[Noel]

Originally Posted by froze

While caffeine is a diuretic, when consumed in coffee you're taking in more water then the diuretic of caffeine in the coffee will displace. So there is nothing to worry about with that.

Coffee is actually good for you in moderation of course. It contains a very strong antioxidant that help your body to fight colds, actually works far better then vitamin C! I know before I started drinking coffee (4 shots of espresso a day) I went from 1 to 2 colds a year to 1 cold every 2 to 3 years.

Also coffee drinkers are less likely to have type 2 diabetes, Parkinson's disease, gall and kidney stones, and dementia, and have fewer cases of certain cancers, heart rhythm problems, and strokes, it also improves mental performance. This is not to say that coffee prevents this stuff, it's just been proven to reduce the chances of getting them. Keep in mind, it's not the caffeine doing all of that, it's the whole package.

The caffeine can raise blood pressure, so if you have border line or high blood pressure it would be wise to avoid caffeine, something your doctor probably warned you about anyways. Coffee also contains acid that can make heartburn worse if you suffer from that. Coffee only has an effect on healthy cholesterol levels IF you're not doing intense workouts like riding a bike or running, biking and running increases the good cholesterol while lowering the bad.

On Saturday when I do my longest ride of the week, I start the day with 2 shots of espresso about an hour before the ride with my food and a glass of Gatorade, and then put 2 shots in a GU flask to take with me...it's cheaper than GU and works just as good.

I recently read that the average American gets more antioxidants from coffee then anything else in their diet. Which says a little about coffee and allot about how bad the American diet is. A small squeeze bottle with a couple of shots of espresso and some chocolate syrup make a great mid ride pick me up.

[Roadgoddess]

I say, in moderation it helps wake you up for that morning ride. But too much and you'll be looking for porta-potties and bushes.

[Industry_Hack]

I tried Aeroshot recently. If you want the kick of caffeine, without all the sugar of energy drinks or the inconvenience of a cup of coffee mid-ride, read this.