The Quote
“May your coffee be strong, and your Monday be short” Anonymous
The Experiment
So I have been experimenting these past few weeks with the legal wonder drug of caffeine, within the context of high output physical activity, mostly aerobic, though with some moments of intense anaerobic stress, on my bike.
First off I need to mention that I am a caffeine addict, and I take full responsibility for this. Often the night before, as I am lying in bed, I am fantasizing about that first cup of coffee in the morning. The ritual, the process, the smell, the taste and the mood adjustment, that almost has me salivating and potentially drooling on the pillow with anticipation. Even as I write these words, I can feel the visceral response in my body.
My curiosity though was more in respect to athletic enhancement, does it, will it, how much, when, how often and why? As everything, there is no specific formula for all of us, it is a process of trial and error to see what for you. It works for me.
The ritual. Pre ride expresso shot, 15 minutes before, as I get ready. Two full water bottles, one with an electrolyte supplement, the other a caffeine based energy blend. I go back and forth between the two during the ride. About an hour in, usually an energy jell, caffeine based, and sometimes another, based on the length of the ride.
Personal results. Allows me to push through the lactic burns more effectively, more sustained high output energy levels, and enhanced cognitive distancing (probably due to all the milligrams of caffeine pumping through my body), followed by post ride water hydration. Sometimes I crash physically hard post ride, sometimes not, no consistency on this one at all.
The Book - Caffeinated by Murray Carpenter
With putting this much caffeine into my body I wanted to have a better idea of the effects, research on caffeine, side effects and anything else that might be useful on my caffeine quest.
I learned a lot from this book, some I already knew, and some that challenged conventionality and what I thought I knew. That there is synthetic caffeine and real. One derived in factories, often in China, the other plant based. The size and scope of the industry, and our addiction as a society, my addiction on a personal level.
A very interesting read. Reads more like a thriller, with lots of caffeine gems along the way. I feel much informed, know what to look for in my caffeine supplementation, and that like everything moderation seems to be a good strategy, except when you want to go fast… 4.5 / 5 a few dry spots along the way.