9 Best Pre-Workout for Cycling (good for cycling?)

January 8, 2024 |

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If you love cycling or are looking to start, then you know that the best way to improve your performance is by incorporating a pre-workout routine.

But what is the best pre-workout for cycling?

And how do you know if it’s right for you?

Are pre-workouts good for cycling?

Should you take a pre-workout before a bike ride?

These are critical questions that need answers when looking to use workout supplements for cycling.

You have nothing to worry about.

In this blog post, we’ll explore everything you need to know about choosing and using a pre-workout for cycling. So whether you’re just starting out or are looking to take your cycling game up a notch, read on.

The pre-workouts that we have researched and listed on this page are some of the best pre-workouts for cycling that you can hope to find.

Should cyclists take pre-workout?

Yes, cyclists should take pre-workouts to help them increase performance by boosting their energy, power, and stamina.

cycling cyclist

Cycling is a competitive sport, and though it may sound easy, it is incredibly demanding. People who cycle competitively require a lot of stamina, energy, and muscle power.

It takes a lot to be a champion cyclist, and it demands a lot of energy and dedication. Sometimes a simple workout is not enough, and you want to be able to push yourself harder and get better faster.

This is where supplements come into the picture and before you wonder if should cyclists take pre-workout or any other supplement, rest assured they most definitely can.

No matter how good the pre-workout supplement is, it’s not going to do much good if you’re not putting in the effort during your ride.

A pre-workout supplement should be seen as an addition to your training, not a substitute for it.

That said, if you are looking for a little bit of an edge and want to give pre-workout supplements a try, there are a few things to keep in mind. First, make sure you are taking a quality product from a reputable company. Second, start with a lower dose and work your way up gradually to find the right amount for you. Third, always drink plenty of water when taking pre-workout supplements to avoid dehydration.

Talking about taking quality pre-workout for cycling…

What are the 9 Best Pre-Workouts for Cycling?

We have rounded up the 8 best pre-workouts for cycling:

1. Crazy Nutrition Pre-Workout

Intensive-Pre-Train

It would be foolish of us to create a list of powerful and effective pre-workout supplements and not include the Crazy Nutrition Intensive Pre-Train Pre-Workout.

For a supplement brand to make a place for itself in this oversaturated market, it needs to be better than other supplement brands and be unique and effective. Crazy Nutrition does this by using accurately dosed beneficial ingredients in facilities that the FDA has approved.

This pre-workout contains 2.8 mg of iron. Iron is an essential part of the blood and ensures the adequate delivery of oxygen to the muscles while cycling as well as other tissues. Iron has also been shown to improve athletic ability.

The 0.7 mg of vitamin B6 and 8 mg of niacin are also used to increase blood flow while cycling to prevent lactic acid build-up in muscles.

This supplement contains 1 g of tyrosine, an amino acid that is used in the production of neurotransmitters.

The increase in neurotransmitters is key to increasing mental alertness, which is necessary while cycling to prevent injury.

These neurotransmitters are also used to enhance the movement of the muscles, an essential benefit for cyclists.

The Crazy Nutrition Pre-Workout supplement contains 200 mg of anhydrous caffeine; this caffeine acts as the stimulant in this supplement and increases energy levels.

This increases the amount of type you can spend exercising. The 1.8 g of anhydrous betaine in this supplement improves the body’s endurance, much needed for cyclists.

The cost of this supplement is $39.99 for one 20-serving container.

2. Legion Pulse Pre-Workout

legion preworkout

Mike Matthews, a best-selling author, created the Legion brand. He created the brand to provide people with top-quality, healthy sports supplements.

These supplements are created using ingredients that are backed by scientific research to ensure maximum effectiveness. Among the various supplements that this company provides its consumers is the Legion Pulse Natural Pre-Workout.

Caffeine can be an incredible source of energy for cycling. However, the side effects like post-caffeine crashes or jitters can diminish its effectiveness.

This supplement contains 350 mg of caffeine, and you can benefit from its effects due to the 350 mg of theanine in this supplement. The theanine acts to counteract the side effects of caffeine.

Without proper flow of blood to your muscles, cycling can become very difficult as it requires a lot of effort from your muscles to maintain the same amount of energy throughout the cycling routine.

To provide blood flow to the dependent muscles while cycling, the supplement contains 8 grams of citrulline. It also improves muscle endurance.

The supplement contains 3.6 grams of beta-alanine. This amino acid increases the carnosine levels in the muscles, increasing the time it takes for the muscles to fatigue while cycling.

The Legion Pulse pre-workout for cycling contains 300 mg of Alpha-GPC, which increases mental focus and alertness. The 2.5 grams of betaine in this supplement increase the metabolism of fat in the body.

The cost of this supplement is $39.99 for a 21-serving container.

3. Woke AF Pre-Workout

woke af

In 2013 the company Bucked Up was created by Ryan Gardner. The company’s mission is to help improve the health and fitness of all its consumers, whether they be professional athletes or just someone looking to improve their lifestyle.

Their products are made with the best possible ingredients to ensure maximum benefit to their users. One such product is the Woke AF pre-workout supplement.

The supplement contains deer velvet extract.

This ingredient has been used in traditional medicines and has various benefits.

It is used in this supplement to increase your physical endurance and strength, which is ideal for cyclists who require a lot of stamina and endurance. It has also been used in boosting the body’s immunity.

This pre-workout supplement contains 100 mg of Himalayan rock salts with trace minerals. This salt has been known to improve your sleep. This is a crucial benefit for cyclists as the time when they are asleep is when their muscles undergo the most repair.

Woke AF contains 100 mg of dendrobium. This is an ingredient that has been used in traditional Chinese medicine to reduce inflammation.

This supplement acts as a stimulant, increasing your energy levels without the side effects of caffeine. It contains 40 mg of synephrine and 333 mg of anhydrous caffeine. These are the three main stimulants of this supplement.

It contains 25 mg of AstraGin, which enhances the absorption of other ingredients, 3.2 grams of beta-alanine to increase endurance and muscle strength, and 100 mg of taurine, which increases the functioning of your metabolism.

The price of this supplement is $54.99 for a tub that contains 30 servings.

4. N.O.-Xplode

NO

Bio-Engineered Supplements and Nutrition is a mouth full, so most people stick to the name BSN. The company was created in 2001, and it has gone from strength to strength.

Over the years, BSN has become a worldwide company that specializes in nutritional supplements. They are a well-known and trusted name in the world of supplements.

Among the numerous supplements that BSN offers its consumers is the N.O.-Xplode pre-workout supplement.

This pre-workout supplement contains 12.5 mcg of Vitamin D.

This vitamin has more uses than simply boosting your immunity, and it can prove incredibly beneficial for cyclists.

Cycling is a hard sport that requires a lot of energy; vitamin D increases the ATP concentration in the body, automatically enhancing energy levels. This vitamin also affects your muscles by increasing their strength and improving your athletic performance.

The supplement contains 2 mg of B6 and 6 mcg of B12. These B vitamins are used to increase the blood flow in the body. This improved flow of blood allows for greater oxygen delivery to the muscles. This allows for greater muscle activity while cycling.

The supplement contains a 5.1 g myogenic matrix, which consists of a creatine blend, di-calcium phosphate, disodium phosphate, and AstraGin. The creatine in this blend helps to increase muscle mass while also reducing muscle recovery time.

The pre-workout contains 1.3 g of the thermic blend, and which contains tyrosine, anhydrous caffeine, and grapefruit bioflavonoid complex.

Tyrosine helps to increase the production of proteins that are used in building muscle mass. Caffeine has been used as a stimulant to increase energy levels, and the bioflavonoid complex increases blood flow.

The price for one container with 30 servings is $49.79.

5. C4 Ultimate Pre-Workout

c4 ultimate

Cellucor is a sub-brand of the Nutra bolt company. It was created in 2002 as an exclusive supplement brand that provides premium health and fitness supplements.

Among the many high-quality supplements that Cellucor provides its consumers is the C4 Ultimate pre-workout supplement.

The best way to ensure that you are getting the most out of your cycling routine is to increase your energy levels.

The C4 Ultimate pre-workout supplement helps you do this through the use of 300 mg of anhydrous caffeine.

This provides a sudden burst of energy along with 1 mg of rauwolfia vomitoria while the 62.5 mg of theacrine is used to provide energy over an extended period; this prevents crashing from dramatic increases and decreases in energy levels.

When cycling, your muscles can tire easily, trying to maintain a steady pace. This supplement contains 3.2g of beta-alanine, an amino acid that helps to keep your muscles functioning throughout your cycling routine while also preventing early muscle fatigue.

It is also enriched with  2 g of creatine which is used to increase the number of ATP present in the body, and increase the mass of your muscles, and strength of your muscles. The stronger your muscles, the better you can cycle.

The cost of this supplement is $23.99 for a tub with 12 servings.

6. Gorilla Mode Pre-Workout

Gorilla-Mode-Preworkout

The Gorilla Mind company is all about strengthening and empowering its users. They create a wide number of supplements to meet almost any need that you may have regarding your health and fitness.

Muscles need time to repair, and there is simply nothing we can do to change that, the more intense the cycling session you put yourself through, the more likely it is that you have minorly damaged your muscles, and the longer they will need to repair themselves.

You can, however, reduce the time it takes for your muscles to heal; this supplement does this through the use of 2500 mg of creatine. Not only does this ingredient increase your muscle strength and endurance, but it also reduces repair time.

Cycling is labor-intensive; it can easily lead to dehydration, especially if you are lax in keeping yourself well-hydrated.

The Gorilla Mode pre-workout supplement contains 1500 mg of glycerpump (glycerol powder); this is used to prevent dehydration in the body, as glycerol helps keep the body hydrated.

This supplement contains 200 mcg Huperzine A, which is used to increase mental alertness. When cycling, it is important to keep your mind sharp to prevent an accident.

The cost of 1 tub of this supplement with 40 servings is $49.

7. Mr. Hyde Nitro X Pre workout

mr hyde

When looking for a supplement brand, you want one that knows what they are doing, not a company chasing the latest trends. A company that knows the needs of its customers and delivers on its promises.

ProSupps is that business. This is a company that is all about health and fitness.

Unlike other companies run by people who don’t know what an intense workout is, ProSupps is made by a group of people who are well aware of what athletes and fitness enthusiasts are looking for.

Their Mr. Hyde pre-workout supplement contains 250 mg of nitrosigine, better known as arginine silicate inositol.

ASI is different from arginine, and it has more than just a stimulant effect. ASI is capable of increasing recovery after an intense cycling session. It is also capable of enhancing the muscle pumping ability, a much-needed benefit for avid cyclers.

The 14 mg of niacin in this supplement increases muscle pumping ability. This is due to its ability to increase blood flow.

The 250 mg of citrulline has a similar effect by increasing the production of nitric oxide. The 250 mg of choline increases muscle activity by increasing the release of acetylcholine.

This supplement contains 169 mg of anhydrous caffeine.

The side effects of this caffeine, such as jitters and anxiety, are countered by the presence of 13 mg GABA, a neurotransmitter that causes relaxation and reduces anxiety.

The cost of this supplement is $24.99 for one tub with 30 servings.

8. Vintage Blast Pre-Workout

vintage blast

Old School Labs was created to emulate the golden era of bodybuilding and athleticism. The supplements they create are made to emulate the passion and dedication of that time.

Every supplement that they create is made using the best possible ingredients to provide maximum benefits to their users.

A sudden increase in energy can have the opposite effect on your cycling ability, as with a sudden increase, there is also a dramatic drop in your energy levels.

This supplement contains caffeine in two forms to prevent this crash. It contains 150 mg of anhydrous caffeine and 100 mg of micro-encapsulated caffeine.

The anhydrous form increases caffeine rapidly, while the micro-encapsulated form releases caffeine slowly over time. This allows you to cycle without having to fear sudden crashes.

The supplement contains 5,000 mg of citrulline, which is used to improve blood flow in the body. This is used to reduce muscle fatigue as well as increase muscle strength and endurance, ensuring you can complete your cycling session with ease.

The cost of this supplement is $39.99 for a container with 20 servings.

9. Evlution Nutrition ENGN

EVL-Preworkout

As the name suggests, Evlution is a brand that is constantly improving its products to provide its users with the best results. Among their many supplement options is the ENGN pre-workout supplement.

A good cycling session requires you to have great mental focus.

This supplement contains several ingredients like Huperzine A, tyrosine, choline bitartrate, and theanine. These ingredients are used to increase your mental awareness and keep your mind sharp while cycling.

The tyrosine, choline, and Huperzine A increase the production and release of excitatory neurotransmitters.

The supplement contains anhydrous caffeine and VitaShure caffeine. The Vita Shure caffeine is released gradually over time while the anhydrous caffeine increases energy levels rapidly.

The theanine in this supplement ensures that you benefit from the energy increase while avoiding caffeine crashes and other side effects.

The vitamin B6. B12 and niacin have a range of benefits. They increase the metabolism of proteins which are then used to repair muscles, improve muscular endurance and improve blood flow in the body.

The cost of this supplement is $31.99 for a container with 30 servings.

Key Ingredients of the Pre-Workout for Cyclists

The following are the key features of the best pre-workouts for cycling:

Caffeine and Similar Stimulants

Any pre-workout that you are looking to buy should have an ingredient that acts as a stimulant in your body. This can be caffeine to natural herbs.

This stimulant will provide you with the energy that you need to work out and still have enough energy to keep yourself going through the rest of your day.

Protein Enhancers

To increase your muscle mass and reduce the amount of time that it takes for your body to repair torn and damaged muscles, you need proteins.

It takes time for this protein to be synthesized as the body only has a limited number of amino acids. A good pre-workout supplement contains amino acids.

By increasing the number of amino acids available in the body, the number of proteins that can be synthesized also increases. This leads to increased muscle mass and reduces the time it takes for the torn muscles to be repaired.

Nitric Oxide Boosters

Cycling places a great demand on your body, and the muscles need more oxygen to continue to pump at the level that a workout requires.

When there is not enough oxygen reaching the muscle tissues, they switch to anaerobic respiration. This leads to a build-up of lactic acid, which causes muscle pain and limits workout time.

A good pre-workout supplement is made with ingredients that increase the amount of nitric oxide in the body. This nitric oxide acts on the bloodstream and causes them to dilate, increasing blood flow.

Good Taste

Nobody wants to be taking a bland, flavorless supplement 3-to 7 times a week. It is simply not a fun experience.

This is why when you are looking for a pre-workout supplement, look for one that has a good flavor so that you can enjoy your workouts without having to worry about the taste of your pre-workout supplement.

Final Thoughts

Pre-workouts are good for cycling and work great during cyclists’ training sessions to get ready for competitions. Cycling is a great exercise to improve your overall health, and adding a pre-workout supplement can help you get the most out of your cycling routine.

We’ve recommended some of the best pre-workout supplements for cyclists, so be sure to try one or more of them before your next ride.

Among these top supplement options for cycling, The Crazy Nutrition Pre-Train pre-workout is the best option. It comes packed with vitamins and minerals, amino acids, and caffeine.

It also comes in a wide range of flavors, and the serving size is worth the price point.

The Pre-Train formula contains 19 potent ingredients that deliver energy, focus, and drive-by giving athletes of all skill levels the focus, energy, and drive they deserve to perform at their best – without jitters, stomach cramps, or digestive issues.

Do you have any questions about choosing or using a pre-workout supplement? Do let us know.

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