The Coffee Grind - Endorphin Hit On Two Wheels

Every morning across the globe groups of cyclists meet for their daily fix, ooops ride. Now they may not think about why the ride makes them feel so good, but they do feel good. You may wonder what makes a person get up at an hour when most people are firmly entrenched between the sheets doing REM cycles not Bi-cycles. Besides having to milk cows, I say an endorphin hit! This personal hit of "feel good" hormones, is so potent it drives a rider to throw their leg across the saddle (bike seat) day in and day out, regardless of how hard/easy the ride, the weather or how far they ride. Along with endorphins, caffeine is synonymous with cycling. My double shot of vitamin C - cycling and coffee (post ride) - makes the start to each day euphoric, that is barring torrential downpours and cyclones. Yes good reader, riding between 30 and 100 kilometres (19 - 60 miles) does make me happy.

So what does a coffee grind have to do with cycling and endorphins? A coffee grind isn't the size of a granule but a group of lycra clad cyclists enjoying the rigours of bike riding. Now this ride could be a slow recovery ride, a specific training ride or a ride that wants to rival a stage of the Tour de France. If you are unfamiliar with group rides, surfice to say you have riders that range across every level of ability turning up for these spins around the local envrion. Having completed Coffee Grind rides on the Sunshine Coast where I live, I devised a list of categories for participating riders that need to be adopted for each ride.

• Double shot decaf Soy Latte (a coffee you have when you're not having a coffee)
  This level of rider is more along the lines of your once maybe twice a week rider. They desire the lycra experience and camaraderie of a group ride, but need to sit at the back or form a group of their own for the ride. It's great they are out there doing the ride, but their skills and fitness level will see them dropped (not literally, but left behind) within the first few kilometres or miles.
• Latte (regualr one shot with full cream milk)
  These are more seasoned riders who may get on the bike 3 - 4 times a week. Some may even go so far as to shave their legs - men and women. They are able to keep up with the bunch for a reasonable length of time, but will inevitably be dropped during the ride.
• Macchiato (an espresso with a drop of milk or foam, single shot)
  Now we're starting to get serious! These riders usually manage two to three hundred kilometres (120 - 180 miles) a week and have a competitive spirit to boot. They will take their turn on the front and some will hang on by the enamel on their teeth to stay with the group to the end of the ride. They may need a good heart starter to get home, but that's not an issue when doing the coffee grind.
• Single or Double shot espresso
  You are now looking at riders who actually look good in lycra and they all have shaved legs. All the better to see each sinew and muscle fibre in their superbly developed legs. These are the riders we all want to be and stay with during any coffee grind. They are the pace setters, and boy do they set a mean pace. When they get those pedals wound up it would be easier on a motor scooter than a bicycle to stay with them. Unless of course you are another double shot espresso rider. (Alas my days at this level are long gone, but the memories are like yesterday.)

Mind you, coffee does come into the coffee grind equation. The one constant about any ride is cyclists having coffee pre, post or during the ride. (During doesn't come into the equation on a Saturday coffee grind, but is an integral part of recovery rides during the week.) Research has shown that caffeine can help to improve a cyclist's performance, but only in certain circumstances. Yes fellow cyclists you can become an expresso from an espresso, but you had better be planning to do short term, high intensity training, or it loses its punch.

Looking to join the expresso set then check out these links to help you on your cycling adventure.