thewalrus

Caffeine... works for me.

Drinking a double espresso right now.

This peanut toffee buzz Clif bar with 50mg caffeine is pretty good, but I think the black cherry almond tastes better...

https://www.clifbar.com/eat/eat.cfm?location=bar&id=167

Would anyone like to suggest other gel/shot/bars with caffeine in them?

dfw

Nothing wrong with espresso. I make my own rather than drink the swill they serve for $2 a shot at charbucks. I've had 5 double shots just today and I might even have another before bedtime.

thewalrus

*5*?!?!?!

one in the morning

perhaps one mid afternoon

another at about 7pm

that's about my daily max - if I had 5 or 6 and ever stopped I imagine the withdrawal would be harsh.

crosscut

Hammer Gel Espresso.......

caffeine with power.....I love it.

dfw

I don't usually have 5 or 6 per day, but every once in a while when my coffee beans are peaking I go overboard. I work irregular shifts at work so sometimes I may go a few days without any coffee. I don't generally have a problem with withdrawls, but I'm sure if I had 5 or 6 every day I'd be in trouble.

thewalrus

Do you know how much caffeine it has per serving? The nutrition section doesn't say:

https://www.e-caps.com/za/ECP?PAGE=PR...I&PROD.ID=4039

MattWolf

Ugh. If I have even one cup of coffee in the morning I can't fall asleep until midnight. But I can drink a 6 pack of Sam Adams and feel nary a thing. The liver is a wonderous thing.

UmneyDurak

During last Fall Semester I could drink two strong cups of coffee and still fall a sleep. Cutting back on coffee wasn't pretty.

sorebutt

Just be careful with caffeine, it makes you sweat a lot more, and you dehydrate much faster. So on very hot days try to avoid it..

dfw

A lot of people say this, and in some instances it's true, but not always.

Coffee has a diuretic effect, so the assumption is coffee will create an electrolyte imbalance and cause you to dehydrate faster. In practice, this is not the case with athletes. When you drink coffee on a regular basis, the diuretic effect is diminished. Also most athletes are more conscience of keeping their electrolytes replenished, which will offset any small reduction caused by coffee. Even drinking water in large quantities (which most people who regularly exercise do) will create a diuretic effect. As long as you're keeping the electrolytes replenished, you can drink coffee with no worries.

ZappCatt

With that thread title, I thought the OP was going to brag about his new order of Viagra!

dfw

Not a bad idea. It would definitely allow you to ride harder.

nitropowered

Becareful on how much caffine to take though. You will get caught on a drug test (if you are that good to warrent a drug test at a race) if you are above a certain level. I'm not sure what the legal limit is though. My Accelgels had 20mg of caffine in it.

dfw

I don't have any intentions of racing, so I don't have to worry about that. I do get drug tested at work. They look at me funny when my urine comes up black and smelling like Kenyan AA, but so far no red ink on my personnel file.

Patriot

Let's see, if one was to drink 5 double shot Starbucks Mochas per day, at $3.50 per Mocha, that would be a $17.50/day investment into your drug habit.

P.S. I make my own espresso at home too. I love my Mochas.

Univega

Does anyone remember Ultimate Orange? It was a combination of caffeine and ephedrine and used as a pre-workout supplement.

dfw

I haven't heard of it, but it sounds like potent stuff. I'd be too afraid of pulling a Steve Bechler.

jimlikesbikes

what color is your allez elite?
i think i'm the only one with a silver one

thewalrus

I don't race (yet). I work as a courier, and ride about 3 hours a day, so I could probably do pretty well in cat5 races. Cycling BC wants $125 for a race licence - living on a courier's salary, i spent it on some new shoes and pedals instead.

thewalrus

It's red and white - I think the 2004 models were silver...

here's a photo:
https://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a1...0/IMG_5345.jpg

KrisPistofferson

I was thinking the other day how if they made a Snickers bar with caffeine, they could buy Microsoft in a year. This thought did not come to me in between bong hits, incidentally, which is scary.

nostawk

You should try just ephedrine 25-50mg. Its performance enhancing effects are stronger than caffiene for me and more enjoyable. Energy drinks like full throttle are also pretty good and green tea is also good stuff and its really good for you.


Ive used ultimate orange and other e/c stacks and I much prefer ephedrine by itself.

DannoXYZ 

"A lot of people say this, and in some instances it's true, but not always.

Coffee has a diuretic effect, so the assumption is coffee will create an electrolyte imbalance and cause you to dehydrate faster. In practice, this is not the case with athletes. When you drink coffee on a regular basis, the diuretic effect is diminished."

I notice it differs in effect based upon what i'm doing. If I sit around watching TV and have a triple-espresso, I end up peeing like race-horse within 30-60 minutes. However, if I'm working out on the bike, or even racing, it definitely gives me a good kick and I don't pee any more than normal. Or have to take in any more water than without the caffeine. Strange.. But the performance advantage is definitely there; I need at least a double-espresso, a single doesn't work to numb the pain in the legs. The glucagon-activating effect also lengthens endurance as well, but doesn't help much in a crit. For that, I find that two tablespoons of bicarbonate works really well to counterract the lactic acid. Take in the last 30-minutes before the final sprint.

BTW - in order to fail a drug-test for caffeine, you would've had to drink 9 cups of coffee within the last hour of a race...

JoeOxfordCT

....and where does one get ephedrine these days ? I missed my old Ripped Fuel.....

Univega

I miss my Ripped fuel and Ultimate Orange also.

I did a Google search and typed Buy Ephedrine. A number of sites came up.

My friend said it was now available in Texas. I think Long Island was the first to ban it, but now it seems to be coming back in selected areas.

I have used Ultimate Orange for weight lifting contests. I used Ripped Fuel when I had to work 24 hours straight. I think like any other drug, if used it the 25 mg (50 if you have a tolerance or are way big) it is safe. Abuse of any drug, including aspirin and vitamins can harm or kill. I won’t even mentioned the posts I have seen here about people dying from water!