popeye

https://www.outsideonline.com/health...ohol-research/

While the study was focused on runners I can see a relationship to cyclying as it pertains to alcohol consumption. I'am a moderate kind of guy and a couple of beers is part of a full happy life. I don't think I get any dispensation for a hard day on the bike but if it was celebrating some hard won goal well yeah. So the question is do hard efforts offset excessive consumption. Or perhaps the really hard efforts are so infrequent that it does not matter. I need a drink.


"Among heavy-drinking men (though not women), the fittest were the least likely to exhibit signs of dependence. This fits with the idea that their exercise habits are filling some of the psychological space that alcohol might otherwise fill on its own."

chaadster

I’m a wine binge drinker, no lie.

MoAlpha

I have cut back from moderate, regular, drinking to the occasional drink because I’m 65 years old with five decades of endurance sports on my leathery old heart and I don’t want to go into a-fib and have a stroke. Big efforts on the bike only make me want to hydrate, eat, and sleep. Nothing makes me want alcohol more than a hard day (or a few days and nights) of sailing.

DonkeyShow

I could prob bike better if I drank less. Tho I do enjoying microdosing psilocybin before rides to keep me from getting bored. I've always been fit as far as strength and conditioning goes but my build isn't primo for cycling. Booze is just carbs and poison its not that bad.

mstateglfr 

Why Fitter People Drink More Alcohol

This may be true for an overall group, but it sure seems like an odd concept to accept at a singular level.

I stopped drinking 2ish years ago...maybe 3? I can't remember when. Regardless of when, I am healthier and in better cycling condition than before. It isnt even close.
...but I also religiously track all calories in and out which clearly has a significant impact on the net result.

It's interesting a conclusion can be made with any sort of certainty, given how dynamic each person's lifestyle and choice are.

DonkeyShow

The one year I was sober while racing cars I basically smoked everybody.

Ghazmh

As I sit here wondering if yesterday’s 3 drinks is going to screw my plans for a 75 mile mixed terrain ride today I am comforted reading that I fall in the light drinker category (2-4 drinks per week). I sometimes stress over the fact that I enjoy alcohol when I do but I take comfort in knowing that I’m too concerned about weight gain and addiction to drink any more.

diphthong

it all comes down to what you rationalize/realize as performance on any given ride/day...or don't. repeat/modify as necessary.

popeye

It's not all bad, alky is a great muscle relaxer. Perhaps that's why it is popular with athletes.

bruce19

I am 75. In college I was a football (QB) and baseball (SS) player. I was serious and I did not drink except for the Saturday post-game frat party. These days I am good for 3-5 oz of whiskey every night. Often with a cigar as I watch the world go by from my porch. Now I'm serious about enjoying my life.

ussprinceton

when I was younger, I drank a lot of alcohol with friends. Then, as I got older, not so much. Recently, I've been drinking beer once a month when I go visit my brother. When I get in the mood, I buy a 12 pack at the convenient store, just for fun, and listen to Post Malone songs.

Koyote

I’ve got room in my life for both drinking and cycling.

Leinster

Yup. I have space for other sporting activities, too.

The survey doesn’t appear to mention the social aspect of both athletic activities, and alcohol. Most of the times I’ve drank to excess in my adult years have been with teammates, often after games/training. It’s probably no coincidence that I’m currently the heaviest I’ve ever been, after team/group sports were effectively banned for a year.