Does Cycling Have a Drinking Problem?
#101
Clark W. Griswold




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Bikes: Foundry Chilkoot Ti W/Ultegra Di2, Salsa Timberjack Ti, Cinelli Mash Work RandoCross Fun Time Machine, 1x9 XT Parts Hybrid, Co-Motion Cascadia, Specialized Langster, Phil Wood Apple VeloXS Frame (w/DA 7400), R+M Supercharger2 Rohloff, Habanero Ti 26
#103
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2012
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From: Tallahassee, FL
When I was young, before rechargeable batteries and LEDs, we rode in a multitude of enhanced states and never had lights. Looking back I can't imagine how we did it. I suspect younger eyes may see better at night.
#104
Senior Member



Joined: Jul 2006
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From: Jacksonville, FL
Bikes: Trek Checkmate, Lynskey Elysium, Trek FX 5 Sport
I don't have an alcohol issue, I have an ice cream issue, but there is not an official group for that. You just have to go cold turkey to kick the habit.
#105
Senior Member

Joined: Jan 2014
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From: Southern California, USA
Bikes: 1979 Raleigh Team 753
Some people drink and post. That might be a problem for them. I am not aware of those that drink and ride although I might have done it 40 years ago just because I didn't have a car.
#106
Full Member
Joined: Mar 2022
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I quit drinking about 20 years ago because someone in my family had a problem and I didn't want to encourage them. I never had a good experience drinking myself, so I didn't miss it. 17 years ago, I planted a vineyard on my property. The vines I planted were labeled as seedless tablegrapes, but they turned out to be three varieties of wine grapes. Some are eaten nevertheless. The first couple years I tried juicing them and freezing the juice, but I had trouble with it souring. I tried canning them in mason jars, but didn't like the cooked taste or the added sugar necessary to prevent watering them down. So I started fermenting them. My vineyard matured to produce two cases of wine each year. I don't drink any of it, so over the years I've accumulated quite a lot. What should I do with it?
I can't relate this to cycling except that I can't imagine wanting to ride a bicycle after even a little bit of alcohol consumption. If I were to drink just 9 ounces of a weak beer like Pabst or Coors, my body responds with vasodilation. My face and neck turn red. My temporal arteries start to throb. I get a vasodilation headache. It's uncomfortable. It doesn't make me want to do anything active. I like to ride a bicycle when I'm feeling well, not jacked up with toxin.
Alcohol is the toxic waste of yeast that ferment sugars. Historically, it's been meaningful for food preservation because this toxic waste is uninhabitable by bacteria that would cause spoilage. That's how I'm preserving my grapes. I don't know who could safely consume the grapes in this condition though.
I can't relate this to cycling except that I can't imagine wanting to ride a bicycle after even a little bit of alcohol consumption. If I were to drink just 9 ounces of a weak beer like Pabst or Coors, my body responds with vasodilation. My face and neck turn red. My temporal arteries start to throb. I get a vasodilation headache. It's uncomfortable. It doesn't make me want to do anything active. I like to ride a bicycle when I'm feeling well, not jacked up with toxin.
Alcohol is the toxic waste of yeast that ferment sugars. Historically, it's been meaningful for food preservation because this toxic waste is uninhabitable by bacteria that would cause spoilage. That's how I'm preserving my grapes. I don't know who could safely consume the grapes in this condition though.
#107
#108
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For me it's about the taste. Specifically, the bad taste. Bad taste means no reason to drink it. Simple as that. The one and only dip of snuff I tried was Copenhagen. That crap was burning the inside of my lip like fire. I decided right then and there that tobacco products were not for me either. I could just keep putting bubble gum there and be a "poser" instead.
How does this relate to cycling? At a cycling event last year I got a bunch of the Floyd Landis CBD sports energy stuff. Gave it a try. It was nasty! After a couple of swigs, I threw it all away. Same for Nuun or Hammer energy products. I get negative reactions from those.
Cilantro? It taste like soap to me. Don't even get me started on those striped seeds on pizza. The name starts with a C, I think. I start gagging just from the smell. At least I don't have a peanut allergy. I can pig out on Chick-fil-A sandwiches.
Contrary to what some believe, it's not about morality. It's about making good decisions for the individual.
How does this relate to cycling? At a cycling event last year I got a bunch of the Floyd Landis CBD sports energy stuff. Gave it a try. It was nasty! After a couple of swigs, I threw it all away. Same for Nuun or Hammer energy products. I get negative reactions from those.
Cilantro? It taste like soap to me. Don't even get me started on those striped seeds on pizza. The name starts with a C, I think. I start gagging just from the smell. At least I don't have a peanut allergy. I can pig out on Chick-fil-A sandwiches.

Contrary to what some believe, it's not about morality. It's about making good decisions for the individual.
#109
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#112
Senior Member




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In other words, it's only happening in your imagination.
This is sooo on-brand for you, as you've often displayed a weird persecution complex.
This is sooo on-brand for you, as you've often displayed a weird persecution complex.
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#113
The BBC article and The New York Times article I linked to describe health advisories from the Canadian and US Governments, respectively.
It has nothing to do with moralization. It has to do with alcohol's carcinogenic properties.
It has nothing to do with moralization. It has to do with alcohol's carcinogenic properties.
Last edited by Polaris OBark; 01-22-23 at 11:43 AM.
#114
Gruppetto Bob




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From: Seattle-ish
Bikes: Orbea Orca, Bianchi Infinito & Campione de Mundo
^ Maybe you two need your own forum and leave the rest of us in peace.
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#115
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From: Mississauga/Toronto, Ontario canada
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#116
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That's science, not morality.
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#117
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From: Mississauga/Toronto, Ontario canada
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#118
Clark W. Griswold




Joined: Mar 2014
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Bikes: Foundry Chilkoot Ti W/Ultegra Di2, Salsa Timberjack Ti, Cinelli Mash Work RandoCross Fun Time Machine, 1x9 XT Parts Hybrid, Co-Motion Cascadia, Specialized Langster, Phil Wood Apple VeloXS Frame (w/DA 7400), R+M Supercharger2 Rohloff, Habanero Ti 26
Yes but you are drinking 3 beers a day as stated earlier claiming it is better than 3 shots of whiskey which science has proven is false. I would say if you are having to drink 3 beers a day you might have a fuzzier line. I would say 3 beers once and while not so bad but people having to have a decent amount of alcohol daily really should consider their health in all of this. Maybe no friends, maybe no family but you might want to live a while and ride more bikes and make more posts here. Maybe not in the end it is your call.
#119
Gruppetto Bob




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From: Seattle-ish
Bikes: Orbea Orca, Bianchi Infinito & Campione de Mundo
According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), a standard drink contains around 14 grams (0.6 ounces) of pure alcohol.1 In the U.S., this can generally be found in:1
- 12 ounces of beer, or one bottle at 5% ABV. (Alcohol by Volume)
- 8 ounces of malt liquor at 7% ABV.
- 5 ounces of wine at 12% ABV.
- 1.5 ounces of hard liquor, or one shot, at 40% ABV.
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“A watt saved is a watt earned” 🚴🏻♂️
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#120
Banned
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From: Mississauga/Toronto, Ontario canada
Bikes: I have 3 singlespeed/fixed gear bikes
Yes but you are drinking 3 beers a day as stated earlier claiming it is better than 3 shots of whiskey which science has proven is false. I would say if you are having to drink 3 beers a day you might have a fuzzier line. I would say 3 beers once and while not so bad but people having to have a decent amount of alcohol daily really should consider their health in all of this. Maybe no friends, maybe no family but you might want to live a while and ride more bikes and make more posts here. Maybe not in the end it is your call.
#121
Clark W. Griswold




Joined: Mar 2014
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From: ,location, location
Bikes: Foundry Chilkoot Ti W/Ultegra Di2, Salsa Timberjack Ti, Cinelli Mash Work RandoCross Fun Time Machine, 1x9 XT Parts Hybrid, Co-Motion Cascadia, Specialized Langster, Phil Wood Apple VeloXS Frame (w/DA 7400), R+M Supercharger2 Rohloff, Habanero Ti 26
https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/alcohols-e...standard-drink.
Yes if I was drinking 12oz of whiskey that would be a lot of alcohol but comparing a standard beer to a standard 1.5oz of whiskey it is the exact same.
#122
Sunshine
Joined: Aug 2014
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From: Des Moines, IA
Bikes: '18 class built steel roadbike, '19 Fairlight Secan, '88 Schwinn Premis , Black Mountain Cycles Monstercross V4, '89 Novara Trionfo
But event if it's 5%, then you are getting 0.6oz of alcohol in a 12oz beer if it's 5% alcohol.
For a shot of 40% alcohol, you are getting 0.6oz of alcohol in a shot.
of course this is all highly meaningless since beer can be higher or lower in alcohol by volume, and liquor can be higher or lower than 80proof/40%.
#123
just another gosling


Joined: Feb 2007
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From: Everett, WA
Bikes: CoMo Speedster 2003, Trek 5200, CAAD 9, Fred 2004
I usually have one beer a week, a social beer with my riding buds after the ride. I find that one beer kills the pain in my legs. However that's the only day of the week when I go hard enough to need that beer, so that's it for my drinking.
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Results matter
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#124
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#125
Senior Member


Joined: Oct 2014
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From: Portland, OR
Bikes: (2) ti TiCycles, 2007 w/ triple and 2011 fixed, 1979 Peter Mooney, ~1983 Trek 420 now fixed and ~1973 Raleigh Carlton Competition gravel grinder
Edit: Now in my college sailboat racing days, we traveled to at least one state where the beer was 3.2%. A long time ago.





