Do serious cyclist drink?

hilljunkie said:

This is probably a stupid and redundant question but i'm just wondering. do those hard core pedalers out there push back the booze? Anyone know of any pro's that are off the bandwagon? Most likely there are past threads about this topic but I since i haven't spotted them i've got to start a new one. Personally i'm a fairly fit 400 km a week recreational road rider that can't kick the booze. I can't wait to hear other responses and experiences with this issue. 😉

Only if they are serious about drinking, but seriously some party in the off season. Jan was arrested for intoxication once and there are others that celebrate and enjoy life but I doubt that many partake much during the season.

Yeah, I agree, they probally don't indulge in excess (during the season) though the French and Italians probaly have a glass of wine a day (I think its a cultural thing).
I remember reading somewhere that more Europeans drink daily but dont consume a lot in one sitting while Americans dont drink everyday but when they do they get hammered.
I also heard that a drink (wine or beer, not the hard stuff) a day may actually be good for your heart.

I quit drinking it because of the side affects it had on my cycling performance, the 2 don't mix. i guess it depends on how serious you are about your fitness and performance on the bike.

hilljunkie said:

This is probably a stupid and redundant question but i'm just wondering. do those hard core pedalers out there push back the booze? Anyone know of any pro's that are off the bandwagon? Most likely there are past threads about this topic but I since i haven't spotted them i've got to start a new one. Personally i'm a fairly fit 400 km a week recreational road rider that can't kick the booze. I can't wait to hear other responses and experiences with this issue. 😉

It sounds to me that you're talking about more than an occasional drink or two. If you are trying to quit, but really "can't kick the booze" then you should consider seeking help. At 400 km a week I'd agree that you're probably very physically fit as far as musculature and cardio is concerned, but if you're drinking to excess you're still damaging your liver and other internal organs. If you've got the self discipline to cycle 400 km a week, but can't control your drinking then perhaps you've got a problem.

Maybe I'm reading too much into your post, if so I apologize. But my intuition tells me that if you concerned enough about this to post about it and be as anxious as you seem to receive feedback, then you've probably got a nagging feeling in the back of your mind that something's not right.

Read Lance's books. I seem to remember several sections in there where he mentioned that he likes his beer on occasion. Also talked about one of his teammates that was partying big time. So they do drink. Some in excess, some in moderation. Different people, different bodies, different results.

I myself: whatever I want in the off season (not a BIG drinker, but dont mind getting wasted every now an then) but NOTHING during the season. No beer, wine, rum, nuttin. Not even sodas (dont like em much anyway)

hilljunkie said:

This is probably a stupid and redundant question but i'm just wondering. do those hard core pedalers out there push back the booze? Anyone know of any pro's that are off the bandwagon? Most likely there are past threads about this topic but I since i haven't spotted them i've got to start a new one. Personally i'm a fairly fit 400 km a week recreational road rider that can't kick the booze. I can't wait to hear other responses and experiences with this issue. 😉

Cycle Sport Magazine : December 2004 : took a quick snapshot of five cyclists
and what they did on X-Mas Day.
Eric Dekker and Daro Cioni were amongst the five cyclists surveyed.

They had all been out on X-Mas day, doing 2 hours to 3 hours training.
4 out of 5 said that they don't drink alcohol at all, ever.
Only one of them admitted to sneaking a glass of wine on X-Mas.
Most were eating traditional X-Mas food, but not in vast quantities.

I think you can take it that when they're in training/competing, that they're
teetotal.

triguy98 said:

Read Lance's books. I seem to remember several sections in there where he mentioned that he likes his beer on occasion. Also talked about one of his teammates that was partying big time. So they do drink. Some in excess, some in moderation. Different people, different bodies, different results.

Shiner Bock is Lance's favourite drop.

I totally avoid drunkeness but I love a drink. I knock back a can of red wine nearly every day and tonight I'll have a can of guiness.

hilljunkie said:

This is probably a stupid and redundant question but i'm just wondering. do those hard core pedalers out there push back the booze? Anyone know of any pro's that are off the bandwagon? Most likely there are past threads about this topic but I since i haven't spotted them i've got to start a new one. Personally i'm a fairly fit 400 km a week recreational road rider that can't kick the booze. I can't wait to hear other responses and experiences with this issue. 😉

Moderation, moderation. I know people that pedal 200 miles a week or more and drink like fish. But they are brain dead half the day because of blood sugar spikes. Doesn't mean they can't ride hard, but it does mean that they can't do much except lay around the rest of the day after a ride. Plus they seem to get injured a lot.

Dr.Hairybiker said:

Moderation, moderation. I know people that pedal 200 miles a week or more and drink like fish. But they are brain dead half the day because of blood sugar spikes. Doesn't mean they can't ride hard, but it does mean that they can't do much except lay around the rest of the day after a ride. Plus they seem to get injured a lot.

my personal opinion is alcohol dehydrates you the following day, so maybe if you train and ride everyday it isn't a wise decisision although, i have had a few glasses of red wine and been for a few mile run and not really felt any different just sober by the time i have got home:o

hey! we can't all remember cab fares, or save'em even...

Alcohol piles on weight though.

A pint of beer is 200-300 calories.
4 pints, that's 1200 cals.
That's two hours riding to eliminate 1200 cals.

1200 cals on top of what you've consumed through food.

It takes long enough to reach fitness for cycling - alcohol just wipes out all that
training.

Moderation.

I usually go out on friday evening after work with my wife and a few friends. I get home usually about 12 after having 6 pints of beer or so. This is the only time i drink. I get up at 7 am on a satureday for a cycle and usually feel like [censored]. I dont drink on a saturday because i always do a serious ride on a sunday. The difference between the two days is staggering.

I am aware of the health effects of alcohol and recently didnt have any drink for 6 weeks. I didnt miss it at all. I just felt anti social. My fitness improved after the exesses of the festive period and i needed to lose weight so giving up the booze really worked.

If you drink exessively and do 400 KMs per week and want us to tell you that its okay, then you'll be disappointed. Its not good for your mind and body. The deterioration of your liver may not be apparent right now but at some time you'll feel the effects of liver failure and it may not be til you are in your older years.

400Kms a week and youre only 'fairly fit'? 400Kms with only a few drinks a week and you'll be a whole lot fitter, stronger, less tired and mentally stronger. (you already knew this before you asked the question)

I agree most pros probally dont drink when they are in training, but if I made my living riding a bicycle I would not drink during the "on season" and maybe have a very small amount in the off season. I dont make my living riding a bike, and I enjoy having a few in moderation, so yes my cycling would probaly improve if I gave up drinking, but it could also improve if I trained smarter and/or rode more. I am not a monk and I feel my quality of life is better by being able to enjoy a few now and then.

I was just thinking, could you define the amount that you are talking about drinking? Like a typical week.

I feel that most people associate staying out late with drinking. I think that if you go out to socialize and have lets say two-three pints of beer over a 3-4 hour period but dont get in bed till 1:00 or 2:00 in the morning, when most of the time you are in bed by 11:00 that the disruption in your sleeping pattern will cause you to feel worse the next day than just two beers consumed over a long period of time.

limerickman said:

Alcohol piles on weight though.

A pint of beer is 200-300 calories.
4 pints, that's 1200 cals.
That's two hours riding to eliminate 1200 cals.

1200 cals on top of what you've consumed through food.

It takes long enough to reach fitness for cycling - alcohol just wipes out all that
training.

Moderation.

ERM! Quote;

Alcohol (the product of fermentation of carbs by yeaste) may make a major contribution to a persons total energy intake. however, it differs from carbs and fats in the fact that it can't be used by muscles to provide energy during exercise. Also, it canot be used to provide a rapid release of energy on demand it is metabolized slowly by the liver at a constant rate. So any energy derived from alcohol in excess of energy requirements is simply stored as body fat or used up by the liver to provide energy. remember also that excessive alcohol consumption can also cause serious damage to the liver. <= personally i can't ride if this gets damaged. 😉

(Page 16)
Steve wooton
Nutrition for sport

intox.comphysiology.aspOpen ↗

nope see no benefits

hilljunkie said:

This is probably a stupid and redundant question but i'm just wondering. do those hard core pedalers out there push back the booze? Anyone know of any pro's that are off the bandwagon? Most likely there are past threads about this topic but I since i haven't spotted them i've got to start a new one. Personally i'm a fairly fit 400 km a week recreational road rider that can't kick the booze. I can't wait to hear other responses and experiences with this issue. 😉

Are you drinking by 6:00 am until you go to bed? Do you need to drink to function without shaking? Ever have lost weekends? That was me before A.A.
That would be a reason to stop drinking and get help.🙂

CravinMorehead said:

Are you drinking by 6:00 am until you go to bed? Do you need to drink to function without shaking? Ever have lost weekends? That was me before A.A.
That would be a reason to stop drinking and get help.🙂

Ok Confession Time:

I dont drink nor have i done so for the past 13yrs, as for lost weekends; lol most of my teenage years, i stopped drinking because on one occassion when i was 18-19yrs old; i drank so much that i was out for almost 4days, the 4th 5th day i spent slipping in and out of consciousness all from one day of bingeing and according to the doctor units from alcohol poisoning, possible coma maybe even death. this was the turnaround point in my life when my parents realised that i had a problem.

my parents sent me to see a AA councillor who helped me recognise that i had a problem, she helped me monitor my weekly alcohol units with a unit diary and decreese the number of units that i was consuming each day and yes i've been through the drying out period of decreasing the number of units per-day to a period of time on librium, to help me cope with the shakes, illusinations and the dependance.

which i must admit was the most unpleasant time of my life 'what i remember of it' and i would by no means wish to go through that period again. this is when i first became interested in exercise and fitness, not only did it give me a positive way to express my anger but also something to fill my time, yes! from one addiction to another i train hard for some of the simple sensation of euphoria.

My friend managed to kill himself with alcohol by liver failure at the age of 21; So i guess i was lucky.

Sorry i forgot to stand an say "my name is chris i am a recovering alcoholic and i am fully aware i will always be recovering from it ".

closesupport said:

Ok Confession Time:

I dont drink nor have i done so for the past 13yrs, as for lost weekends; lol most of my teenage years, i stopped drinking because on one occassion when i was 18-19yrs old; i drank so much that i was out for almost 4days, the 4th 5th day i spent slipping in and out of consciousness all from one day of bingeing and according to the doctor units from alcohol poisoning, possible coma maybe even death. this was the turnaround point in my life when my parents realised that i had a problem.

my parents sent me to see a AA councillor who helped me recognise that i had a problem, she helped me monitor my weekly alcohol units with a unit diary and decreese the number of units that i was consuming each day and yes i've been through the drying out period of decreasing the number of units per-day to a period of time on librium, to help me cope with the shakes, illusinations and the dependance.

which i must admit was the most unpleasant time of my life 'what i remember of it' and i would by no means wish to go through that period again. this is when i first became interested in exercise and fitness, not only did it give me a positive way to express my anger but also something to fill my time, yes! from one addiction to another i train hard for some of the simple sensation of euphoria.

My friend managed to kill himself with alcohol by liver failure at the age of 21; So i guess i was lucky.

Sorry i forgot to stand an say "my name is chris i am a recovering alcoholic and i am fully aware i will always be recovering from it ".

Fair dues to you for overcoming what is a terrible disease.

It is a very pernicious condition and it can be fatal.
To stand up and to kick the habit takes a lot of determination and I say well done for doing so.

another question to ponder is "do serious drinkers cycle"?

tmctguer said:

another question to ponder is "do serious drinkers cycle"?

i never, well not seriously until i had stopped completely, since i have gone over speeding parked cars, crashed into tree's and roundabouts since i didn't have the reaction time to turn.

plus all the other many accidents i have had whilst intoxicated, so i'd take a guess at if they had for any length of time they aren't doing it anymore, either cycling or drinking.😉 so i guess at the end of the day its one or the other, which do you prefare.

i prefare the excitement and euphoria and that satisfaction at the end of a long hard training session to these states from alcohol, plus i get to wake up the following morning with nothing to cloud my visison feeling good about myself and ready for my next fix!