EPO as a recreational cyclist

[goya-goya]

If you subscribe to a sport... you adhere to the rules... break them... and you have to live with yourself... knowing that you did not play fair...

 

if you have no ethics... then break he rules until you get caught...

 

I played soccer for years... guys who dive are a scourge... but you will always get cheats: like people who take short-cuts in races because no-one is looking[sic]...

 

The perplexing thing is that it is just a sport and these are just rules that guys are breaking... NOT LAWS... so the consequences are in the framework of the sport... if it was your career... then you are in ***... but if you are a recreational cyclist... there are no real consequences...

 

I mean drinking and driving is riskier than taking EPO...

 

I guess it all comes down to integrity and the honor that person has to stick to the rules...

[Bianchi]

1. Can you take EPO as a recreational cyclist competing in a weekend race? Should they test you because you came 400th not your normal 500th would you be disqualified.

2. Would you take EPO as a middle to back of the pack rider in a stage race to give you a boost (are there social riders in the Epic etc using the stuff just to get through)?

 

My opinion, and I'm sure there are others that agree...

1. Yes, it's banned. Even recreational competitors are bound by the "I shall not use banned substances" clause that they agree to as a CSA member.

2. Using it even though you know you won't be tested, because you are at the back of the pack.... yeah, no comment. I'd rather not tell you how pathetic I think you are.

[tombeej]

As I understand it, EPO is not something trivial - you need medical expertise on hand to do it right.

 

I'd guess that people who self-administer EPO are either medical doctors themselves, or have been administered to in the past by an expert/organised program and therefore know what to do.

 

But joe soap off the street can't just buy the stuff online and expect to just get on with it. Might just end up dead that way.

 

Edit: moral of the story - don't even think about it.

Edited November 6, 2012 by tombeej

[HappyMartin]

 

 

Dont jump to conclusions china. Wonder how much attitude you'd have on roids.

 

I am not jumping to any conclusions china. I was merely commenting on your post which I assumed was a hyperthetical proposition.

 

I don't have any attitude but I do have an opinion but no problem, an unwanted opinion is often confused with an attitide. My opinion is using EPO is cheating. My opinion is also that cycling for us amateurs is a fun thing and the training is part of the fun. It is also pretty much guaranteed to produce results.

 

Never thought for a moment you were seriously suggesting that you would use EPO so relax

[V12man]

If you want to try it without breaking the rules - buy an altitude tent - this has the same effect over the long term of increasing your hematocrit - but without as many potential side effects - BUT - please NOTE the BUT - there ARE potentially lethal side effects, and proper supervision and use of it is mandatory.

 

And it is not cheap. - neither is illegal EPO.

 

Cheaters should be treated the same way Guy Fawkes was.... look it up.... tough love indeed.

[Christie]

Its not that difficult to get decent results in the amateur ranks with a bit of training, perhaps 10 to 12 hours per week of the right intensity. (depends how you define decent results, I know). If you have to dope to get there in the amateur ranks, the reality is that you suck at cycling, and should try something else.

[tombeej]

 

I mean drinking and driving is riskier than taking EPO...

 

 

I beg to differ

[Dirtbreath]

 

 

I am not jumping to any conclusions china. I was merely commenting on your post which I assumed was a hyperthetical proposition.

 

I don't have any attitude but I do have an opinion but no problem, an unwanted opinion is often confused with an attitide. My opinion is using EPO is cheating. My opinion is also that cycling for us amateurs is a fun thing and the training is part of the fun. It is also pretty much guaranteed to produce results.

 

Never thought for a moment you were seriously suggesting that you would use EPO so relax

 

Cool. Took it a bit personally, sorry. I'm just curious about what lengths back markers would go to. The things I've seen in the back of the packs where I used to bide my time were shocking. EPO use back there would not surprise me.

[Agteros]

1. Can you take EPO as a recreational cyclist competing in a weekend race? Should they test you because you came 400th not your normal 500th would you be disqualified.

2. Would you take EPO as a middle to back of the pack rider in a stage race to give you a boost (are there social riders in the Epic etc using the stuff just to get through)?

Are you a member/registered with CSA? They are subject to/member of SAIDS. So they can test you. Easy as that.

 

EPO doping is somewhat iinvolved... it is not the drug itself that increases performance (oxygen carrying ability of red blood cells), it is merely a trigger for the creation of red blood cells.

 

So.. to do this properly (all of this is on the internet BTW, if you wonder how/why I know...)

You have to do the following

1. Inject yourself (have it done?) with iron (Deep muscle - it leaves blue mark for up to 6 months

2.Drink head ache inducing quantities of oral iron supplements

3. monitor your iron stores, and...

4. If these are high enough, inject EPO

5. The EPO will trigger the creation of red blood cells, and because you have abundant iron reserves it will bind more iron to each red blood cell. The quantity of iron in the red blood cell is what determines your ability to carry oxygen to the muscles.

6. Hope & pray you do not turn your blood to sludge because if it is too thick (hematocrit - ratio of red blood cells to blood volume is too high)your heart might be unable to pump the sludge when sleeping and a heart rate when sleeping - when heart beats the slowest - is your destiny. Hence the HRMs, alarm clocks & exercising in the middle of the night in the days gone by

 

Micro-dosing will do a few things, like keeping EPO levels below the trigger levels of tests, and ensure that you do not turn your blood to sludge..

 

Some additional info:

 

 

1. Iron is kept in your body and recycled, only way to get rid of it is by bleeding/donating blood. The SANBTS do not want blood from people who have to donate for medical reasons, so these patients pay for the service they receive and their blood is incinerated.

2. Too much iron in your body is toxic - called haemochromatosis and can lead to organ failure etc

3. Red blood cells live for typical 3 to 4 months, after which their iron content is recycled

 

So, sure, you can do it. Buy from the pharmacy links BOB posted, get a lab willing to do blood work without a doctors note, or get a doc to oversee the whole sordid ordeal for you.

 

Moet net nie by my kom spook as jy dood is nie!

[Slowbee]

in todays MacDonalds world I could see a few folk taking a few extra's. I mean its not always about the placement, its about getting to the finish and you still feel ok, rather than dead.

 

If taking EPO means you get to finish a 100km odd funride without to much training then yea, I can see it being done.

 

Heck, I am sure there are loads of asthma pumps at the back of the front!

[pista]

What are the side effects of EPO?

 

How is it used ie all year or just for specific races?

[Agteros]

It might numb the pain, but surely it will slow you down?

Zol makes you strong. My dad use to buy it for day labourers on the farm when they asked for it. They smoked that stuff and worked like mules!

Later he was running a service centre, and the one mechanic was useless without his zol, but with the stuff he could do just about anything in the workshop

[Zook]

I wonder what the motivation is for a rec rider to take it? To beat their mates, I guess. Take off 15 min, feel like a hero.

(Then know you didn't actually do it, cry sadly into your pillow.)

[Dirtbreath]

Just out of interest. My blood is tested every 2 weeks. My natural hematocrit level is 47.7%.

[Agteros]

in todays MacDonalds world I could see a few folk taking a few extra's. I mean its not always about the placement, its about getting to the finish and you still feel ok, rather than dead.

 

If taking EPO means you get to finish a 100km odd funride without to much training then yea, I can see it being done.

 

Heck, I am sure there are loads of asthma pumps at the back of the front!

Completion of a 100km road event does not need training if you are in a shape SOMEWHAT resembling a human being.

If you are not, rather spend money on getting into shape (I'm not even referring to fit/lean/thin), just 'in shape'

[alsoran]

Am I missing something. Why would an amature dope. They are funrides. Confused