Professional cyclists drinking coke

Con41 · 20-07-2013 10:53PM #1

Just curious - I've noticed that professional cyclists drink coke to quench their thirst. I would have thought that they would only drink energy drinks. Any idea why - stupid question I know but just curious!!!

IM0 · 20-07-2013 10:54PM

when you spend 5 hours a day drinking energy drinks and popping gels youll realise

happyoutscan · 20-07-2013 10:56PM

IM0 wrote: »

when you spend 5 hours a day drinking energy drinks and popping gels youll realise

I'm curious too and you haven't answered the ops question? I'm assuming sugar?

Darkglasses · 20-07-2013 10:57PM

It's very tasty, full of sugar and more importantly, caffeine. And it's easy on the stomach, which can feel a bit dodgy after a few gels and bars and stuff.

Eamonnator · 20-07-2013 10:57PM

Because ice cold Coke tastes good.

IM0 · 20-07-2013 11:02PM

happyoutscan wrote: »

I'm curious too and you haven't answered the ops question? I'm assuming sugar?

I meant drinking sports drinks and popping gels and eating fake bars all day eventually makes you feel yucky, you get sic of it and coke is a nice change too full of sugar, gives you a nice lift. its a psyhchological thing mostly

Brian? · 20-07-2013 11:04PM

It's nice. Really nice. The fizz is really nice on a dry mouth.

Also Coke sponsor the Tour so it's the only fizzy drink they can hand out.

IM0 · 20-07-2013 11:06PM

Brian? wrote: »

It's nice. Really nice. The fizz is really nice on a dry mouth.

Also Coke sponsor the Tour so it's the only fizzy drink they can hand out.

I doubt that somehow, its not like any other products the riders consume is strictly controlled by the tour, unless youre talking about the red bottles? thats not coke in it its just branding with a bottle full of their usual water, the only coke they have are those small little cans occasionally when they are in the break usually

moby2101 · 20-07-2013 11:07PM

After 5 - 6 hours in a hunched over position your stomach "flattens"..

A fizzy drink "blows" out your stomach to its proper size..

ThisRegard · 20-07-2013 11:20PM

Darkglasses wrote: »

It's very tasty, full of sugar and more importantly, caffeine.

Absolutely, nothing better than an ice cold can of coke when you're really out on your feet, particularly in hot weather.

Edit, luckily I read my post over before posting, autocorrect substituted come for coke, now that would have been embarrassing.

bazermc · 20-07-2013 11:24PM

Con41 wrote: »

Just curious - I've noticed that professional cyclists drink coke to quench their thirst. I would have thought that they would only drink energy drinks. Any idea why - stupid question I know but just curious!!!

Simple coke is an energy drink!

Captain Havoc · 21-07-2013 01:52AM

I heard on some programme it's just for the mind, I'd say gels and powder mixtures must drive racers demented every day.

dastardly00 · 21-07-2013 01:57AM

IM0 wrote: »

I doubt that somehow, its not like any other products the riders consume is strictly controlled by the tour, unless youre talking about the red bottles? thats not coke in it its just branding with a bottle full of their usual water, the only coke they have are those small little cans occasionally when they are in the break usually

The red bottles available on the motorbikes are Vittel water.

I saw a rider drinking Fanta at the end of a stage, although that is made by Coca-Cola.

petethedrummer · 21-07-2013 05:00AM

Con41 wrote: »

Just curious - I've noticed that professional cyclists drink coke to quench their thirst. I would have thought that they would only drink energy drinks. Any idea why - stupid question I know but just curious!!!

its all sugary water. coke is the nicest of the sugary waters.

velopeloton · 21-07-2013 08:17AM

When it's hot, there is nothing better than a cold coke. Plus all that sugar and caffeine gives you a real boost. If I'm doing any big climbs in the heat along with two bidons I take a can of coke or sometimes fill one of the bidons with coke.

Bugsy2000 · 21-07-2013 08:34AM

When running marathons & ultras we'd often arrange to have bottles of flat Coke positioned late in the course.

When your body is flagging there's nothing better for a kick than the sugar & caffeine rush from Coke (and you don't need to be dealing with the fizz at that stage).

XtotheZ · 21-07-2013 09:05AM

replace depleted glycogen stores with all the suger in it

NS77 · 21-07-2013 10:00AM

I read somewhere that some teams give their riders soft drinks like this because they're full of phosphates which help aid recovery....

feck sake lads · 21-07-2013 10:18AM

us auld guys have been using coke as an energy drink this past 30 years
half coke half water pinch salt.:cool:

Ole Rodrigo · 21-07-2013 10:33AM

feck sake lads wrote: »

us auld guys have been using coke as an energy drink this past 30 years
half coke half water pinch salt.:cool:

Jaysus. Eye of a toad too ?

magicbastarder · 21-07-2013 10:36AM

dastardly00 wrote: »

I saw a rider drinking Fanta at the end of a stage, although that is made by Coca-Cola.

can't remember if it's fanta or club orange, but one of those two is about one and a half times as sugary as coke; a coke can is 139 calories, but fanta or club is aroun 190 or 200 i think.

worth reading up about the history of fanta too.

String · 21-07-2013 11:57AM

I'm pretty sure its flat coke as fizzy coke would surely do them more harm than good in the middle of a race.

ThisRegard · 21-07-2013 12:00PM

How would they flatten it, they get unopened cans don't they? Yesterday I saw a rider take a can from a spectator, crack it open and glug it down.

RobFowl · 21-07-2013 12:03PM

Tastes nice and has sugar and caffeine. Ideal at the tail end of a hot stage. suspect its as simpe as that.

String · 21-07-2013 12:14PM

ThisRegard wrote: »

How would they flatten it, they get unopened cans don't they? Yesterday I saw a rider take a can from a spectator, crack it open and glug it down.

I'm sure coca cola would supply flat coke canned to professional teams. Its not unusual for professional teams to get special treatment from corporations like coca cola. We see them drinking it, free marketing, which this post proves. Also I doubt that was a spectator, it was probably a team helper.

It could be fizzy but I wouldn't think that's a good idea considering the effects it would have on the stomach which I think would affect them more than help.

ThisRegard · 21-07-2013 12:17PM

Nah, pretty sure it was a spectator, she was offering it to anyone who wanted it. The fizziness is part of what makes it refreshing, I'd be surprised if they had a separate line of non carbonated coke but who knows.

The tax man · 21-07-2013 12:44PM

ThisRegard wrote: »

Nah, pretty sure it was a spectator, she was offering it to anyone who wanted it. The fizziness is part of what makes it refreshing, I'd be surprised if they had a separate line of non carbonated coke but who knows.

Spotted that myself and iirc it looked like a larger can than the standard 330ml.

ThisRegard · 21-07-2013 12:47PM

Yeah, it was a regular sized 500ml or whatever it is, not one of the mini ones.

Jawgap · 21-07-2013 01:36PM

NS77 wrote: »

I read somewhere that some teams give their riders soft drinks like this because they're full of phosphates which help aid recovery....

magicbastarder wrote: »

can't remember if it's fanta or club orange, but one of those two is about one and a half times as sugary as coke; a coke can is 139 calories, but fanta or club is aroun 190 or 200 i think.

worth reading up about the history of fanta too.

Phosphates and sugar (all that corn syrup!!) - Fanta was in vogue for a while because it's phosphate content was higher.

Just don't chug it all in one go after a long cycle or you will know the true meaning of the words 'gastric distress.'

el tel · 21-07-2013 01:43PM

They should drink Mountain Dew on the climbs, Dr Pepper during recovery and Club when they are back home...riding with their club.

Brian? · 21-07-2013 03:38PM

Jawgap wrote: »

Phosphates and sugar (all that corn syrup!!) - Fanta was in vogue for a while because it's phosphate content was higher.

Just don't chug it all in one go after a long cycle or you will know the true meaning of the words 'gastric distress.'

No corn syrup in Europeon Coke. All sugar. US coke is the only one with corn syrup, possibly Canadian as well.

Strangely, in Arizona you can get Mexican coke that's made with sugar like here. People go mad for it.

You also get pepsi throwback which is made with sugar instead of corn syrup. Which to anyone outside the US is simply Pepsi.

My knowledge of cola products appears to be quite broad, which is odd given how rarely I drink it.

Anyway, as I said; cyclists drink it cause it's lovely.

Professional cyclists drinking coke

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