Team Revolution

I race bikes, have three teenage boys and a full-time day job, so from time to time, healthy food and clean living ain’t enough and I muscle through my daily to-do with a little something extra. Sometimes this takes the form of a double-shot espresso, chocolate covered coffee beans, or more frequently these days, 5-hour energy.

I first tried 5 Hour last year during the Quad Cities crits. Wandering around trying to find a place to hang out after my race, I gratefully accepted Team Revolution’s invitation to have seat and they gave me my first 5-Hour sample. Of course, I knocked it right back. What better way to give something like this a test than after a race when you’re feeling wiped? If there’s a pick-me-up worth paying for, one will surely know it. Sure enough, about 15-20 minutes later, I considered entering one of the men’s races to get some more experience. Better sense prevailed and I spent the afternoon making some great new friends instead.

Although it’s tempting to write the lift off to straight caffeine, whatever else they put in that stuff helps moderate the experience such that it’s unlike other stimulants. Espresso, coffee beans, energy drinks and the like all tend to make me a little jittery and oftentimes, more than a bit irritable. Plus, when the caffeine and sugar have run their course, there’s a crash. In contrast, 5-Hour’s lift is smooth and it has a subtle fade.

Some folks won’t like the taste of it, but they’ve altered the recipe a bit so it tastes a lot better than it used to. Still, you’re not gonna want to sip it. Just shoot it and move on with your day. I should also mention I monitor my diet pretty close and don’t consume much in the way of caffeine any time other than a cup of coffee in the morning, so I may be more sensitive to 5-Hour’s effects. If you often find yourself sleep deprived and drink coffee and soda all the time, you may not get the same impact from a product like 5-Hour. For you, I’d recommend lifestyle modification instead.