Mark82
New Member
- Location
- Mansfield , NOTTINGHAMSHIRE
Creatine..... would taking this be a good idea for building up muscle on the lower body while cycling??
Creatine...
- Thread starter Mark82
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Fab Foodie
hanging-on in quiet desperation ...
- Location
- Kirton, Devon.
Are you going to be competing at a high level?
If not, don't bother.
If not, don't bother.
OP
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Mark82
New Member
- Location
- Mansfield , NOTTINGHAMSHIRE
no not for that purpose but just for getting fit and bulking up the leg muscles
amaferanga
Veteran
- Location
- Bolton
You don't need massive leg muscles to be a good cyclist. Look at e.g. Contador. You need to improve your fitness and endurance, not strength and that requires time on the bike, not drugs.
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Mark82
New Member
- Location
- Mansfield , NOTTINGHAMSHIRE
Trust me if I had legs like contador I'd look like an experiment that had gone wrong... lol its not about having leg muscles so big I can't get over the seat post, it was just about using it as part of the exercise process, ...
Rob3rt
Man or Moose!
- Location
- Manchester
Creatine isnt a drug, its a dietary supplement, creatine is found in meat.
But this aside, creatine will provide a benefit only for a few seconds and aid a maximum effort, this may be good for getting that extra rep in for power lifting or body building (since the final few reps in a set are the ones you gain most benefit from) but as far as cycling goes, creatine just = weight gain, weight gain = bad (unless you are at a non-optimal light weight).
You dont need big legs, nor do you need the explosive power of a powerlifter, stick to a good diet and cycling. Squats etc are good for helping with cycling but the approach should be different, more reps, less weight. Therefore even in this context creatine would not provide any worthwhile benefit.
I wish I had to hand a book I read by Matt Fitzgeralds, he provides some scientific journal references regarding the use of creatine in endurance sports (emphasis probly on runing since its a runing based book, but as a triathlon coach maybe its a bike related study, since he draws from all of the disciplines), the benefits were, to my recollection were minimal to non and had the dissadvantage of weight gain.
But this aside, creatine will provide a benefit only for a few seconds and aid a maximum effort, this may be good for getting that extra rep in for power lifting or body building (since the final few reps in a set are the ones you gain most benefit from) but as far as cycling goes, creatine just = weight gain, weight gain = bad (unless you are at a non-optimal light weight).
You dont need big legs, nor do you need the explosive power of a powerlifter, stick to a good diet and cycling. Squats etc are good for helping with cycling but the approach should be different, more reps, less weight. Therefore even in this context creatine would not provide any worthwhile benefit.
I wish I had to hand a book I read by Matt Fitzgeralds, he provides some scientific journal references regarding the use of creatine in endurance sports (emphasis probly on runing since its a runing based book, but as a triathlon coach maybe its a bike related study, since he draws from all of the disciplines), the benefits were, to my recollection were minimal to non and had the dissadvantage of weight gain.
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Mark82
New Member
- Location
- Mansfield , NOTTINGHAMSHIRE
Rob... thank you. All the answers I needed.. cheers.
Rob3rt
Man or Moose!
- Location
- Manchester
np, but dont take my word for it, read around, I could be wrong as im only basing my opinion off one book (and trusting his research methods) and a loose understanding of what creatine actually does in terms of muscle power.
Ive taken it before, when I used to play rugby (its no miracle substance, but imo, it does have benefits in some contexts), never since I started running or cycling, I'd rather buy dietary supplements like vitamins, minerals, fish oils if I were to spend money on supplements.
I take some supplements, especialy since I started running a lot more, I take multivitamins, ginseng (stress issues relating to my dayjob, dont know if its just placebo, but this stuff helps me feel more motivated and focused during the day) and fish oils on a morning, and in the evening valerium (sleep and stress issues - its worth a shot) and vitamin C. It might just be expensive urine, but I feel better for doing it, so I will continue.
In addition, I use whole foods to make recovery shakes etc, soak oats in milk overnight, then blend with milk, spoonful of peanut butter and berries next day.Nice and refreshing post-workout.
Ive taken it before, when I used to play rugby (its no miracle substance, but imo, it does have benefits in some contexts), never since I started running or cycling, I'd rather buy dietary supplements like vitamins, minerals, fish oils if I were to spend money on supplements.
I take some supplements, especialy since I started running a lot more, I take multivitamins, ginseng (stress issues relating to my dayjob, dont know if its just placebo, but this stuff helps me feel more motivated and focused during the day) and fish oils on a morning, and in the evening valerium (sleep and stress issues - its worth a shot) and vitamin C. It might just be expensive urine, but I feel better for doing it, so I will continue.
In addition, I use whole foods to make recovery shakes etc, soak oats in milk overnight, then blend with milk, spoonful of peanut butter and berries next day.Nice and refreshing post-workout.
ChrisBD
New Member
Creatine is a great sup. As has been said, it is found in red meat, but only in small qtys.
Creatine (Monohydrate) works as a cell volumiser and is great for sports where anerobic short bursts of power are the name of the game.
A cell volumiser in cycling, or any other cardio / endurance sport regardless of intensity or level has very little if any benefit and may even (in extreme cases such as elite level) be a himdrance.
As Rob says, Matt Fitzgerald (as have others) discusses this with some insight in his book Racing Weight.
A few years back I was sponsored by a UK based sup company in the build up to an endurance event; with them doing test on my performance before and after etc. The onlu sups I use now are glucosamine sulphate, fish oil and protein.
This link debunkes a few myths:
Creatine Tests
Creatine (Monohydrate) works as a cell volumiser and is great for sports where anerobic short bursts of power are the name of the game.
A cell volumiser in cycling, or any other cardio / endurance sport regardless of intensity or level has very little if any benefit and may even (in extreme cases such as elite level) be a himdrance.
As Rob says, Matt Fitzgerald (as have others) discusses this with some insight in his book Racing Weight.
A few years back I was sponsored by a UK based sup company in the build up to an endurance event; with them doing test on my performance before and after etc. The onlu sups I use now are glucosamine sulphate, fish oil and protein.
This link debunkes a few myths:
Creatine Tests