Relentless, Redbull....do they work?

mudcow007

well they supposedly give you "energy, stamina, focus and drive"

but do they or is it just a psychological fing?

cje

They give "anxiety, irritability, nervousness & stress". And they taste horrible. Fella in my office has five cans a day mind. He must be whizzing, or countering it with handfuls of valium.

rick_chasey

Red bull works on the bike.

Just really sugary and loads of caffine.

Works a treat.

mudcow007

see i generally get a dodgy stomach when i have Redbull? maybe i should drink it instead of snorting it

i've got a can of relentless on my desk as a bit of rocket fuel for the trip home

surely any gains from redbull etc are short lived though?

bompington

As far as I'm aware, caffeine does actually improve performance in sports - lots of studies if you google, some but not all showing a definite physiological effect.
I never touch gels as a rule but on my annual foray into the sportive world (etape cal) I take a couple of the caffeine ones, which have similar doses to red bull-ish drinks, and have found they give a real boost when I'm 3 hours or so in and starting to flag - obviously lots of potential for placebo effect there but it feels to me they make a real difference.

SimonAH

I had some high-caffeine gels from Wiggle chucked in free with an order - blinkin' flip! Rush like a fag behind the bikesheds when you're ten years old!

Too much caffeine though and I just get the jitters and a slightly sick feeling.

What worries me about those drinks though is that they seem to be the tipple of choice for kids these days - that can't be good surely?

SimonAH

I had some high-caffeine gels from Wiggle chucked in free with an order - blinkin' flip! Rush like a fag behind the bikesheds when you're ten years old!

Too much caffeine though and I just get the jitters and a slightly sick feeling.

What worries me about those drinks though is that they seem to be the tipple of choice for kids these days - that can't be good surely?

rick_chasey

SimonAH wrote:

What worries me about those drinks though is that they seem to be the tipple of choice for kids these days - that can't be good surely?

Probably not. Seems a sure fire way to early onset diabetes.

I'd suggest it's a particular demographic of kid who are keen on the energy drinks....

rjsterry

Shaky fingers MrAH?

notsoblue

Gives you a caffeine rush and temporarily elevates your blood sugar. Works great, but I'd imagine that if you drink it regularly without doing any exercise then its a great way to work towards insulin resistance.

Tastes a bit crap too. I'd rather have an espresso.

veronese68

Red Bull smells like Calpol. I can't get passed that so can't drink it. My cousin used to drink lots of it and his heart started playing up. He'd occasionally have periods where his heart beat would exceed 200bpm without doing anything. He doesn't touch it any more.
I once heard it was illegal in some countries, no idea if that's true.

rick_chasey

Veronese68 wrote:

Red Bull smells like Calpol. I can't get passed that so can't drink it. My cousin used to drink lots of it and his heart started playing up. He'd occasionally have periods where his heart beat would exceed 200bpm without doing anything. He doesn't touch it any more.
I once heard it was illegal in some countries, no idea if that's true.

The found minute traces of cocaine in some red bull in Germany and I think it's not allowed in France.

Edit: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Bull#Legal_status

Is legal again apparently.

suzyb

Add it to Vodka and you have a really good night out. And if you're over 25 a really bad hangover the next day.

veronese68

suzyb wrote:

Add it to Vodka and you have a really good night out. And if you're over 25 a really bad hangover the next day.

A friend of mine used to drink this until she worked out she was going to bed and passing out because of the vodka, then after that wore off she'd be wide awake due to the caffeine, but felt like death warmed up. She doesn't drink it any more.

mrc1

Veronese68 wrote:

suzyb wrote:

Add it to Vodka and you have a really good night out. And if you're over 25 a really bad hangover the next day.

A friend of mine used to drink this until she worked out she was going to bed and passing out because of the vodka, then after that wore off she'd be wide awake due to the caffeine, but felt like death warmed up. She doesn't drink it any more.

I used to have exactly that. Sleep for a couple of hours then wake desperately hungover but unable to sleep. Watching the signed BBC programmes at silly oclock was the only choice.

Jez mon

I find a few strategic Jaegerbombs around midnight leave me nicely inebriated for the rest of the night, then when I wake up in the morning, the red bull slightly takes the edge of the hangover. Also a large pizza pre bedtime helps!!

I mean, a friend finds that...

Honestly, I tried to drink Red Bull before races at Hillingdon a number of times. The combination of caffeine and pre race nerves made my heart rate sky rocket, but I found when I drunk it at the right time, I felt like I was going like a rocket. I do find Relentless tropical (with 50% fruit juice apparently!!) does a good job of stopping me when I feel like I'm going to fall asleep in the middle of a lecture, or keeping me awake on long drives.

roger_merriman

I seem to be fairly tolerant of caffeen (used to do the redbull and vodka as well back in the day) i can drink gallons of the stuff and go off to bed and be out like a light.

So for myself no rush at all.

meanredspider

Yes, they do work. Sugar in Red Bull is the same as a can of Coke though.

team47b

notsoblue wrote:

Gives you a caffeine rush and temporarily elevates your blood sugar. Works great, but I'd imagine that if you drink it regularly without doing any exercise then its a great way to work towards insulin resistance.

Tastes a bit crap too. I'd rather have an espresso.

Exactly right on the insulin resistance.

About the same caffeine as a decent cup of coffee, but without the decent cup of coffee!

Espresso with six sugars anyone?

Combined with exercise would cause dehydration.

mouth

The main active ingredient in red bull is taurine, which for those who don't know is an exact copy of bulls sperm. A better sleep pattern would be a better way to go surely.

On a further note, a can of sugar free red bull weighs in at a mere 8 calories therefore suggesting it contains no sugar/energy so must be hormonal. It contains aspartame which was banned in the States until the Reagan administration decided it was safe again. It is a carcinogen linked with causing cancer.

Jez mon

Mouth wrote:

The main active ingredient in red bull is taurine, which for those who don't know is an exact copy of bulls sperm.

Or not, but please, don't let the facts get in the way of your post.

For the record, taurine is an organic acid which is widely found in animal tissues, and a major consistent of bile.

As for things causing cancer, well, Daily Mail reader, are we?

cyclingprop

Hate red bull. But I have been known to have hi5 caffeine sports tabs in bike bottles at lower than the packet says doses. Not all the time though, tastes like redbull - see above.

team47b

Taurine is an essential amino acid for cats, ie they can't produce it themselves unlike dogs and people.

This is the reason that dogs can be vegetarian but cats can't be.

So, joined up thinking...

give red bull to cats


(It is synthetic Taurine and not animal based in Red Bull)

SimonAH

Instead of giving redbull to cats I advocate painting cats red and giving them to bulls.

wakou

I was having a tough day at work recently and chanced on some 'relentless or 'monster' large cans @ 2 for £1 or summat. They were the ones with Taurine, Guarana, Ginseng, caffeine and Vitamin B in. Half hour later I was buzzing like I was was on amphetamines. Not a nice feeling exactly, but to get you over the final hurdle, they do work.

team47b

SimonAH wrote:

Instead of giving redbull to cats I advocate painting cats red and giving them to bulls.

Is that all cats or just ginger ones?

cyclingprop

Mouth wrote:

The main active ingredient in red bull is taurine, which for those who don't know is an exact copy of bulls sperm. A better sleep pattern would be a better way to go surely.

On a further note, a can of sugar free red bull weighs in at a mere 8 calories therefore suggesting it contains no sugar/energy so must be hormonal. It contains aspartame which was banned in the States until the Reagan administration decided it was safe again. It is a carcinogen linked with causing cancer.

Which carcinogens don't cause cancer?

Initialised

Yes they work in the same way as strong sugary coffee.
Forget the other active ingredients the hit is from the caffeine, the rest are mainly sinergistic and modify the effect.
Yes they have an acquired taste
Yes both caffeine and amphetamines have very similar (side) effects.
For a good quality but street legal "Speed" effect try mixing them with modafinil.

mouth

Jez mon wrote:

Mouth wrote:

The main active ingredient in red bull is taurine, which for those who don't know is an exact copy of bulls sperm.

Or not, but please, don't let the facts get in the way of your post.

For the record, taurine is an organic acid which is widely found in animal tissues, and a major consistent of bile.

As for things causing cancer, well, Daily Mail reader, are we?

Red Bull is made from synthetic taurine. Naturally occuring taurine is a major ingredient in bulls jiz. Please please feel free to continue your humour bypass.

As for things causing cancer, since I come from a family of sufferers please feel free to excuse me for believing everything that I read in the Daily Mail.......