PastorJim

I was wondering if any can recommend a supplement for energy and endurance.
I need something to rev up this engine.
2 keys I'm looking for 1. Energy 2. Endurance

OldTryGuy

Beet Juice ...... https://www.muscleandfitness.com/nut...verall-workout .... can help

PastorJim

Yes, I have beet juice powder I just have a hard time drinking it. But I will :-)

OldTryGuy

I mix Lakewood Organic Beet Juice with pickle juice from Mt. Olive or Vlasic Kosher Dills and some Bragg Apple Cider Vinegar making sure it's nice and cold

DrIsotope

I don't think I could manage to drink that if the bottle claimed it would give me the ability to fly.

canklecat

There are powdered drink mixes combining electrolytes and BCAAs (branched chain amino acids). Or you can buy the BCAA powder alone and mix it with your own choice of electrolytes.

Opinions vary about the benefits but it's worth a try. I've tried them since February. Seemed to help. Didn't hurt. Hard to be sure because I was recovering from a nearly two month bout with flu and extreme weakness. But I'm back to my peak strength of last year, maybe a little better.

Keep in mind there are some extremes of opinions about the types of BCAAs: the kind derived from keratin (reportedly including animal skin, feathers, even hair); and the vegan type from fermented plant sources.

No idea whether the human body cares between the two types of BCAAs. It may mostly be a matter of personal preference, and trust in the sources. The animal based BCAAs reportedly mostly come from unidentifiable sources in China. The more popular vegan sources mostly come from one source in Japan.

I plan to try the unflavored vegan BCAA from Bulk or MyProtein, both reasonably priced via Amazon. I've been satisfied with the whey protein from MyProtein. It's not the cheapest but among the highest rated by Labdoor. The cheaper stuff from other sources gives me gas and bloating.

Whey and vegan legume and pulse based protein powders supply complete BCAAs, but I don't want to drink that stuff during a ride. BCAA powders can be mixed in fruit juice or other flavors. I carried one water bottle pre -mixed with a generic, inoffensive tasting fruitish flavored electrolyte.

Carbonfiberboy 

The upside of revving the engine is that you go a little faster. The downside is that you get a bigger dose of work and recovery is harder. The exception is probably caffeine, which doesn't so much as rev the engine as improve fat burning which improves endurance. It's the go-to supplement, well-tested, and it works.

Beyond that, for the experimenter, there's:
Potassium nitrate - no nasty taste and nasty cost problem like with beet juice, same nitrate
L-Carnitine L-Tartrate
Glutathione
Citrulline Malate
Beta-Alanine
Sportlegs

See www.examine.com for more info on the various chemicals.

OldTryGuy

I think it tastes great but then I like 100% Cacao, Nespresso's Kazaar Espresso, Brussels sprouts with spicy mustard

wolfchild

Caffeine and fast digesting carbs is the cheapest option and it's the only thing that actually works...All other energy/endurance supplements are just a cash grab and waste of money... Just eat a good breakfast every day and follow a well balanced diet throughout the day and your body will have plenty of energy to do everything that it needs to do.

TimothyH

I'm with @wolfchild. A large coffee and some caffienated gel works great. The only downside is that it increases talkativeness.

Other than that, a nice breakfast (or two) before a big ride and healthy eating otherwise are all it takes.


Mt. Olive is the Rheingold of pickles. Do yourself a favor and try a jar of Wickles.


-Tim-

caloso

Seattle Forrest

I've been taking a creatine supplement since December. It helps me recover more quickly from hard efforts, which can have the effect of helping endurance on longer rides because the hills take less from me. It isn't a "take before you ride" kind of thing, it's a "take it every day and wait for it to build up in your body and then see if you're a person who responds to it" kind of thing.

cb400bill

Why?

ZHVelo

We have this company triathlon every year here, where one person does one discipline. I also found that beetroot apparently helps. Like you I find it disgusting. It's absolutely nauseating, isn't it?

@PastorJim: coffee capsules supposedly help, too, and more if you don't drink coffee regularly before.

washed up

I like beetrootpro. It's a little more expensive but it does taste better than most of the other powders.

canklecat

I got beetroot capsules. Smells beety but not bad, no problem swallowing and digesting. Can't tell whether it makes any difference.

The one "natural" supplement I've tried that does seem to help is concentrated sources of ecdysterone -- spinach and some other greens, turkest, sometimes extracted from the shells of shellfish and some insects. Supposedly a good anabolic agent without the risks of steroids. Sure seems to work for me. But there's an odd side effect -- funky body odor like an adolescent boy. I haven't had that kinda BO funk in 45 years.

Ecdysterone can be taken just by eating spinach and similar greens, but it takes a massive amount -- like, a 16 oz can of cooked spinach with every meal, maybe more. Apparently the capsules and powders just concentrate the dried and pulverized greens as much as possible. Concentrated spinach powder from Bulk Supplements looks and tastes like spinach -- distinctive flavor and odor, very slightly sweet, not at all unpleasant. I mix it in with my morning brew of cold coffee, whey protein with BCAAs and creatine.

jpescatore

Coffee is the only thing I take pre-ride, but I'm not a racer.

Just saw a very non-scientific but interesting GCN video where two riders tried a Ketone drink 30 minutes before a ride up the Alp de Zwift course on Zwift and saw improvements against recent rides on the same route but not necessarily big gains against past personal bests - .

bruce19

And, it's good for BP.

bruce19

Try 100% organic beet juice. I love the stuff but it is a bit sweet. I throw in collagen for my skin.

OldTryGuy

Lakewood Organic my preference. Great value when Publix has a BOGO. (note that it's PRESSED)

https://www.vitacost.com/lakewood-or...h-pressed-beet

ZHVelo

I can't. My wife does smoothies from the actual root, it is vile...

CyclingBK

Wouldn’t say it’s a supplement but I’ve been having a sliced apple and throwing some peanut butter on each slice. Have it like an hour or 2 before I ride and been having great energy. Not sure if it’s actually doing anything but I’m going to stick with it ; )