anyone else noticed that shortly after having a drink of redbull in training or a race that they had heaps more energy straight after?
I read a race report from Brian Shea of Personal Best Nutrition. He mentioned usng red bull during IMH as part of his bike nutrition plan.
Here is his web site, he may still have the report posted. http://www.personalbestnutrition.com/cgi-bin/pbn/index.html
The first time I had a Red Bull, it was on the way to my favorite local mountainbike trail. I felt like I just consumed some kind combination espresso, jolt cola, and liquid crack. I absolutely CRUSHED my normal times on that ride.
But most of the time I’ve tried it since, I have had stomach problems. When I don’t have stomach problems, I definitely notice more energy.
I drink the stuff, but have never noticed an increase in performance. I think it’s hype and marketing gibberish. I do love the taste … like liquid Sweet tarts.
one word…caffeine
.
I have a 2 yr old son who bounces off the walls (no he doesn’t drink red bull, doesn’t need it.) I don’t drink the stuff before workouts (although, I can’t believe I haven’t tried it)…I usually drink it “AFTER” my hard morning workouts (on the weekend), so that I can keep up with him and my other family obligations for the remainder of the day. Red Bull rocks…oh yea, sugar free has a lot “less” of a crash.
someone mentioned caffeine. my mom seems to be genetically immune to the effects of caffeine. she used to drink 6 double espressos. a day. one before going to bed. when I take caffeine (which is rare), I don’t exactly bounce off walls. Red Bull hasn’t had that effect on me, either. however, there are individual differences in responses to drugs, stimulants, etc, and I’m sure some people find Red Bull helpful.
Redbull is a huge part of my work out routine. I get off work at around 6:30 or 7 and the last thing I want to do is hit the gym. On my way to the gym or pool I pick up a Red Bull and within 10 or 15 minutes I have the energy to get a good workout.
I have found that if I have a red bull then try and run straight away I cramp badly. I need about 15 minutes to digest it a bit. I’ll do two of them sometimes if I’m really shot. Once they are in me I have no choice. Workout hard or stay up all night.
I feel the same way about coffee, red bull is just easier to get and drink quickly. Caffeine is a miracle drug for me.
There are only 80 mgs of caffeine in a can of Red Bull. It’s something else…
I use it and notice more of an “alert” feeling, than a caffeine feeling. I’m always in a better mood after a can, and this helps my workouts/races.
Jimtraci
I drank a Red Bull once when I had a long drive to do. Had it at about 6 p.m., was home at 10 p.m., didn’t sleep all night. I won’t drink it again. I can drink coffee before bed and sleep just fine, but I didn’t like Red Bull.
I’m a Red Bull addict. It rules.
As others in this thread have pointed out, it is as much or more about fashion than function though. There really isn’t much caffeine- about like coffee I guess.
Maybe the other stuff in there- Taurine (whatever that is), etc. does something good. Also, the combination of like carbonation and stimulants seems like a good combination for me.
Coca-Cola sponsored a study on sports drinks years ago (that resulted in Powerade I think) that showed that light carbonation increased fluid absorption. Hmmm.
Anyway, I drink a lot of Red Bull. I like it. I also think it is like liquid Viagra. Drink one before sex and you’re good for, like, four times no problem.
Try it.
I can’t drink it after work because I won’t be able to sleep at night. However, there is nothing better in the morning after a long run before you go in to work. I love the stuff, just wish it wasn’t so dang expensive.
Kevin
You’re right about that. If you drink it too late- bad. Guaranteed all-nighter. Not good. It is absurdly expensive too. Sometimes we can get it at Sam’s Club (like Costco) for about $1.25 a can. I think I paid $4.00 for a can somewhere in Europe once.
-Couldn’t find it anywhere in Nice, France. Was I looking in the wrong places? In Thailand it comes in little glass bottles.
Damn, I want some now…
That’s because sale of Red Bull has been banned in France.
I found the canned variety for sale in Calgary for the first time this fall - we have some law or other that forbids the sale of caffeinated beverages that are not dark, don’t know how exactly Red Bull finally got approved for sale here. We’ve had the little glass bottles for a couple years though.
banned in France? is this for some sort of health-related reason or this the French just being, well, French? And what is with the no caffeine without a dark color issue? Can anyone explain this?
banned in france? really? ha that is funny- but of course you can buy absinthe! but I wouldn’t recommend that for improving your endurance.
I just can’t stomach the red bull and the run- way too much carbonation and sugar. would much rather just have a dark-roast coffee to get charged up- plus, you’re right, it does get expensive for those little cans
Re: Canadian caffeine regulations (if it has a light color, no caffeine)
Very few Canadians are aware of this rule and fewer still can explain it. My understanding is that it was supposed to make it easier for parents to buy non-caffeinated drinks for kids - but I stand to be corrected. So, for instance, Mountain Dew in Canada has no caffeine and we find US American advertising for MD nonsensical. I believe the rule has either been changed or will be changed since it is, essentially, nutty.
When Red Bull started being sold here in corner stores, there were quite a few negative health stories in the news: that it was wrongly promoted as a health product, that it was under-tested, that it could aggravate heart problems, that it could be harmful for athletes.
There are only 80 mgs of caffeine in a can of Red Bull. It’s something else…
I use it and notice more of an “alert” feeling, than a caffeine feeling. I’m always in a better mood after a can, and this helps my workouts/races.
Yup… it’s mostly sugar that people feel… just like a Dew/Jolt/etc. JB
Once had about ten Red Bull and Vodkas while sitting at the Black Jack table in Vegas. It was the weirdest buzz. Felt like my head was going to explode.
Must have helped my performance though as I was up a grand.
i dont think its the sugar affecting you. im diabetic and i have red bull before going into town or at all nite dance parties if i have to stay up. this is the sugar free variety. on a ride ill have normal stuff and notice same effect. i can definitely tell how sugar works on my body and it definitely wasn’t so much the sugar on my ride that helped as it was something else.