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Riding Styles => MX => Topic started by: rablack21 on March 11, 2015, 08:56:40 AM
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To the racers out there, the question is this. Do you supplement with caffeine before your races or do you stay away from it? I have never actually had any caffeine before a race so I have never tried it myself. A know a couple guys that use it before races and I know a couple that avoid it like the plague. Here are the arguments I have heard for and against it:
In favor:
It increases performance and stamina, so you can run faster longer.
Against:
It severely dehydrates your body.
It will make your arm pump worse.
It will cause you to cramp up.
Again, these aren't facts, just arguments I have heard. I have some caffeine pills that I have used from time to time when extra energy was needed around the house or before my cycling class at the gym. I have to say that I do notice a bit more stamina when I take it during my cycling classes. However, you don't really work your forearm muscles during cycling, so I don't know whether it would increase arm pump or not.
So what are your thought? Do you use it? Stay away from it? Have tried it? Don't care either way? lol
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Absolutely not. Stay away from it. Do you think that Olympic athletes drink that stuff? Now im not saying i dont have a pop on race day. But its not for any benefit that taste.
I will carb load a couple hours before a XC race for sure. You dont want to much or to close to the race otherwise you get bloated and feel full. But if you eat pasta, or bread, anything like that before the race, your body is digesting it, for the race and during the race for energy.
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Absolutely not. Stay away from it. Do you think that Olympic athletes drink that stuff? Now im not saying i dont have a pop on race day. But its not for any benefit that taste.
I will carb load a couple hours before a XC race for sure. You dont want to much or to close to the race otherwise you get bloated and feel full. But if you eat pasta, or bread, anything like that before the race, your body is digesting it, for the race and during the race for energy.
Honestly, I'm not sure if they do or not. If it was a competition that only required a short burst of speed or power, I might could see them using it. But I'm really looking for something that will keep me powered through long mx races. (Yes, exercise is a given. lol)
How long before a race do you eat pasta and stuff like that? Does it really make a difference? I've never really carb loaded before, so I don't know much about it. I have only heard of long distance runners and some others doing it.
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I used to mtn bike a lot. I used to have to stop every half hr or so and eat a power bar. Caffeine pills (everyone is a lillte different) will most likely cause your body to crash when it wears off. I would never never never take any drug to "enhance" my stamina! I drink a couple cups on coffee on a normal basis and I might drink a cup before I went out riding. I'd carb load the night before and drink orange juice and a light breakfast. Maybe a power bar or 2. Never any drugs!
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I started running longer distances like 4-5 miles, i noticed a huge performance gain when i would eat a good meal a couple hours before. I would say at least 1.5-2 hours before an MX event, eat something solid. I can see the diffence in my running times from 6when i eat well and when i dont. And im not a real runner. 6'1" 220lbs, lol im not the typical running body.
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I've tried a Monster before riding. It helped for sure and I definitely felt stronger for longer in the moto but I crashed pretty hard after. Not crash on the quad, caffeine crash. I also don't drink them at all or pop to begin with. I was curiuos just like you Ryan. Like Kyle said though, carb load some and eat some fruit. That's what I do now.
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I started running longer distances like 4-5 miles, i noticed a huge performance gain when i would eat a good meal a couple hours before. I would say at least 1.5-2 hours before an MX event, eat something solid. I can see the diffence in my running times from 6when i eat well and when i dont. And im not a real runner. 6'1" 220lbs, lol im not the typical running body.
You are I are almost the exact same size. I'm 6'1" 230lbs.lol. Trying to trim it down though. I absolutely hate running unless it is for a sport. I am terrible at running 4-5 miles, especially on a tread mill. I get tired pretty fast, but also get bored quick. The best I have been able to do is taking a cycling class for about 50 min. It seems to do a good job and helps with the endurance, except that for me atleast, it feels a little different. With they cycling, it usually switches between high intensity for short periods of time and moderate intensity for long periods of time. But to me when I'm racing, it feels like it is high intensity (90-95% effort) for 8-12 minutes! They are close, but still don't seem to be quite the same.
Perhaps that is part of my problem, the food that is. I try to shy away from eating a whole lot prior to the race. Always afraid of feeling full or bloated during a race. I usually will have something solid about 2 hours prior to the race and will eat some of the gatorade carb chews 15 minutes before the race. I almost never eat food any closer than about 2 hours prior to racing. So are you saying that you eat a big breakfast in the morning prior to a race that day? If so, what are you eating?
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I've tried a Monster before riding. It helped for sure and I definitely felt stronger for longer in the moto but I crashed pretty hard after. Not crash on the quad, caffeine crash. I also don't drink them at all or pop to begin with. I was curiuos just like you Ryan. Like Kyle said though, carb load some and eat some fruit. That's what I do now.
Yeah, in my experience, it does push you a bit harder, but you don't know how long it will last. And then you feel even more tired when you come down. I drink a soda that morning, just for taste. I do drink a protein shake after motos. That seems to make me feel a lot better. But that's more towards recovery afterward instead of during. I struggle through those last couple of laps.
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Breakfast......IMHO. Pancakes eggs fruit or orange juice. Nothing greasy. At least for me physical exercise with greasy food in my stomach gives me heart burn lol.
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I hated running, but i knew its great for cardio. I started with just running a 5k route i laid out. 3.1 miles. Within a few weeks i was dropping minutes off my pace. After getting down to a 24min 30 sec 5k, i decided to start running farther, it started to kind of become fun because i kept setting goals and breaking my own records. After your body gets used to running its, not as bad. Im like you i get board on a tread mill, thats why i watch movies on my phone or listed to music while i jog outside. It helps.
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I hated running, but i knew its great for cardio. I started with just running a 5k route i laid out. 3.1 miles. Within a few weeks i was dropping minutes off my pace. After getting down to a 24min 30 sec 5k, i decided to start running farther, it started to kind of become fun because i kept setting goals and breaking my own records. After your body gets used to running its, not as bad. Im like you i get board on a tread mill, thats why i watch movies on my phone or listed to music while i jog outside. It helps.
Do you feel it is the running that is really helping the most with your mx stamina?
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Absolutely. Its about efficiently converting oxygen in your lungs to your blood stream to get to your muscles. I literally just got done doing a 5 mile run. And my breathing is so much better now than it was a year ago when i would try to do 1 mile. I would be gasping after a 9:30 mile pace. Now i can run 8 min miles and breath normally. I can push to a 7 minute mile, but then my breathing gets heavy and i cannot maintain it...YET!!!!
But think how nice it would be to be able to push hard for an entire moto and not get winded.
Also if you look at any pro riders program, it will incorperate a lot of running or biking to keep the cardio up.
I want to get a rowing machine. I think that would be a great way to do cardio at home and build my arms.
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Absolutely. Its about efficiently converting oxygen in your lungs to your blood stream to get to your muscles. I literally just got done doing a 5 mile run. And my breathing is so much better now than it was a year ago when i would try to do 1 mile. I would be gasping after a 9:30 mile pace. Now i can run 8 min miles and breath normally. I can push to a 7 minute mile, but then my breathing gets heavy and i cannot maintain it...YET!!!!
But think how nice it would be to be able to push hard for an entire moto and not get winded.
Also if you look at any pro riders program, it will incorperate a lot of running or biking to keep the cardio up.
I want to get a rowing machine. I think that would be a great way to do cardio at home and build my arms.
Now you are getting me motivated! I never liked to run but I always loved to mnt bike and I've really wanted to start riding again. Perfect excuse! Thanks! Lol
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I hated running, im not built for it. But the more i did, and like i said as i started breaking goals and going farther it got easier. Its kinda getting fun.. Plus i just burned 1000 calories in 40 minutes.. Kind of hard to argue with those results.
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Gasping at 9:30 minute mile? Sounds familiar! I really hate running. They may be exactly what I need. I imagine everyday what it must be like to run an entire moto and not be winded. LOL. Right now, I'm working on running half a moto and not be winded!
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Absolutely no caffeine.
Those Monster/Rockstar/Redbull sponsored riders are barely even drinking that crap when they hand them one after a moto. It's all for show and advertising. All those things do is
I think mountain biking or cycling is the best workout for riding. Look at all the MX and ATV pro riders on Instagram, they've all got Trek or Specialized bikes and they're constantly riding them. Johnny G, Borch, Weinen and all those guys cycle together during the offseason
Running is very hard on my joints, especially my feet and knees. If I run it's on an elliptical where there's no shock on my joints. But yes it can be boring
Eggs, oatmeal, fruit, and lots of water not just the day of a race but the day before too. If you wake up in the morning and your piss is dark yellow and smells then you're dehydrated.
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Good call on the piss. Clear is good. Coffee will make it yellow. For some that's normal and they don't Any other way. I drink 2-3 cups of coffee a day. Other than that its 75-100% water. I during pop every once and a while. My first piss of the day is clear. Drink coffee yellow. I can see it change after I stop drinking coffee. Funny how were talking about piss now lol!! But its true and pop has to be one of the worst things besides cigarettes than you can put in your body. I'm glad I quit! Been about 7 months now and smelling cigarette smoke almost makes me sick now
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I'm an ex-partier. Use to drink a lot and smoked a pack a day for almost 17 years. Then I decided to race XC. First race I entered I thought it was a party and got a little bombed the night before. Wow. What a wake-up call. Within 4 months I'd quit smoking and within a year, quit drinking. Then started to work out. Boy did my body protest. My first goal was to try and run a mile...without stopping. Took a few months to be honest. First race I got 12th out of 16. The following year I hit a couple races. Beginner class (C) and got 7th-9th out of 12 or so. Caffeine was part of my diet. Then I got serious. That was about 4 years ago. I finished 2nd in that C class 2 years ago and got a 3rd in Over 30B last year. I now run a mile to warm up before work outs. When I run, it's usually 3 miles and only because my joints start hurting. I have the luxury of owning 6 acres so I have an ATV track around the perimeter. 3 laps is a mile. And it's secluded, private and very pretty. I try and stay away from caffeine on race days and a few days prior. I love my coffee and sugar free Rockstar but it does effect my performance on the track. I wear out much quicker and noticed my arms and/or quads can and will cramp after about 30-40 minutes in. Running has made all the difference in performance. I do enjoy it now where before it was a means to an end to get better at racing. I agree with Kyle, make goals for yourself. But make them achievable and then keep increasing them. Now I get frustrated when it's muddy out and I can't run but do even then sometimes. I'm in the best shape of my life now and it's only getting better. From what I've read on caffeine, it may help short term in quick sprints but it does dehydrate which can lead to cramping and fatigue. I know a lot of MX racers that swear by it but in low doses and I've heard XC racers I race with won't touch it with a 10' pole. So I kind of follow the majority and try and stay away on race day. Eat a big meal in the morning. Good carbs an hour or so before a race (pb&j sandwich and banana), and water and either Heed or Pedialiyte(?) in the camelback for me during the race. My endurance still isn't the best where I can run a 90 minute race without one here in the Texas heat yet but getting very close. Hope this helps some.
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I'm an ex-partier. Use to drink a lot and smoked a pack a day for almost 17 years. Then I decided to race XC. First race I entered I thought it was a party and got a little bombed the night before. Wow. What a wake-up call. Within 4 months I'd quit smoking and within a year, quit drinking. Then started to work out. Boy did my body protest. My first goal was to try and run a mile...without stopping. Took a few months to be honest. First race I got 12th out of 16. The following year I hit a couple races. Beginner class (C) and got 7th-9th out of 12 or so. Caffeine was part of my diet. Then I got serious. That was about 4 years ago. I finished 2nd in that C class 2 years ago and got a 3rd in Over 30B last year. I now run a mile to warm up before work outs. When I run, it's usually 3 miles and only because my joints start hurting. I have the luxury of owning 6 acres so I have an ATV track around the perimeter. 3 laps is a mile. And it's secluded, private and very pretty. I try and stay away from caffeine on race days and a few days prior. I love my coffee and sugar free Rockstar but it does effect my performance on the track. I wear out much quicker and noticed my arms and/or quads can and will cramp after about 30-40 minutes in. Running has made all the difference in performance. I do enjoy it now where before it was a means to an end to get better at racing. I agree with Kyle, make goals for yourself. But make them achievable and then keep increasing them. Now I get frustrated when it's muddy out and I can't run but do even then sometimes. I'm in the best shape of my life now and it's only getting better. From what I've read on caffeine, it may help short term in quick sprints but it does dehydrate which can lead to cramping and fatigue. I know a lot of MX racers that swear by it but in low doses and I've heard XC racers I race with won't touch it with a 10' pole. So I kind of follow the majority and try and stay away on race day. Eat a big meal in the morning. Good carbs an hour or so before a race (pb&j sandwich and banana), and water and either Heed or Pedialiyte(?) in the camelback for me during the race. My endurance still isn't the best where I can run a 90 minute race without one here in the Texas heat yet but getting very close. Hope this helps some.
Thanks for the personal experience. Wow, what a motivation! Reading this just makes me feel lazy. lol.
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One thing i'm interested in trying is taking my NO pre-workout powder before a race. It dilates your blood vessels and arteries to increase blood flow. But it's got caffeine in it and requires you to drink a lot of water
I usually take this:
http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/bsn/xplode.html
It helps me destroy my workouts. But I actually think it's going to increase arm pump too much.
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One thing i'm interested in trying is taking my NO pre-workout powder before a race. It dilates your blood vessels and arteries to increase blood flow. But it's got caffeine in it and requires you to drink a lot of water
I usually take this:
http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/bsn/xplode.html
It helps me destroy my workouts. But I actually think it's going to increase arm pump too much.
I agree. I had considered it before as well, but I think it will have an adverse effect. I think it will make the arm pump worse instead of better.
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Absolutely no caffeine.
Those Monster/Rockstar/Redbull sponsored riders are barely even drinking that crap when they hand them one after a moto. It's all for show and advertising. All those things do is
I think mountain biking or cycling is the best workout for riding. Look at all the MX and ATV pro riders on Instagram, they've all got Trek or Specialized bikes and they're constantly riding them. Johnny G, Borch, Weinen and all those guys cycle together during the offseason
Running is very hard on my joints, especially my feet and knees. If I run it's on an elliptical where there's no shock on my joints. But yes it can be boring
Eggs, oatmeal, fruit, and lots of water not just the day of a race but the day before too. If you wake up in the morning and your piss is dark yellow and smells then you're dehydrated.
Best advice right there. I load up on carbs the day before but fall short the day of due to nerves....i don't eat a thing the day of the race cuz of nerves but after the last moto and I wind down i eat like a horse! I do snack on fruit during the day of the race, grapes and/or cherries and stay hydrated. I believe cardio, like others have metnioned is the way to go. going to start biking once the roads free up from crap and see how it does. Probably still get last but have lots of energy!! LOL
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Arm pump... what is that? hahaha
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Arm pump... what is that? hahaha
Arm pump? Never touched the stuff!
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Absolutely no caffeine.
Those Monster/Rockstar/Redbull sponsored riders are barely even drinking that crap when they hand them one after a moto. It's all for show and advertising. All those things do is
I think mountain biking or cycling is the best workout for riding. Look at all the MX and ATV pro riders on Instagram, they've all got Trek or Specialized bikes and they're constantly riding them. Johnny G, Borch, Weinen and all those guys cycle together during the offseason
Running is very hard on my joints, especially my feet and knees. If I run it's on an elliptical where there's no shock on my joints. But yes it can be boring
Eggs, oatmeal, fruit, and lots of water not just the day of a race but the day before too. If you wake up in the morning and your piss is dark yellow and smells then you're dehydrated.
Haha, they don't drink ANY energy drink after the race, its water in a Redbull, Monster etc. can.
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OK - I have been following this thread & was really curious as to every one's personal opinion on this subject matter. I have been really fortunate to have been able to race quads & 3 wheelers in a wide variety of different types of racing(MX, TT, Scrambles & various lengths of Desert Endurance races) over the last 4 years. Without going into a lot of details, let me just say that I have a bit of an educational back ground in the health industry(both books & hands on) and have enjoyed experimenting with different endurance/strength theories as they pertain to exercise & supplements especially as it relates to my hobby - RACING. I first want to say that no two people are a like and that there are millions of different theories out there. All this being said, I personally try to stay away from caffeine in my own personal daily life, not because I believe it to be a terrible thing but because I can quickly get immune to its effects - I choose to want to get it's effect when I need it most(RACING). I do believe that caffeine can & will dehydrate most of us but those dehydrating effects usually take about 45 minutes to start taking effect. However the rush(caffeine high) that most of us feel after caffeine enters our system usually takes effect in only about 10-15 minutes - at least that is when I tend to start feeling "amped up". Now if I know that a race that I am about to participate in is going to last less than 20 minutes I like to take a caffeine supplement a few minutes prior to the start because I like the extra energy and focus that I feel. If I know that a race is going to last more than 30 minutes I will not bother with taking caffeine prior to the race because I believe that its dehydrating properties will take effect during the race. Getting dehydrated during a race is one of the worst things that one can do to his or her performance. It sucks trust me!
To sum it all up, Short Races I choose to take caffeine and long races I stay away from caffeine. Either way, more importantly drink lots of water before, after and some times even during a race. FYI- In my opinion there are way healthier/better things than caffeine that a person can take prior to a race especially when compared to the main stream energy drinks - but that is a completely different conversation! From one racer to others that is my opinion take it or leave it.