Very painful cramping
05-26-08, 06:47 PM
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 108
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Very painful cramping
Today, after around 2 hours of climbing, my legs started cramping in both my thighs and my calves. My calves kind of knotted up and I had to get off the bike several times. Do any of you guys know what this is because it is very painful. Thanks.
05-26-08, 06:53 PM
#2
Senior Member
Sounds like a standard electrolyte imbalance. More good food, less bad food, and more potassium if nothing else (bananas, gatorade, etc). And less "water only" if you drink tons of water.
Not a doctor or dietitian by any means,
cdr
Not a doctor or dietitian by any means,
cdr
05-26-08, 06:53 PM
#3
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Queanbeyan, Australia.
Posts: 4,135
Mentioned: 85 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3450 Post(s)
Liked 420 Times
in
289 Posts
Here's my standard answer to this question. You're suffering from Magnesium deficiency. Magnesium is used by your muscles to relax and on a long hard ride you have used up all your stores. Your muscles also use Calcium to contract.
Regards, Anthony
Regards, Anthony
05-26-08, 08:12 PM
#4
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: edmond, ok
Posts: 348
Bikes: trek 5200
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
you don't say how hot it was, or what you were drinking. i used to have problems with cramps after extended riding, at 50-60 miles if it was hot i was in trouble. i switched from endurance formula gatorade to e load, and i put one e-cap in each bottle in addition. No cramps at all since i started that, even at 100 mi.
05-26-08, 09:06 PM
#5
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 108
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Looking back on it, I did not eat lunch or much of anything during the ride itself. I didn't think cramps were related to food, and I thought that I didn't warmup right or something like that. Next time, I'll know what to do 
Thanks everyone.
Thanks everyone.
05-26-08, 09:15 PM
#6
Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Gilbert AZ
Posts: 1,321
Bikes: Cervelo S5 SRAM Red -
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Everyone has different causes for cramping. I'm not big on taking supplements but I was recommended Sportlegs by a retired pro and sure enuff it handled it. It's cheap and it works plain and simple. also help suppress the lactic pain when climbing and hard efforts.
05-26-08, 09:31 PM
#7
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2008
Location: San Diego, CA
Posts: 249
Bikes: Lemond Zurich
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
its either, you didnt warm-up, you didnt stretch, you didnt hydrate properly, you didnt use a good nutrition strategy IE: not eatin or not eating right.
05-26-08, 09:33 PM
#8
In Real Life
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Down under down under
Posts: 52,152
Bikes: Lots
Mentioned: 141 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3203 Post(s)
Liked 596 Times
in
329 Posts
Nevermind how much you ate ... how much did you drink?
__________________
Rowan
My fave photo threads on BF
Century A Month Facebook Group
Machka's Website
Photo Gallery
Rowan
My fave photo threads on BF
Century A Month Facebook Group
Machka's Website
Photo Gallery
05-26-08, 10:40 PM
#9
Mountain Goat
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Denver, CO
Posts: 2,244
Bikes: Cannondale Synapse 3 Carbon
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
So true. Also, did you happen to have too many beers the day before. Alcohol and caffeine dehydrate you and deplete electrolytes too. I use electrolyte supplements for exercise and overindulgence.
