Crack works better
http://i.huffpost.com/gen/1447457/th...K-facebook.jpg

Less offensive but still makes the point. My apologies to those who were offended by the earlier image. Sorry.

:roflmao:

I cant use that stuff on a bike ride, especially when it is hot. The energy boost really does not make a difference with me. And yes, a "niacin flush" is bad stuff when you are already digging into your endurance stores. If I want caffeine I'll do a Dew.

The high schools/RT institutes I worked at barred these things for a reason.

However, I'm a bit of a coffee nut (bean), but stay away from caffeine on rides/runs. The diuretic qualities offset all the boosting effects.

I used to use similar products in another life (way back in college round 1), they were fine for studying if used in moderation but the heavy caffeine side effects that have already been covered by other posters here make me suspicious of the idea of using such products for physical activities... and the taste of 5-hour in particular is BLECH IMO.

I usually try to stick to tea or ice tea for my caffeine fix. Mountain Dew is a steady winner for me. I'll drink a Red Bull once in a blue moon. Monster and Rockstar tend to make me pee quite a bit after drinking one.

I did happen upon a guy snorting cocaine on the MTB trail a couple months back, then he took off bombing a hill. Whatever floats his boat I guess.

I prefer Fanta soda on long bike rides for that extra boost of sugar & a little caffine.

That said, personally I'd rather do what MTB guy was doing on the trail than drink any of that 5 Hour Energy stuff. Probably safer for me.

I liked the old one better :(

Maybe Lance could chime in on this. My bad.

Ahh, a true classic and vintage guy!

I've had 5HE various times. Once was after working a nightshift on a project, took a 5HE right after and had to drive an hour to the airport and was hoping to stay awake until the late afternoon so I could assimilate back to normal time...well, I got to the airport but was asleep within 15 minutes of getting on the plane. Hardly 5 hours worth of energy. Other times...eh. I guess it helps? What I object to is paying $$ for fancy pee, cause all those B vitamins won't be absorbed by your body and will just get flushed right out. Also, coffee tastes better. I stay far away from energy drinks like red bull and monster. IMO they taste like **** and they are terrible for you

I find the stuff to be pretty much like odd tasting water. But I drink coffee the way we had it in the army - just this side of pudding.

So did I brother, so did I ;)

http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:A...1MEvZoLWkFeldE

Caffeine by itself isn't a strong diuretic, but is typically ingested with a quantity of water as a vehicle which doesn't contain enough minerals to allow the body to retain the water, which readily gets flushed to the bladder in order to maintain the blood's critical mineral balance.

Caffeine de-regulates the adrenal glands, maintaining a continuous high adrenaline level, which is bad for maintaining transient blood pressure response. A fainting sensation (lo-pressure "rush") when standing can be the result, which I suggest may be detrimental to one's work efficiency and perceived "energy" over any longer period of time.
I found medical literature from about 70 years ago which described such adrenal insufficiency in detail, supposedly made worse by the ingestion of sugar.

Beet juice- works like natural EPO- increases oxygen metabolism.

I still won't drink it.

When I worked 3rd shift I'd get drowsy on the drive home, if I was feeling tired at lunch time I'd drink a 5HE and it would get me home without falling asleep at the wheel. By then it was almost done and I'd go to bed as soon as I got home. Never made me jittery but I wouldn't drink them on a daily basis. Tastes AWFUL which is probably a good thing. I'd never use them when doing strenuous activity though.

Me three.

I'm starting to regret being sorry I asked.

I got a bottle of 5 hr energy with my last set of tires. We must be shopping on the same website. I drank it before a race last month and honestly couldn't feel any effect at all. First time I ever tried the stuff. I don't know if it helped or not. Tasted like crap.

The true classic and vintage riders did amphetamines.

http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/...n_1812015c.jpg

How do you know that you were not the control and received the placebo?

That's what the they said about the acid tabs at the festival last year....oh wait, someones at the door

http://www.geeksofdoom.com/GoD/img/2...rs-533x209.jpg


Seriously, the body wants to sleep or stop because it needs rest or it's out of fuel.....not drugs. Feed it, water it, replenish lost minerals and if you bonk, stop and get some ice-cream. Can't imagine how the stuff could be anything but harmful.

I put the use of stuff on the same level as Crack, Meth & Bath Crystals (which you could buy in the same store that sold you 5HE until a year ago)

I put a granola bar in the saddle bag if I need a extra mile or two.

I got both. During the study, none of the personnel knew which was which. When the study was over they confirmed that my suspicions were correct. The sensation I experienced with the juice was an increase in blood flow to my upper body as if I had done a mild workout with dumbbells. I had to complete walking tests and tests on a recumbent bicycle while they measured my VO2 intake. Sorry, I can't share any more information about the study at this time.

Yes, it turns your urine pink and they tell you that on the label.

I remember amphetamines... but barely because we also had pot. I still drink coffee.