The most important moment in a man’s life is the first time they have a beer. I place it on the list above sex and having a child because sex usually only happens as a direct result of drinking beer. As for having children, I’m given to understand they are poop factories at first, then promptly become loud, and then obnoxious before they resent you for the next fifteen years. If my math is right, it isn’t until after about twenty-five years that you can stand them and the investment starts paying off. Given the instant gratification of beer verses the ROI on child rearing, its not even a close. But the real clincher is that men love solving problems and there is no chance of solving problems if you don’t create them first.
As Cyclists, beer also forms an important part of our training regimen; after a day of crushing our opponents and laying down enormous helpings of The V, it is critical that we give our muscles the rest and nutrients they require in order to rebuild and become ever stronger. Required nutrients include things like carbohydrates, sugars, and proteins. As it happens, beer is made of things like – wait for it – carbohydrates, sugars, and proteins. According to alcoholic nutritionists I’ve spoken to as well as some recent studies, beer taken in moderation is the ideal recovery beverage after a hard workout.
But there’s that annoying word again, “moderation” – always with the moderation, these scientists. Apparently, you can’t go and get hammered every time you ride a bike or the alcohol will have other effects like making you fat, stupid, and bloated. Alcohol slows your metabolism and lowers your impulse control, which forms a double-whammy as after you get drunk and stuff your face, your body will have a harder time burning those extra calories.
When I started getting serious about losing weight and improving my climbing (this was immediately after my first ride up Haleakala), I completely ignored the possibility of giving up on booze as I’d much rather starve myself than stop drinking. But the fact is that dieting and training only yielded limited results. When I finally accepted the notion of reducing my alcohol intake, my weight started to drop and my riding immediately improved. The most surprising side effect was how much better my sleeping patterns became which also feeds into post-ride recovery.
I’ll never give up beer completely because I’d hate to be without problems to solve, but for anyone who is struggling to lose weight, take note: diet and exercise are key elements, but you won’t get there without taking a hard look at your alcohol consumption. I’m not suggesting you stop drinking altogether; drink a beer or two after riding to help your recovery, but beyond that alcohol will get in the way of reaching your goals. Unless your goal is to drink more, in which case I remind you that your liver is the only organ that can regenerate itself.
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@frank
Yes, this. Even though I am deeply emotionally invested in beer, beer (sometimes, preferably, a lot of it) is for the end of the ride.
(I will take part in a certain regularly-scheduled group mtb ride that is as much about socializing and eating and drinking as it is about actually riding, but that's an entirely different thing, and it obviously can't be confused with Cycling.)
I haven't quit but I don't drink regularly.
Frank is spot on about the weight. I knew I had it to lose, but riding 300km a week and eating a well controlled diet of mostly home-made, non-processed, low-sugar foods wasn't doing anything.
Until I cut out the alcohol. I was only having two glasses a night - usually wine, sometimes a scotch or campari - but it was enough over a week to be nearly a day's intake of calories.
Now I pretty much only have it if I am out, which isn't that often, and not always then. It's not like I'm craving it and have to keep denying it to myself. In fact I have a well-stocked liquor cabinet at home, I just don't use it.
And one of the benefits of living in a Muslim country is that it isn't in your face all the time.
@EBruner
Purity of Essence. P O E It might be my favorite movie also.
@frank
I had a similar experience. My friend and I found (stole?) a warm six pack of Bud as kids. We couldn't believe our luck. It had been sitting in the sun, heating up! We took it into the woods and each opened a can. I thought it was the worst thing I'd ever tasted, which it was. My buddy thought it was great (?!). It wasn't until years later, in Scotland of course, I had a proper ale in a glass and thought, uh oh, this could be trouble. Me likey!
I've said this before and I say it again: You are practically taking estrogen as a recovery drink.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phytoestrogens
No self respecting Velominatus shall touch an ale that makes him soft and weak.
Interesting, so Frank posts something overnight (my time) on cycling and there may be a few comments by the time I log on in the morning. He posts something on beer and there are screens of posts by morning my time.
Yes there's a delicate balance here, but I find myself usually just "going for another 50k" to justify another beer (sometimes factored from the previous day's embiding, which can cause a nicely vicious circle).
The stuff is lipogenic though...
When I was in NYC it was a lot of drinking, eating, and no sleep, and then getting on a bike in the morning with a massive hangover, trying not to purge on the guys behind you. Then I moved to the motherland and joined a club and found out that if I did the same thing, all I got was spit out the back...from group 2!!!(oh, the indignity!). In the three years I have been here, I now go to bed early on weekends(usually earlier than weekdays), get up earlier on weekends than on weekdays, drinking and eating habits have changed drastically.
But as Rule #47 can be paraphrased: "Beer is the reason we ride", or at least that's how I read it ;-) So beer always is had after a ride. Even the gym we spin at during the winter weeknights has a bar, and while it's selection is small, it still has pintjes, Prior, La Chouffe, Vedette, and Westmalle.
Side note: The La Chouffe Classic in the Ardennes, the last feed station is at the old La Chouffe brewery in Achouffe, and they hand out cold choufkes(15cl la chouffes) along with all the other usual food stuffs. I love this country.
@ChrisO
cmon mate - even though you are in a muzzy country, I am pretty sure you would have plenty of people around you drinking lots. How else are they going to deal with you?
Instead of drinking heavily I have perfected a method of just havering utter pish at all hours!
1) saves a fortune
2) makes you keep a clear head