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08-31-09, 08:59 AM
OK, I will admit it - I am a sweater! I sweat just thinking about riding. I sweat pumping up my tires. I sweat when I... ok, you get the idea!
Background.... 51 yrs old, 210 pounds male (could lose 10, maybe15 pounds, if I really had to). Ride 400-500 miles a month when the weather is warm.
Rode a century yesterday - great ride... rolling hills and had a few younger pups to pull me along at a brisk, but not unreasonable pace. Trouble started at mile 83 with a few leg cramps - hammy, quads and calves. Not overly serious cramps, but still enough that I had to say goodbye to my group and limp in the last 19 miles. Still, I averaged 17.5 for the 102 miles!
Anyway, here is the problem -- I know I am a sweater -- This cramping has happened before. So, I know I need to stay hydrated -- I know I need to set myself up with proper nutirition the days before a long ride weekend (rode a combined 70 miles the two days before the century). I did all of that - in fact, during the ride I felt quite bloated from the gatorade and water I constantly drank from the start. Add in the bananas and food at the rest stops... Even with all of that, I still started cramping, and my bibs had those lovely salty patterns by the end.
Except for the cramping issue, I have never felt better after a century. Recovered quickly, not sore, and I am ready to ride again.
So my question to the group --I know I can't stop the sweating, but can I stop the salt loss? Or stay hydrated with something different? Even on shorter 50 mile rides, I don't cramp, but the salty stains are still there.
Background.... 51 yrs old, 210 pounds male (could lose 10, maybe15 pounds, if I really had to). Ride 400-500 miles a month when the weather is warm.
Rode a century yesterday - great ride... rolling hills and had a few younger pups to pull me along at a brisk, but not unreasonable pace. Trouble started at mile 83 with a few leg cramps - hammy, quads and calves. Not overly serious cramps, but still enough that I had to say goodbye to my group and limp in the last 19 miles. Still, I averaged 17.5 for the 102 miles!
Anyway, here is the problem -- I know I am a sweater -- This cramping has happened before. So, I know I need to stay hydrated -- I know I need to set myself up with proper nutirition the days before a long ride weekend (rode a combined 70 miles the two days before the century). I did all of that - in fact, during the ride I felt quite bloated from the gatorade and water I constantly drank from the start. Add in the bananas and food at the rest stops... Even with all of that, I still started cramping, and my bibs had those lovely salty patterns by the end.
Except for the cramping issue, I have never felt better after a century. Recovered quickly, not sore, and I am ready to ride again.
So my question to the group --I know I can't stop the sweating, but can I stop the salt loss? Or stay hydrated with something different? Even on shorter 50 mile rides, I don't cramp, but the salty stains are still there.