It’s obviously not the best choice after a workout but there are occasions where it is all I have available. Does the H20 (even though it’s carbonated) offset the diarrhetic effect of the caffeine?
And didn’t I read somewhere the caffeine may not have quite the diarrhetic effect once thought?
DURING exercise, caffeine ceases to function as a diuretic. Not sure why (increased bp, increased hr, stress?), but whatever the reason, it doesn’t. So you won’t have to pee any more during the race because of that cup of coffee than if you didn’t have it. Leading up to the race, however, is a different story…
As a post workout drink, it would be hard to think of anything much worse than Diet Coke – no sugar, caffeine, and all those preservatives. I would imagine it would be pretty close to break-even (you’ll be no better or worse off than if you didn’t drink it).
Out of curiosity, why is it the only thing available?
I’m not so sure caffiene doesn’t have diuretic effects during workouts. In my experience, caffiene during workouts is the devil for the GI effects (maybe that’s different than making you pee). Once I stopped wiht the caffienated GU duruing long runs, the GI problems ceased.
Diet Coke bad. Water good.
I always thought that the caffine was going to out weigh the hydrating effects. Also I think that the artificial sweetener will kill you. Drinking diet because it has ‘less calories’ and going out and eatign gels in a race is like being a vegetarian because meat is murder and wearing leather shoes.
you don’t have to listen to me. Beer is often my recovery drink of choice.
It’s not quite the “only” thing available but I’ve gotten in the habit of grabbing a Blimpie sandwich with a big 44oz soda at lunch. If I work out before that I still get the soda but I guess I should be going with water or sports drink. Thanks for the help.
FWIW - This study was in an article on a coffee website but I have read other things that say similar things
“Dr. Armstrong noted that, “…virtually no evidence exists in the scientific literature that caffeine exaggerates dehydration and electrolyte loss to the point that it impairs exercise performance.” He told the science writers that neither athletes nor recreational enthusiasts will incur detrimental fluid-electrolyte imbalances if they drink caffeinated beverages in moderation and eat a well-balanced diet.”
http://coffeescience.org/media/athletic
Ah, I would just give up the 44 oz (44oz! Holy!) coke of any kind 
Caffeine makes you #2 for sure (at least coffee does). That is NOT the same as diuretic – diuretic means " Tending to increase the discharge of urine."
Coffee definitely makes you go out both ends, so make sure you crap before your race as the profound influence on the GI tract is not mitigated by exercise…
no shit!!! ba dum bump, ching.
Yeah, duece or no duece, caffienated make me go poop…so no caffiene anymore for me…I can’t be the only one. Why am I telling you all this…Maybe that’s a subject for a new thread: “Why are slowtwitchers so quick to expose deep secrets of their lives for people they don’t really know to read?”
Most cyclists I know, prior to a race, pop caffeine pills. It is a legal PED, and it really works.
Diet Coke has phosphoric acid with prevents absorbtion of calcium into your bones - which concerns me much more.
Pre hydrate properly, and consumption of Diet Coke will not really be an issue.
WADA has a blood concentration limit, though, don’t they? So you can’t take like 100 (although that would make you too jittery to even get on your bike… I know they did for rowing, but that is a 6 minute race, so maybe the rules are different. I know it applies to track runners too.
I think WADA got rid of the upper limit of caffeine
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yo.
“. Research published in the European Journal of Epidemiology (15:181-188, 1999) estimated the diuretic effects of various beverages. The study estimated that for every caffeinated beverage consumed, urinary output is increased by 1.17 milliliters per milligram of caffeine. In other words, a 12-ounce beverage containing 31 milligrams of caffeine would result in the excretion of just 1 ounce more in the urine than would normally occur.”
enjoy that diet coke, bro.