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More from the bottomless pot of letters on post-ride caffeine
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Not just France
Editor,
I really resent Johan Bruyneel's assertion (in the Nov. 15 article) that criticism of Armstrong is coming only from "the island of France."
What about all of the harsh words we hear from Germany? What about LeMond's comments, or the other unhappy murmurings I've read on American cycling Web sites? Some folks just seem determined to squeeze everything that happens regarding drugs, Armstrong, or Astana into this everybody-vs.-France narrative that is that is neither accurate nor respectful to the parties involved.
Sebastian Lecourt,
Angwin, California
MORE on post-ride caffeine
Editor,
Ahhh,
While drinking my daily cupa French press, I read the two responses to the Monique Ryan article on caffeine. Both caused caused a sharp rise in blood pressure:
One response (in the Nov. 13 Mailbag) said, in part:
"What I didn't see mentioned in this caffeine study was the reason it actually worked. Caffeine is an insulin inhibitor, so in non-diabetic athletes, caffeine intake in volumes that shock the system (not just a standard cup of coffee) cause the insulin released in the body to be dramatically increased to maintain blood sugar control during post-rideeating. This extra insulin is unquestionably beneficial to 're-fueling' and taking advantage of hormones like growth hormone. The key with caffeine is that it allows more insulin into the system without over-feeding."
Ok, if caffeine is an insulin inhibitor, then why would caffeine cause an increase in release? The word you need in this case is "antagonist." Caffeine is an adenosine receptor antagonist — meaning it binds to adenosine receptors, doesn't alter the activity of this receptor, and keeps adenosine off. Overall, you don't see a bunch of presumptive methods of actions for the caffeine mediated glucose uptake in the article because that's not what can be concluded from the data. Correlation between caffeine uptake, increased cellular glucose uptake, and elevated insulin blood levels doesn't prove causation between these factors.
Then the slippery slope letter (also in the Nov. 13 Mailbag) equates caffeine to other performance enhancing drugs. This misses the key distinction of deception between use of caffeine and other banned substances. When rider X wins a race claiming to live off of pasta, water, and coffee, but actually pumps himself up on the latest in pharmaceuticals — he's a liar.
Since caffeine is not banned, is pretty safe, and is easily accessed by any racer, there is no element of deception when used to enhance racing. Cycling will never be a "restrictor plate" NASCAR like event, where physiological outputs are all the same.
Come on, there are huge differences in ability from genetic endowment, training, elevation of hometown, etc. This unpredictability in who is going to win on any a given day is what lends cycling such high drama. I think the war on doping is all about maintaining honesty.
Ryan Lynch,
University of Colorado at Boulder
MORE
Editor,
In regard to John Kominek, of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, wanting to include caffeine on the banned substances list, I would suggest that no basic food group should be a banned substance. Caffeine, both in coffee and chocolate, is a basic food group. At least in my house!
Clay Dudley,
Amarillo, Texas
