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I was just thinking about it this as I was doing the school run this morning..
Being a reformed intravenous drug user myself, it struck me that it wouldn't have been a huge step (or any step at all) for me to have gotten onto EPO or something in a similar vein (sic) had I been a regular 'cyclist' during the time that I was an habitual drug user..
I'm sure a few of my former compadres raise an eyebrow and have a little wry smile to themselves when they see me pounding up the hills and around town with my fully loaded bike and trailer..
There are many reasons why I would not choose that path now, but have any of you lot ever crossed that particular line and why..?
What were your experiences..?
Beer count?
On a serious note I know of someone who was racing track and road crits a while back who said it was everywhere then and a reason to get out. First thing Richie Porte said to me was look no track marks.
A couple of months ago I asked the same question on here regarding EPO. The response was fairly evenly mixed. I asked because my cycling buddy is a doctor and we had agreed that it would be interesting to try EPO, just to see the effect for ourselves. Dunno if we ever will though; we'd need to find a way of acquiring some without stealing it.
Tesco. Dont over do it though. http://www.tesco.com/groceries/product/details/?id=250283080
Gone for a ride on a comedown, don't think it was performance enhancing though.
I've used extensively.. Coffee and hobnobs that is.
I would imagine most people on here have, unwittingly.
Most over the counter medicines are banned, plus copious amounts of coffee 😆
[url= http://www.outsideonline.com/outdoor-adventure/dropping-in/I-Couldn-t-Be-More-Positive.html ]This might be worth a read[/url]
Outside magazine did an article where a bloke tested quite a few different PE's - I think he said the one thing he'd have continued taking, if he could afford it, would be growth hormone. Something that was noted was that any gains are soon lost once you stop taking whatever it is you're on.
Edit - cookeaa beat me to it.
I've been absolutely baked at the top of a longish climb. Had to have a little lie down in the sun for half an hour.
Tangfastics - I definitely speed up after a couple of those. 😉
I've tried legitimate stimulants for racing - caffeine tablets, nicotine patches etc, but nothing banned!
i'm with cloudnine and balugabob ... 🙂
I'd definitely class caffeine as performance enhancing, not illegal tho.
<edit> Nicotine patches njee? What's it like? Similar stimulant to caffeine? Wouldn't go near the stuff myself mind.
asthma inhaler is good before going on a bike ride. 🙂
Nicotine patches njee? What's it like? Similar stimulant to caffeine? Wouldn't go near the stuff myself mind.
Yes, coach at the time recommended it on the back of a bit of testing that had shown performance increases (increased oxygen uptake IIRC), I was winning races at the time, but I'd be lying if I said I could tell a difference. They were bloody expensive though!
I smoke many fags for the reasons njee20 has listed above
😆
I'm asthmatic, and I always have a couple of blasts from my salbutamol inhaler before a Time Trial, more to ward off an asthma attack than for it's performance enhancing qualities, but it's weird to think I'd be banned if i did that at a UCI event.
There's a guy on our local time trialing scene, and there are rumours about his 'medication'. No ida if they are true or not...
I'm asthmatic, and I always have a couple of blasts from my salbutamol inhaler before a Time Trial, more to ward off an asthma attack than for it's performance enhancing qualities, but it's weird to think I'd be banned if i did that at a UCI event.
You'd have a Theraputic Use Exemption, so it'd be fine. Apparently, salbutamol has no effect on healthy airways, so it's have no effect other than placebo on a non-asthmatic.
I backed off my day-to-day caffeine intake before a couple of longer events, so that the caffeine gels would have a greater effect on the day.
asthma "ventolin" inhaler can now be bought non-prescription form most chemists - always good for a pre ride blast or two 🙂
How much time could I save on a 30km commute?
there's always a funny smell in the air on an uplift day at Innerleithen
Had an aspirin the other week - first one in about 6 years - and coincidentally destroyed my local loop. Felt good all the way round but not in an excitable kind of way
Not sure if aspirin is a performance enhancing drug but there was definitely something going on
I swigged a can of Monster mid-ride the other week. The end result was like that scene from Forest Gump; "Lieutenant Dan, you've got new legs!".
I've tried legitimate stimulants for racing - caffeine tablets, nicotine patches etc, but nothing banned!
Which raises the philosophical question - does taking 'medication' to enhance your performance when not medically required (i.e. paracetamol/ibuprofen, caffeine, inhalers) constitute doping?
I once used amphetamines as an experiment in a local club 10 as a youth. Plan was to deliberately DNF myself before the finish. I didn't do it to get a good result (I used to win the local 10 most weeks anyway and it wasn't a good day for a PB so there was nothing to be gained) but just to see what it was like to ride wired. In the end there was no need to deliberately DNF as a I DNF'ed anyway. One of the worst experiences of my life - it felt like I'd lost control of my heart rate and was in a total mess. Horrible experience. I had to stop and have a quiet word with myself in a ditch at the side of the road whilst I got some semblance of normality back.
It goes down as one of the stupidest things I've ever done.
Not sure if aspirin is a performance enhancing drug but there was definitely something going on
It thins the blood doesn't it, so I'd guess (and it really is just a guess) that it's reducing your red blood cell count, which isn't desirable for performance?
Which raises the philosophical question - does taking 'medication' to enhance your performance when not medically required (i.e. paracetamol/ibuprofen, caffeine, inhalers) constitute doping?
IMO no, no different to using gels, or carb drinks, or saving weight off your bike or using aero kit to within the limits set by the UCI.
For this:
asthma "ventolin" inhaler can now be bought non-prescription form most chemists - always good for a pre ride blast or two
See this:
Apparently, salbutamol has no effect on healthy airways, so it's have no effect other than placebo on a non-asthmatic
Salbutamol or ventolin only works if your bronchial is already in spasm or constricted. It has no effect on a normal non-constricted bronchial. I am asthmatic and I barely notice an effect even when I'm wheezing (other than making me shake like a shitting dog) so any effect you feel is in your head (or you're an asthmatic or COPD sufferer).
as njee says governing body set some rules and you abide by those. Prescription only drugs is more of a grey area but most OTC stuff could be compared to gels energy drinks etc. Training, gears, diet, all sorts of stuff could be considered to be cheating by some of your peers hence the rules.Which raises the philosophical question - does taking 'medication' to enhance your performance when not medically required (i.e. paracetamol/ibuprofen, caffeine, inhalers) constitute doping?
It thins the blood doesn't it, so I'd guess (and it really is just a guess) that it's reducing your red blood cell count, which isn't desirable for performance?
A quick Google suggests that aspirin acts on the platelets rather than the cells so there's a possibility of it improving the flow rather than reducing any oxygen-carrying capacity
Might try another one this weekend!
Within the last year or so there was a study in conjunction with Glasgow Uni and a hospital I think, where you volunteered (cyclists)to get juiced with EPO obvs you agreed to not compete.
It would have been interesting.
I was too old. (37)
Within the last year or so there was a study in conjunction with Glasgow Uni and a hospital I think, where you volunteered (cyclists)to get juiced with EPO obvs you agreed to not compete.
Part of me would be intrigued, but actually I'd just be annoyed by not being able to compete, as I don't think there's any doubt that it would improve performance!
More likely I'd get a placebo, go no faster and still not be allowed to compete!
I read how Duane Chambers injected synthetic insulin as one of the things he took when he was found to be cheating. It half makes me wonder if I might be benefiting in some way (from a short term cycling perspective) by injecting due to being type 1 diabetic. Obviously, given the choice I wouldn't be diabetic.
Which raises the philosophical question - does taking 'medication' to enhance your performance when not medically required (i.e. paracetamol/ibuprofen, caffeine, inhalers) constitute doping?
It's not a philosophical question. There are very specific rules about what you can use (including TUEs in some cases). If you abide by the rules you are not doping. The rules are regularly reviewed and amended to reflect changes in testing procedures and the range of substances which are covered.
It's perhaps more of a philosophical question if you're obtaining prescription medication by deception or other nefarious methodologies, but still complying with the UCI regs.
As D0NK said, with over the counter stuff I have no moral qualms using it!
I cycled out to Malvern to watch the pros at the Malvern Hills Classic one year when I was still tripping on LSD from the night before.
I wouldn't say it necessarily had a positive effect on my performance... 😯
It was a nice enough ride, but I was happy to blag a lift home afterwards.
I gave myself a blood transfusion before a Gorrick once. Still came mid-pack in the Fun cat.
Think you're allowed something like 16 x 100mg doses of Salbutamol per day without a TUE
Think you're allowed something like 16 x 100mg doses of Salbutamol per day without a TUE
Yep (although it's micrograms not milligrams[/pedant]).
My understanding of it is that it's pretty easy to get a diagnosis of asthma, you just have to show some airway reversibility (typically >10% variation in peak flow). Not only is this quite common, even in 'normal' people, it's also very easy to fake as the peak flow is entirely effort-dependent. I've heard that before the WADA ruling came into effect, over 80% of the pro tour was 'asthmatic'.
You can view the WADA list here
No mention of aspirin - I can't imagine it would do very much to your microvascular circulation in healthy people with normal arteries and will be associated with a risk of bleeding.
For a Monday Night Pub Ride i usually try and limit my hematocrit level to 49.6 just in case there are any testing agencies on hand...
I backed off my day-to-day caffeine intake before a couple of longer events, so that the caffeine gels would have a greater effect on the day.
Apparently that's not the case, I read something recently that suggested that cutting down on caffeine before a race doesn't improve the effect of caffeine gels.
It might have been on the Sciene In Sport website I think.
[quote="Pubmed Says"]Recently, another beta 2-adrenergic agonist, salbuamol (albuterol), has been shown to increase muscle weight and protein content in young rats at a dose similar to that used clinically.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7916118
I know it's only rats but it makes you think.
For the record I've used diclofenac, tramadol and prednisolone for recovery and I've given pseudoephedrine hydrochloride (mucron) a whirl too. Not in competition just for my own curiosity.
Diclofenac turned my wazz orange but worked, tramadol had a disco biscuit vibe that took my mind off aching legs, prednisolone worked a treat. Couldn't tell if it was the mucron or weapons grade coffee that opened up my airways but they did something.
Would I have a go at EPO, HGH or synthetic testosterone? Absolutely. Would I try other anabolics? My liver has enough to deal with given my love of beer so no.
I'd give them a whirl out of curiosity more than anything I don't race anymore and most of my riding is solo these days so my experimentation wouldn't be unethical in my eyes.
A pint of milk followed by oily fish works a treat for me after a long ride.
You can view the WADA list here
So supplemental oxygen is OK hmmm
Perhaps the frame could be used as an oxygen cylinder...
I'd try EPO. I most certainly would not try anything like growth hormones as it ****s with your health well before you turn senile.
EPO is more dangerous than HGH or roids.
Whereas EPO has no harmful side-effects of course.
Heart attacks?
Actually "Virenque forehead" or "Lewis Teeth" aren't that appealing, I may pass on the HGH
I'd try EPO. I most certainly would not try anything like growth hormones as it **** with your health well before you turn senile.
from [url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/front_page/4657010.stm ]this article:[/url]
It was first synthesised by GlaxoSmithKline, which saw the hugely lucrative potential for marketing it to people wanting to lose weight. But when the company's scientists tested it on rodents, they didn't like what they found. In large doses it induced cancers in various organs of the body, from the tongue and the thyroid to the testes and the ovaries by way of the kidneys and the liver. In 2006, without going any further, GSK dropped it.
EPO could give you bollock cancer it seems...
Got some Tramadol in the drawer. Off for a ride in a minute. Shall I pop a tablet first?
Definately not! You'll end up in a hedgeback and you wont care
I had to wee into a cup with a bloke watching me at the end of the World 24 Hour champs in 2012. I thought I'd properly made it. Well chuffed I was.
(my sample was clean, BTW)
Quite an ask when one is potentially rather dehydrated!
EPO could give you bollock cancer it seems...
Ah I see...... silly Lance.
Did we not kind of have this thread a few months back? I remember thinking, if I could be guaranteed no significant health impact, damn right I'd dope as a weekend warrior, why not? It's not like it's on balance, I just can't see any reason not to.
But I race, badly, and if I took performance enhancing drugs I'd still be slow but I'd be cheating too.
mattsccm - MemberGot some Tramadol in the drawer. Off for a ride in a minute. Shall I pop a tablet first?
Best bike ride ever. Spent 2 hours in the garage looking at the brickwork.
My understanding of it is that it's pretty easy to get a diagnosis of asthma
You don't even need to go to the GP these days, I got 2 Ventolin inhalers from Superdrug online the other day, just had to fill in a form that basically said "we believe you when you say you're asthmatic". Was only a couple of quid more expensive than a regular prescription, but without the hassle of having to go the GP to get it.
I don't really race but would be nice to be able to ride a few more hills tho, so I think I'd be behind you in the queue.if I could be guaranteed no significant health impact, damn right I'd dope as a weekend warrior, why not?
Gone for a ride on a comedown, don't think it was performance enhancing though.
Surprisingly some of my best road rides have been on a hangover or comedown, something about me feeling like crap must make me want to push harder 😆
a couple of years back, myself and a friend had a couple of beers before we tried some new stuff. Worked really well, as it was not so huge to be deadly, but took the edge off and allowed us to relax more.
Strong Italian coffee of the black espresso rocket fuel variety just before a ride usually increases my average speed by at least 1 mile per hour.
I swigged a can of Monster mid-ride the other week. The end result was like that scene from Forest Gump; "Lieutenant Dan, you've got new legs!".
I've done this in the mid week sailing races.
1) it turns my piss the colour of monster
2) it makes me need a pee mid race, not good in a wetsuit, even worse if it had been a dry suit!
3) I definately gained a few places, no performance enhancement, just more focussed and made less errors. It's probably closer to riding DH than XC or road, the aim's to make less errors and get past people, rather than ourtight speed.
If there was a wonderdrug that improved performance with few/no adverse effects, and was accessible, I'd probably take it.
I imagine everyone. Having been subject to doping control in the past then nearly everyone will have taken some form of banned substance. Would they have seen any performance enhancing effect? Almost certainly not. Would they have failed a doping control test? Probably.
Due to my line of work I have easy access to a number of banned substances. Until relatively recently I had three syringes of EPO in the fridge at work (now out of date and incinerated). I didn't actually feel very tempted at all tbh.
I have to say, despite my cynicism of the "energy drink" moniker a bottle of Mountain Dew does make me feel better before a race!
I'd much sooner not be asthmatic rather than 'cheat' using inhalers
Ibuprofen, diclofenac gel, iron tablets.
For the record, I don't know where that GSK quote came from, but EPO is not "synthesized" as it is a protein not a small molecule, and it was originally developed by Amgen. GSK and other companies are however developing Hypoxia-Inducing Factors e.g., prolyl-hydroxylase inhibitor that stimulate the body's own EPO production. Results [url= http://www.gsk-clinicalstudyregister.com/study/112844#rs ]here [/url]if you are interested.
But drug testers are already on the case http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=GSK1278863, so you are more likely to get caught than taking EPO.
Just done 21 miles on 100mg Tramadol. Fantastic sunset and my legs didn't hurt climbing at all. 😆
That was the irony, EPO being made by Amgen, who sponsored US road races...
Got pissed at sleepless, wouldn't recommend it.
I'd have a crack at hgh. Maybe some trenbolone if I was sure I didn't want any more kids.
Used to love taking Es and occasionally wonder what it would be like to neck one and then go mountain biking, not tried this particular experiment yet though. Probably best left alone I suppose.
Clearly I wouldn't consider this performance enhancing.
Surprisingly some of my best road rides have been on a hangover or comedown, something about me feeling like crap must make me want to push harder
Yeah I agree tbh, better to try and sweat it out than sit in a dark room feeling shit
In a period of mis-spent youth I once cycled 10 miles on ketamine. Felt like I was flying. I got a flat front - couldn't be bothered to stop - carried on - large downhill finish, tyre came off, inner tube next - rode those rims flat. Was stopped by the police. Not for breaking any laws but because he couldn't beleive his eyes!
TimothyD - MemberI read how Duane Chambers injected synthetic insulin as one of the things he took when he was found to be cheating. It half makes me wonder if I might be benefiting in some way (from a short term cycling perspective) by injecting due to being type 1 diabetic. Obviously, given the choice I wouldn't be diabetic.
I met a t1 a while back who was running a huge carb intake immediately before races, getting his bm through the roof, then injecting immediately before the start of the race- his idea was that he's basically storing sugar in his bloodstream over time then releasing it fast with the injection. Sounded at least slightly possible though it made me wonder about ketoacidosis and whether his feet will drop off in 50 years.
Last time i tried drugs and cycling a bike ended up at the top of a tree and i got chased by a spaghetti monster.
If you have any work done at the dentist, try riding home afterwards, it's blast!! The injection they give you is adrenalin, gives you a real buzz on the bike 😀
I stopped at the pub between work and the station on the way home last night and had a pint of Guinness. When i got off the train at the other end i knocked a big chunk of time off the rest of the ride home.
Not very scientific as that was based on strava and phone gps, but maybe i should crack open a can before my next race 😆
Beer is good for you and a beer that's heavy in carbs must be a good energy drink.