[Closed] Cramp

I now use SIS in my drinks and wear Skins shorts.

I used to get it at anything over 2 hours riding. Fine now.

I've tried all sorts and nothing helps. I just get on with it, if it gets too bad I get off and walk for a bit. Think I'm just prone to it or might be my meds I'm taking?

Some people (me) get it bad, others don't.

1+ Getting off and walking for a bit does help.

1+ Electrolytes too. Decathlon bags are inexpensive. Nuuns don't work for me but others swear by them.

Not boozing the night before is really beneficial!

get fitter 😀

get fitter

Cheeky git!

I'm guilty of not drinking enough water. I shall up my intake and, when required, wee in the bushes.

where do you get cramp?

I'm told tonic water is quite good, the quinine in it is suposed to help.

where do you get cramp?

Quads.

Ive had similar problems and have found when doing a longer ride, over 50miles on the road or 3 plus hours on mtb, i use sis energy drink the day before as a carbo load (sipping throughout the day plus usual water intake) and then use sis eloctrolyte on the ride. Suplemented by energy gels, sis and torque (something about rhubarb and custard energy gels that is sooo appealing).

right then, big muscle used mostly for cycling, right? Don't you think it's odd that a "electrolyte imbalance" effects only that muscle? Maybe it's nothing to do with that, and everything to do with how strong that muscle is?

It's most likely to be, as noted above, a lack of fitness. Some current thinking about cramp is that it is an expression of neuro-muscular fatigue, and is probably not really related to electrolytes.

The science is here; http://www.sportsscientists.com/2007/11/muscle-cramps-part-1-theories-and.html.

Basically, if you are low on electrolytes, how has it happened? you sweat out far more water than salts, so the concentration of salt in your body goes up, not down while exercising... Plus, if you are low on electrolytes, why do you only get cramp in the muscles you are using most, and not every muscle?

More training, not more salt.

Edit; fist bump to Emsz...

I get it in my feet also when I'm asleep.

So did my mum when she was pregnant with me pervy little brov!

Used to get it in quads,hams and adductors, sometimes all at the same time. I'm a "salty sweater" - always loads of salty residue when sweat dries. Wondered if that's why I got it so bad?

Longer lycras when really cold helped, but ELETE additive helped completely settle this.

Having said that, now much less problem now I'm fitter so I'm sure thats part of it too.

[i]Used to get it in quads,hams and adductors, sometimes all at the same time. I'm a "salty sweater" - always loads of salty residue when sweat dries[/i]

If you read through the above link, you'll find that 'salty sweaters' are pretty much an invention to sell more electrolyte drink...

And yes cramp has decreased as fitness improved!!
But still like the carbo load.

Cramp can be caused by muscle fatigue so Emsz cheeky comment might not be far off it 🙂

Otherwise electrolytes and plenty of stretching should help.

I agree with what has been said above. Cramp is not an electrolyte issue if it's restricted to individual muscle groups. The type of cramp that is caused by electrolyte imbalance would affect muscles at random.

Theres been quite a lot of work done on the subject. There was an interesting blog post on cyclingtipsblog a while back if you search for it.

Unfortunately it is a fitness thing. I know I cramp up when I'm pushing too hard in a race. But equally I've cramped in 45 minutes riding a horse using muscles I didn't normally use (though, rising trot with out stirrups is just impossible for mortals surely).

I agree with what has been said above. Cramp is not an electrolyte issue if it's restricted to individual muscle groups. The type of cramp that is caused by electrolyte imbalance would affect muscles at random.

Really ? Even if the major muscle group responsible for the activity is the one that cramps ?