Supplements Taken By You Guys?

[clintpatty]

I'm considering some cordyceps and rhodiola and maybe maca to help me ride faster. I rode like 750 miles last month and 580ish so far this month for transportation, so I would save a decent bit of time when I'm not on a scenic ride. Also, there is mounting evidence that beta-alanine is good for cyclists.

[downhillingdemon]

I take...

multivits, occassionally

B vits, occassionally

groundflax - every few days

caffeine - every day

sugar based junk food to up the calories - too often

painkillers - before a long group ride or if i'm gonna have to put the pace on from the start

[Alistar]

Just wondering how has the macca and creatine etc been going Davenoisy after a couple of yrs since you started taking them? Have you had periods off the stuff and then compared the differences etc?

I basically don't take anything etc for a good sports drink and a multi vit, and sometimes spirulina and flaxseed oil.
After I get back from rides I just hoover up any sweet things around the house, and get stuck into my peanut butter and jam sandwhiches

[Dave Noisy]

Maca is a staple for me, helps balance everything nicely.

Creatine is also remaining a regular feature, i really enjoy the extra kick it gives my sprints. =)

Note that every few months you should give yourself a break and stop all these supplements for a week or two at a time..

[flow girl]

Hmmmm ... interesting

I might have missed it in the thread; are you still on the cordyceps, since you found them so useful? I'll google it, I've never even heard of it.

"What is everyone taking to improve their riding?" REALLY good question but I think also is... when.

I suppose, for me, vegan, is/was more about optimal performance... everything I put in is mindful of performance... usually... so I fail to truely realise what you intend... do you mean strictly manufactured products?

[Dave Noisy]

[quote="flow girl"I might have missed it in the thread; are you still on the cordyceps, since you found them so useful? I'll google it, I've never even heard of it.[/quote]
Oh yes, they're still a staple.

I think these fit the bill as you described, as they're all actual 'food' (with the exception of creatine.)

Maca is a ground up tuber (potato). Chlorella is an algae. Cordyceps are a type of fungus.

There aren't isolated compounds, a fruit juice is more degraded in some respects than these (ie, missing fiber, etc..) These are 'whole foods', tho ground and dried.

If you search for cordyceps on here, you'll find a posting i made a while back as well, it's pretty informative. Some stuff on Wikipedia too i'm sure.

[JonJen]

I'm considering some cordyceps and rhodiola and maybe maca to help me ride faster. I rode like 750 miles last month and 580ish so far this month for transportation, so I would save a decent bit of time when I'm not on a scenic ride. Also, there is mounting evidence that beta-alanine is good for cyclists.

I've been taking Rhodiola as well, a Swedish brand called Arctic Root. But it has so darn many "added ingredients" that I really can't get comfortable with it (shellac, made from insects, etc). I've also tried Jarrow, and the best I got from that one was a headache. There's a new Vegan Rhodiola on the market which is very good. It's called MIND BODY & SPIRIT and it has nothing but the Siberian Rhodiola and even the capsule is made entirely from plant chlorophyll (its green!. I like it better than the Arctic Root.

I've found that Rhodiola is best dosed on a 2-3 times a day basis, as opposed to taking the two caps (or whatever for your brand) in the AM or right before a ride or workout. It's more of a daily tonic for my family. We get a huge boost in positive thinking out of it too (have you noticed the great mood uplift from yours?? - this "MBS" is really uplifting).

Anyway, thought I'd add a comment that we found it works better spread out as opposed to a big dose before a workout. Thanks, J.

[flightlessbirds]

Just Maca... but my supply is running low and its @%#$ expensive and I just bought new shifters for my cross bike and I get the feeling by the end of August I'm going to be surviving off the big bag of Emily-can't-budget emergency rice in my cupboard...

[helmut]

i don't take any fitness specific supplements but i do have probiotics (but jeez... the vegan options seem to be 3-4x as much as any other probiotic!!!) once a day and some spirulina when i remember. i eat a lot of raw garlic... does that count? i drink eccinacea (sp?) tea when i feel like i'm getting sick. that's about it! i just try to eat well, whole foods, plenty of veggies. might look into some of these other things though

[Dave Noisy]

Just Maca... but my supply is running low and its @%#$ expensive and I just bought new shifters for my cross bike and I get the feeling by the end of August I'm going to be surviving off the big bag of Emily-can't-budget emergency rice in my cupboard...

Aw - don't sweat the supplements!! Eating whole foods is more important overall, and if you can supplement on top of that, then go for it..

You wouldn't happen to be near Ottawa? (I think you're London, right?)

[clintpatty]

re JonJen:

I used plain rhodiola powder from 1fast400. No added anything, but it tastes pretty bad and doesn't mix. I guess you could also buy veggie caps from them and put it in those. I also got plain beta alanine there for cheap.

[ha]

1000mcg of hydroxycobalimin (b12) via intramuscular injection once a month. I did 6 shots in a month to boost my b12 stores up and now its just maintenance. Anyone can go on mainstream bodybuilding websites and search up 'b12' and youll find some bodybuilders doing 1000mcg everyday but I dont reckon thats needed.

B12 is the only supp I take cos its the only thing in my blood work that ever shows up in the low normal to under normal range. I came from a history of gastric issues as a kid. If I didnt go vegan I probably would never have bothered about getting my b12 levels tested and remained b12 deficient for the rest of my life. My omnivore aunty is in a dementia ward and Im trying to get the docs to get her serum b12 and homocysteine checked but they say 'we feed them a balanced diet, no worries mate!'.

An occasional housemate of mine is a raw meat and dairy eater and he got his serum b12 tested and it was in the low normal range. He said if its still low next time he checks, he is gonna get on the b12 supp wagon. My friend eats a large raw steak a few times a weeks and milk and eggs daily. Yep its disgusting! lol!