Ergogenics is a touchy subject, I\’ll admit. Performance-enhancing substances in general have gotten a bad rap, as have some athletes who have used then.

I personally know almost nothing of ergogenics; but of course I do know that some of the things that some athletes used was nasty stuff. I\’m glad I can skip all that!

Want one that is legal? Caffeine! I don\’t drink coffee, which I suppose makes me an anomaly among cyclists. Many a group ride concludes with a visit to a coffee shop; or has a coffee stop mid-ride. My caffeine kicks come from Diet Coke. It\’s not good for me, I know; but that\’s another story.

Get Fast! mentions something called The Track Stack (p. 159), consisting of caffeine, baby aspirin, and beta-alanine. I\’ve never tried it, so I can\’t vouch for its efficac; and actually, I\’m nervous about taking it at all. I\’m already hooked on Diet Coke, and would rather not get into the habit of taking The Track Stack. As usual for something new, don\’t take it for the first time right before an important event.

So there it is. If you\’re into competitive cycling, and are interested in ergogenics, be sure to do your research. I wouldn\’t want to see anybody disqualified for unwittingly taking something that\’s verboten!

An interesting aside about coffee: there was a time when the Turks were trying to conquer Vienna, which at the time would have given them access to all the Western world. The Turks didn\’t succeed in taking over Vienna — but their coffee did; something that J.S. Bach caught on to.