Creatre

Most cyclists shouldn't have those problems anyways because of the amount of exercise we do. So not really benefits if you are less likely to have those problems even without drinking coffee.

IMO, there is no reason to drink coffee other than it's good to taste and nice in the morning. I don't care if people have a couple of cups a day. Many of the pro cyclists even have coffee every morning. Just not for me, I'm fine on water or milk with my breakfast.

CdCf

I was a serious caffeine addict, without even knowing it, in my early teens. I consumed large amounts of caffeinated soda, yet I never made the connection to my roughly twice-weekly migraine attacks. At 15, I quit cold turkey for a different reason, and apart from feeling less general anxiety (which was the actual goal), I only had a migraine about once a month, or even less frequent.

These days, I don't drink coffee, tea or any caffeinated soft drinks. In this nation of coffee drinkers, you're really only offered coffee as a hot drink if you visit people or places, so I always feel discriminated against!

Still, I do get some caffeine from cocoa and chocolate, I suppose...

FreeSpirit10

I like a good espresso (single shot only) every once in awhile, but I don't have much trouble going without it. I only have it 2-3 days per week at most.

All things in moderation, but when I want caffeine, I want CAFFEINE in concentrated form (Espresso, never coffee).

I never really got into coffee, I just went straight to espresso. Maybe that's why I'm not hooked on caffeine, because I never feel like I need "another" on the few days that I drink it. People who drink coffee might be more likely to have a second cup, and that might reinforce it into becoming a long-term habit. Just a theory though, don't quote me on that.

PS: @ CdCf, nice sig. I love that show, it's hilarious.

chadteck

I've recently started drinking coffee after abstaining from caffeine for nearly 10 years and my experience has been pretty good. I started drinking it again because I read several articles about the health benefits.

I usually have 1-2 cups in the morning and it seems that since I've started drinking it, I've been able to get to sleep more consistently. I'm not sure why, but the coffee seems to concentrate my energy to the morning and afternoon and by the time night comes around, I'm starting to slow down. I seem to be able to push myself a bit harder on my morning rides when I've had coffee.

It seems to have a different effect on active vs. non-active people. When I drank coffee years ago, I wasn't as active and my energy level was more dependent on caffeine. Now the change in energy level is much more subtle.

gregf83 

Expresso has signifiantly less caffeine than brewed coffee. Starbucks single shot espresso 75mg vs 300 for a Grande.

krazygluon

when I went to OCS I went from being Dunkin Donuts biggest customer (1 lg iced coffee every 1-2 days) along with drinking Monster/Rock star/Red bull/5 hr energy on a 2-3x weekly basis to drinking 0 caffeine for 12 weeks.

I got 0 headaches the whole time for (I think) 2 or 3 reasons.

1. Hydration. I was drinking 1+ gallons of water per day, granted I was sweating a lot of that out.
2. PT early (5am every morning) and often (several 10 minute punishment sessions throughout the day till 5pm)
(3.) Eating everything and anything they would put on my plate and still having a calorie deficiency.

I think this caused a sort of flush where the caffeine detox symptoms were pretty much eliminated or masked by everything else going on in my body.

Now I can drink caffeine/energy drinks as I please, but I've also figured out that being awake/alert is more a function of sleep, willpower and metabolism than it is one little molecule.

I drink my morning cup of coffee and lunch time diet-drink more for flavor than anything else; and I still drink a lot (but not as much) water.

Overall I'd say hydration is key for quitting.

fxdgrjedi

I am an ex-coffee drinker.

I used to dring 5-10 cups a day, all hours of the day. I looooved it and drank it black. A few years ago my body just started reacting weirdly to it. I didnt get headaches or anything, but the buzz and accompaning come-down became more and more servere. I would get super-duper stupid buzzed and then come down and be even more tired than before that cup. While buzzed, it was a very weird feeling in my head and my body. I didnt like it. Throughout the day my energy levels and mental alertness leves would be a rollercoaster. I didnt like it.

I quit coffee cold turkey and experienced the requisite two weeks of hell. After that, I immediatly noticed that my energy and alertness were almost completely consistent. I seemed to have much more energy throughout the day. I slept better and just had a better day.

So theres that...

blueride2

Exactly the point, why quit when the benefits of caffeine consumption outweigh the negatives.

Mr. Cranky

I drink 2-4 cups a day and I've tried to quit a few times, never successful for more than a week or two at most. If I don't have it I'm tired and grumpy. Getting a fresh cup is as good a reason as any to get up and leave your desk at work 2-4 times a day.

koffee brown

I'm stuck waiting at Cricket for my hot spot- and they gave me a notebook with internet- I can't resist this thread!

I'm a big fan of coffee. In fact, I gave up coffee last year to get myself into better shape through a cleanse diet. I almost did not do the cleanse diet when they said I could not have caffeine. But I did- and I jones something serious for coffee, and when the cleanse was over, the coffee was back down the gullet! I tried to do it again this year, but I missed coffee too much. I was getting too irritated, so after about 10 days, I went back to coffee. But my favorite coffee shop just raised their coffee prices, so I'm back on for the perfect coffee hangout where I can get my large medium coffee.
:-/

Anyway, I'm much easier to be around with coffee in my throat. I really mean caffeine, though, since having decaf means nothing. I need to feel alive and coffee does it for me- sometimes several cups. I love my coffee community! Every time I go get my coffee, they know exactly what I want and they give me free refills. I could sit in there all day. I love coffee!

Besides, I'm koffee brown, dammit!

koffee

AngelGendy

I usually don't drink coffee after noon or so. Some days I dont drink it at all.

No trouble sleeping if I do or headaches if I dont drink any.

When I do drink it I drink at least one pot full.

'47

I'm a classroom teacher and find that, just like at the local coffee house, coffee is a verbal lubricant....I become more eloquent and quotable with a cup of coffee in my hand. My students sit smelling the coffee maker and wistfully wishing they were in Starbucks or anywhere else out of earshot from me.

Seriously, I drink a morning cup and a decaffeinated nightly cup and find no problems but much pleasure. I also enjoy coffee icecream, java cookies, etc. My son is a black apron barrista. And I sometimes put Hammer espresso gel in my flask.

For getting to sleep, you might counterbalance the caffeine with sex. The sex will be better and the sleep afterwards sweeter.