| I have been asked why I think that cyclists should | | | | 7) It disturbs motor skills including balance and |
| not drink alcohol, and this was my | | | | coordination.There was a study from Pennsylvania |
| response:Although alcohol contains more energy | | | | State where 10 women were given a mixed |
| per gram (7 Cal/gram) than carbohydrates, and it | | | | alcohol drink. Then they made them ride |
| is rapidly absorbed from the intestinal tract, the | | | | stationary bikes for 30 minutes at 70-75% of |
| available evidence suggests these calories are not | | | | their maximum heart rate. Compared to their |
| utilized to any significant extent during exercise. | | | | own baseline performance off alcohol, cycling |
| Thus its negative effects outweigh any theoretical | | | | after drinking alcohol required more energy, |
| positive ones. | | | | produced a higher heart rate, and stimulated a |
| These include: | | | | higher cardiovascular demand. Even moderate |
| 1) It's a diuretic and contributes to dehydration | | | | drinking while exercising placed increased demands |
| 2) Alcohol lowers your blood pressure while | | | | on the cardiovascular system. The bottom line is |
| drinking it | | | | a definite negative influence on cycling |
| 3) After the alcohol is metabolized in the liver and | | | | performance. Now, you would probably want to |
| excreted trough the kidneys the body reacts | | | | ask me: but what's wrong when drinking a few |
| defensively increasing the blood pressure to | | | | glasses of alcohol and not riding until the next day |
| compensate the dehydration, so the body tries to | | | | when the alcohol has been excreted from your |
| retain water doing this which causes not only | | | | body? Alcohol intake affects the brain. The next |
| temporary hypertension and in some people heart | | | | day the brain is dead half the day because of |
| palpitations especially if they are athletes who | | | | blood sugar spikes. This doesn't mean they can't |
| climb in any way, like runner, hikers and cyclists. | | | | ride hard, but it does mean that they can't do |
| 4) It slows down glucose production, causing | | | | much except lay around the rest of the day after |
| hypoglycemia | | | | a ride. Plus they seem to get injured a lot. I would |
| 5) It metabolizes in the liver and destroys hepatic | | | | say a glass of red wine a week with one's dinner |
| cells | | | | is OK and it also depends on how serious the |
| 6) It damages the pancreatic cells as well. | | | | cyclist is about cycling. |