So, I've been doing this 10.1 mile time trial every Wednesday evening. It's a tricky rolling course (Lyons- to Boulder, Colorado) and every week the wind is different.
Normally, after I finish, I'm a bit out of breath and get a craving for a cup of coffee. Luckily, Boulder cycling's favourite coffee shop is just down the street and I can satisfy myself.
Today, there was a brutal, gusty cross wind and I felt that I went harder than ever before. My average power was down a couple watts but I definitely expended a lot of energy just keeping the bike upright and in line. I was so pooped when I finished that I couldn't even spit, never mind talk, for several minutes.
Went down to the coffee shop for a strong Americano - still in oxygen debt, so had a double espresso as well before I felt ok.
I'd never really thought about it, but now I realise that coffee is a bronchodilator and asthmatics drink coffee to help breathing when they've forgotten their inhalers. I guess that I just assumed that coffee just helps to increase heart rate (although it seems to lower mine).
Will slamming a double espresso before a TT improve my breathing and does anyone else do this to improve breathing? How long will the effect last? Do I have undiagnosed asthma?