Should You Take Pre-workout Before Riding Bicycle?

Yes, it’s a good idea to take pre-workouts for cycling.

And the reason is that a great pre-workout will have a direct impact on overall strength levels and fatigue.

If you regularly take one of these supplements before training, then you’ve probably recorded the improvements in weight loads and reps in your journal.

It’s not like they turn you into The Hulk, but a small increase can make a big difference over time.

When you take your pre-workout before you head off on your bike, you should notice the same effects after about 30 minutes.

For example, creatine is a common ingredient, and studies have shown that pre-workouts containing creatine can boost your strength [1].

And beta-alanine can have a significant impact on feeling less fatigue and reducing muscle burn [2].

I’ll get to some more details on great ingredients shortly, but there are very good reasons to plan your pre-workout intake, even for competitive cycling events.

Additionally, pre-workout supplements can also play a role in optimizing body weight for cycling enthusiasts. Specific pre-workout formulas incorporate ingredients that support weight management and body composition goals.

These may include metabolism-boosting compounds like green tea extract or capsaicin, which can aid in calorie burning and potential weight loss.

So how can pre-workout supplements actually boost your cycling performance?

Let’s find out.

No, I wouldn’t recommend taking a pre-workout supplement for every cycle.

You’ll probably gain the most benefits on sessions where you’re pushing yourself to maximum cycling performance.

Here’s what I mean.

If you’re going for a relatively short cycle as part of a warm-up routine for other exercises, then pre-workouts can be a waste of money.

But if you’re increasing your training volume, or heading into a competitive race, then the body will gain extra performance that can give athletes a competitive advantage.

BCAAs are a collection of three essential amino acids that are linked to protein synthesis in muscles [8].

But a more interesting study has revealed that BCAAs can also have an impact on fatigue [9].

That means it should be able to help you cycle for longer and then have an impact on your recovery times as well.

Aside from promoting muscle protein synthesis, amino acids are essential for athletic performance.

Adding these essential amino acids to your pre-workout routine could improve endurance, reduce fatigue, and enhance overall cycling performance.

Related Article: BCAAs vs Pre-workout Supplements 

Beta-Alanine

And finally, you’ll find that almost every supplement brand includes beta-alanine in their pre-workout.

It is so well established as a natural performance enhancer that the International Society Of Sports Nutrition has published extensive study findings about its benefits for athletes [10].

“Beta-alanine is the building block of carnosine, a molecule that helps buffer acid in muscles. Beta-alanine supplementation improves performance during high-intensity exercise lasting from 1 to 10 minutes.”

- Mike Murray, RDN, CSCS, CISSN at Examine.com.

Many nutritional supplements have some minor downsides, but in my experience, most of these tend to be related to allergies.

But there are two things to keep in mind.

First of all, when you exceed the recommended dose, some pre-workout products can cause stomach upset.

This might be bloating or cramps and is not something you want while cycling.

The other thing to keep in mind is that some of the best pre-workout supplements contain a high dose of caffeine.

And this stimulant can cause high blood pressure that isn’t ideal for high-performance cycling [11].

But considering all the other benefits listed above, you should still try taking a pre-workout for improved cycling energy.