Maybe a lot of mine is genetics, dunno, but I did almost totally eliminate soda... average 3 20-oz. bottles in 2 months. But I still drink a lot of coffee.
When I ride, (except for now, nursing the ankle) I ride hard, HR about 145-150 (I'm creepin up on 51 in about 7 weeks), 20+ min for a commute, 2+ hours for a fun ride. (fun rides usually stop about Halloween.)
The other day, in a lot of pain with the ankle, I was at 118/82, and that's high for me.
No, I'm not rubbing it in. I just credit it all to the bike. It's changed my life!