Why I Don’t Mix Alcohol with Cycling — and What I’ve Learned Watching Others Try
By Bruce | The Old Guy Bicycle Blog I’ll be upfront: I don’t drink. Not because I never did, and not because I think it’s evil. I just know what it does to the body — and more importantly, what it does to performance. After decades in the saddle, I’ve seen plenty of cyclists try to balance training, touring, or racing with regular alcohol use. And I’ve also seen how that usually plays out: slower recovery, more fatigue, and poor decisions that cost people rides, results, or worse. This isn’t a lecture — just a reflection from someone who rides a lot, trains seriously, and has chosen not to make alcohol part of the picture. 🍺 What Alcohol Does (Even in Small Amounts) When you drink, your body stops what it’s doing to process the alcohol. That includes things like muscle repair, hydration, and brain function — which are pretty important if you’re cycling long distances or trying to stay sharp in traffic. Here’s what I’ve observed in others — and why I stay away from alco...
