Creapure helps your muscles produce ATP, improving explosive power and strength. During a long distance race, cyclists will benefit from Creapure’s ability to re-produce ATP enhancing the ability to perform repetitive sprints.

http://www.myprotein.com/uk/pages/sport/cycling

I'm not up on supplements, but can I believe the claimed benefits?

I have no interest in bulking up (quite the opposite, and do no weight training), I generally race in events that take 45 minutes to 2 hours, that involve repeated efforts and frequently result in a final sprint.

Its not a banned substance is it?

sungod

afaik the rapid bulking up effect is due to increased water retention in the muscles, so more weight but not much else

usual opinion is there may be some benefits for very brief maximum power bursts, but aside from very short sprints that sounds more like a weightlifter's benefit

Pork Sword

No Miles, It's not on the banned list. I've never used it but most of the UK cycling press were singing its praises about 10 years ago.

Only one way to find out mate and that's give it a go. Can't do you any harm although I have read that it can lead to cramps and possible unwanted weight gain (muscle bulk) but it all depends on how you 'dose' up I suppose.

Might help you stay at the front of the bunch in 3rd Cat races next year.

Here's a good link: http://www.cptips.com/creatine.htm

Headhuunter

AFAIK creatine is only useful in short burst exercise like weight lifting (or possibly as described, sprint cycling), not endurance riding or other long endurance sports. It's naturally occuring in the body and I think is synthesized in the body. I have read that supplementation can affect the bodies ability to synthetsize its own but I don't think that's been proved.

If you want to experiment with nutrition try looking up things like BCAA, maltodextrin, electrolyte salts and for recovery L glutamine....

lef

You will probably struggle to get a definitive scientific answer to your question (and certainly not from me!). There's research that proves it does help endurance athletes, there's proof that it doesn't, if you get my meaning. I've read both and am none the wiser! However after using it some years ago for other training it does improve explosive power and short efforts. Water retention definitely takes place, for cycling not really a good thing. I briefly started using it again last year after hearing benefits could be gained in endurance sports however the resulting leg cramps (calf muscle) whilst cycling just weren't worth the benefit (I guess not proven but it started when I started taking creatine and ended shortly after when I stopped, hard not to make assumptions). This might have been how I was 'loading' and for endurance athletes I hear this should be done with lower levels.

One other thing to bear in mind is if you take it for some time and then stop taking it you may experience loss of energy for a brief period. I have experienced this but its not severe and maybe lasted a week or two.

Some time ago I did read reports of acute long lasting side effects but these were stated as very rare, and unproven.

Personally, a structured training programme, training hard with sensible recovery have provided significant gains for me. If you do try it then I recommend you research into loading cycles for endurance athletes.