|   Creatine for cross country racers? | Nigel'
Feb 13, 2002 5:49 PM | | I am sure that the people that respond to this post know what Creatine is, so I wont explain what it is.
Anyways, I am a 17 year old cross country racer, with experience, I have an extensive training program.
I know a few guys that use Creatine for benefits in weight lifting and physical sports, such as Rugby and football.
Would a mtb racer who races and trains for long distances see any benefits to using creatine?
....or, is there something else on the lines of Creatine that is better suited to endurance athletes?
Thank you for the response. |
| re: Creatine for cross country racers? | MAII
Feb 14, 2002 7:14 AM | | Hi Nigel -
I am a mtb/cyclocross/road racer. I use creatine only during the winter while I am lifting. Creatine is helpful for short duration "burst activity" like weight lifting. The only cycling use I can think it would be helpful for is track racing or possibly sprinting. My own experience with taking creatine during the season is pretty negative. MT Snow NCS race 3 years ago I had been using creatine regualrly in my protein shakes...to make a long story short last lap I had such bad cramping in my hamstrings I actually was off the bike rolling around on the ground...NOT a good race! I now stay away from creatine during the season. I find it dehydrates me and messes with my muscles during endurance events. IMHO of course |
| What about the weight gain? | TechniKal
Feb 14, 2002 8:09 AM | | My only experience with creatine was when I was doing a lot of weight lifting several years ago. I took the stuff and noticed a very, very marginal improvement in strength. However, I gained like 8 - 10 lbs within 3 or 4 weeks due to the water retension that creatine causes. For edurance type sports, it would seem that this extra weight would be much more of a disadvantage than the marginal, if any, strength gains the product gives.
The extra water does help you get a 'pump' during lifting, though, which is pretty cool - and which is probably the reason for creatine's popularity. |
| Agree with MAII... | RF
Feb 14, 2002 8:15 AM | | It is very beneficial for weight lifting. I have made gains (not necessarily gaining weight) that I never had before when I started using creatine. Though I never had severe dehydration, I did not notice any improvement in my riding that I would attribute to creatine.
A supplement that I would recommend for year around use is glutamine. Though quite expensive it definitely works to improve recovery. Some products such as endurox r4 have this in them. |
| re: Creatine for cross country racers? | daneil
Feb 14, 2002 2:47 PM | | Creatine increases the amount of water that is held within a single cell. This is what causes the large weight gain and why the supplement is not beneficial to cyclists, or anyone else interested in endurance sports such as running, speed skating, etc... Creatine is all about increasing muscle mass and strength. If you want to cycle it on the off season while weight training because you are looking to add mass, then go ahead, if not then forget about it. |
| re: Creatine for cross country racers? | MAII
Feb 15, 2002 4:24 AM | | Actually I have never had the problem with adding too much mass but that might be becasue I am a chick. What I like about creatine ( and the American College of Sports Medicine substantiates this ) is that creatine loading helps replace the creatine phosphate ( which is depleated in seconds ) that is used in short burst exercise ( such as sprinting or lifting heavy weights ) so what this means is I can lift heavier weights longer...hense I can get stronger ( climb better, sprint better etc ) Creatine is no magic potion ( there are none people so stop looking) it is simply one thing ( used at the appropriate point in training ) you can do to help you train and race better. There are other things that make WAY more impact like sticking to a periodization program, eatting right and resting. Oh yeah, and cut out the partying : ) |
| re: Creatine for cross country racers? | daneil
Feb 15, 2002 6:45 AM | | yeah, the fact that i'm a guy and the fact that i was training to become an amateur bodybuilder (which I stopped due to the fact that gaining 40-45 lbs in 6 months put too much of a strain on my heart, hopefully not for good). But i totally agree with the idea of rest. it is amazing how much more you can lift/spin/push after getting a full 9-10 hours of sleep per night. It really is amazing.
oh and btw, you can get the same amount of creatine phosphate by increasing your intake of red meat. |
| Agree with MAII | Kleinadian
Feb 15, 2002 7:26 AM | | I use it for the same reasons as MAII, but only for training. It helps bring me up to a higher level of strength for weights. Never noticed the water retention aspect of it. Also by giving more power for climbing etc, it pushes the cardio system to a higher level. By race season I don't use it anymore. |
| re: Creatine for cross country racers? | dnm
Feb 19, 2002 9:13 AM | | creatine is not good for cyclists, even downhillers.
you will gain weight and this will hurt u bad on the climbs.
even Brian lopes says (this months mtn bike action interview) that when he lifts weights his xc climbing suffers due to an increase in mass.
ive been on creatine last winter, got real burly on it.
kind of makes u a stocky man...good for impressing the ladies! but not for the XC podium unfortunatley |
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