Beta Alanine?

kayo74
kayo74 Posts: 299
edited July 2011 in Road beginners
Be reading a bit on Beat Alanine are these any good and do they help performance?. If so what Product make are any good?.

You thoughts would be grateful.

Comments

  • ShutUpLegs
    ShutUpLegs Posts: 3,522
    Stanley222 wrote:
    Not sure the road beginners section is the best place for this question :wink:

    Is it a chain lube?
  • t.m.h.n.e.t
    t.m.h.n.e.t Posts: 2,265
    Riding more/longer and proper recovery would have more benefit with less wallet sting
  • fossyant
    fossyant Posts: 2,549
    Proper training help ! :lol:
  • Peddle Up!
    Peddle Up! Posts: 2,040
    kayo74 wrote:
    Be reading a bit on Beat Alanine are these any good and do they help performance?.

    They're on my iPod. :)
    Purveyor of "up" :)
  • mickyc1
    mickyc1 Posts: 37
    Stanley222 wrote:
    Not sure the road beginners section is the best place for this question :wink:

    I am with you on this one / what next ?
  • MattC59
    MattC59 Posts: 5,408
    Supplementation with β-alanine has been shown to increase the concentration of carnosine in muscles, decrease fatigue in athletes and increase total muscular work done.

    Or you could just train more ?
    I have just read that the side effects include headaches and pins and needles in your face (in some cases the pins and needles is more like stabbing pains).
    From what I've read, it appears that you get improvements in performance when you take it, but not when you don't take it. Doesn't that defeat the object of training ?

    Next you'll be asking whether EPO is a good idea !
    Science adjusts it’s beliefs based on what’s observed.
    Faith is the denial of observation so that Belief can be preserved
  • Headhuunter
    Headhuunter Posts: 6,494
    Fascinating, I had never heard of beta alanine... Might have to give it a go. I have tried experimenting with BCAA and glutamine/protein mixes after rides. Certainly mixing maltodextrin with BCAA and choline bitartate seems to help me on long rides. Tried creatine at the gym for a while and definitely noticed that it made a difference...
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  • gkerr4
    gkerr4 Posts: 3,408
    from experience, you are wasting your time asking about any form of suppments on this forum - the std answers are "train more" or "it's a slippery slope to EPO".

    personally, i think they play a part in recovery and training - the BCAA supplements are (IMO) a good thing for recovery. Glutamine as mentioned above also.
    not heard about beta alanine to be honest.
  • Headhuunter
    Headhuunter Posts: 6,494
    gkerr4 wrote:
    from experience, you are wasting your time asking about any form of suppments on this forum - the std answers are "train more" or "it's a slippery slope to EPO".

    personally, i think they play a part in recovery and training - the BCAA supplements are (IMO) a good thing for recovery. Glutamine as mentioned above also.
    not heard about beta alanine to be honest.

    Yeah I get that reaction when I talk about this on rides... I find nutrition really interesting. Am doing some research (well just scanning various research docs on the net) into supplementing with taurine, lipoic acid, L carnitine and L arginine to treat high blood pressure.

    My aim is to avoid eating altiogether an exist on a mix of white powders mixed in my potein shaker... :wink:
    Do not write below this line. Office use only.
  • anto164
    anto164 Posts: 3,500
    Who is this Alaine lass?
  • Daddy2Coull
    Daddy2Coull Posts: 58
    Headhuunter wrote:
    gkerr4 wrote:

    My aim is to avoid eating altiogether an exist on a mix of white powders mixed in my potein shaker... :wink:

    superb, i better buy a bigger shaker lmao
    To be old and wise, you must first be young and stupid......

    95kg to 87kg and dropping......

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  • mrwibble
    mrwibble Posts: 980
    try Jack 3-D
  • colsoop
    colsoop Posts: 217
    I have used beta alanine coupled with citrulline malate. They are a good combo and after a loading phase of a week i feel much stronger and able to push harder than having not taken it.

    The beta alanine does cause a pins and needles effect within a few minutes of taking it but it isn't an unpleasant feeling.
  • MattC59
    MattC59 Posts: 5,408
    colsoop wrote:
    I have used beta alanine coupled with citrulline malate. They are a good combo and after a loading phase of a week i feel much stronger and able to push harder than having not taken it.
    The beta alanine does cause a pins and needles effect within a few minutes of taking it but it isn't an unpleasant feeling.
    See........ this is the bit I don't understand. You're stronger and can push harder only when you've taken it. So it's not you propelling the bike, it's the supplements. Why not get an e-bike then ?
    Isn't one of the reasons that we cycle to get fitter, stronger, faster ? If you can only do so with the supplements, isn't that like saying; I can swim underwater for 30minutes, but only when I use an aqualung ?
    Science adjusts it’s beliefs based on what’s observed.
    Faith is the denial of observation so that Belief can be preserved
  • colsoop
    colsoop Posts: 217
    MattC59 wrote:
    colsoop wrote:
    I have used beta alanine coupled with citrulline malate. They are a good combo and after a loading phase of a week i feel much stronger and able to push harder than having not taken it.
    The beta alanine does cause a pins and needles effect within a few minutes of taking it but it isn't an unpleasant feeling.
    See........ this is the bit I don't understand. You're stronger and can push harder only when you've taken it. So it's not you propelling the bike, it's the supplements. Why not get an e-bike then ?
    Isn't one of the reasons that we cycle to get fitter, stronger, faster ? If you can only do so with the supplements, isn't that like saying; I can swim underwater for 30minutes, but only when I use an aqualung ?

    Allow me to ellaborate. I am not at the current stage taking either supplements so i am going from memory here.

    You must have missed out the word "Feel" in my statement so here are a couple more feels for you. :)

    I feel stronger and feel like i can push harder therefore for a given speed i feel like i am putting in less effort to do said speed im still doing that speed and distance so no e bike required :roll:

    When i stopped taking the supplement after the first few days i could feel the difference,

    Thats not to say my fitness hadn't improved during that time as it had but the tiredness in my legs would start to return.

    Its hard to describe really unless you have tried it.

    I believe supplements are a good training aid but it is just that, an aid to training/.

    You still need to train !

    Lots of cyclists take energy gels to give them a pick up don't they ?

    As for your last statements.

    No it is nothing like that. I never said the supplements power me along you still need to put the effort in to go at the pace you go at. electric bikes and aqua lungs :roll:

    I am still on the bike working at the same distance and same pace all that has changed is my perceived level of effort for a given speed. making me feel stronger.

    Placebo effect i don't know i can only go on my own experiences which is what the OP was asking for.
  • t.m.h.n.e.t
    t.m.h.n.e.t Posts: 2,265
    Supplementation with β-alanine has been shown to increase the concentration of carnosine in muscles, decrease fatigue in athletes and increase total muscular work done
    2/3 of those can be achieved by working longer and harder on your bike.
    gkerr4 wrote:
    from experience, you are wasting your time asking about any form of suppments on this forum - the std answers are "train more" or "it's a slippery slope to EPO".
    personally, i think they play a part in recovery and training - the BCAA supplements are (IMO) a good thing for recovery. Glutamine as mentioned above also.
    not heard about beta alanine to be honest.

    Because it's generally true. x brand fat burner or xbrand 1000% more energy products are a false economy,the major thing most people don't look at is diet. Chicago Town pizza before a ride isn't going to fuel you as well as a clean diet/food intake before/after.

    Whey Protein though :D Some very very tasty flavours and full of BCAA's :p

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