In my experience, most cyclists are looking for ways to gain some incremental advantage on the bike whether it is taking a supplement or buying a new carbon fiber wheelset. Given the highly publicized illicit use of testosterone in the pro peleton and the relentless marketing of testosterone replacement products, it should not come as a big surprise that cyclists are paying attention. Occasionally, a cyclist asks me about the advisability of taking testosterone, generally based on the perception that other amateur cyclists are benefiting from it. Jeff undoubtedly hears some variation of this question much more often than I do.
Like any question in medicine, there is not necessarily a simple answer that generalizes to every individual, but I will offer a general response to this question. A relative handful of individuals suffering from hypogonadism (abnormally low testosterone levels) should be taking testosterone. For most other men who may be in a normal to low normal range the risks of taking testosterone, chief among them cardiovascular disease, outweigh the potential benefits.
You can read two very good opinion pieces about the relative risks and benefits of testosterone replacement in today's New York Times.
Don't Ask Your Doctor About 'Low T'
Weighing Testosterone's Benefits and Risks
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