berner

I tend to cramps early season, before getting into good physical condition or if undertaking a longer ride than normal. Lately, I've been using Sportlegs, apparently to good effect. I can't yet prove it helps but am becoming convinced it does. For example, a week ago I was on the last third of a longer ride when I stopped for a break. As I sat at the edge of the road, evidently looking somewhat forlorn, a woman stopped her vehicle to ask if I was alright. I thanked her for her concern and assured here I was just resting. But my right calve, not yet cramping but muscles were beginning to twitch as if about to cramp. I carry a few Sportlegs tablets in a tiny plastic baggie and immediately swallowed two tabs. Within 5 minutes the twitching stopped and I completed the ride with no issues.

There is no substitute for mileage and conditioning but if a supplement can alleviate the worst effects, either during or in the evening after a ride, I am happy to supplement. My question is whether anyone else has been using Sportlegs or something similar and what the effect may have been, real or imagined?

Carbonfiberboy 

I use Sportlegs for hard group rides and events. I think they work. Pretty hard to do a controlled trial on oneself, since performance varies some from day to day, but it seems to me they slightly increase my time to exhaustion.

Reviews here:
SPORT LEGS Product Reviews and Ratings - Supplements - SportLegs Supplement from Performance Bike
Sportlegs Supplement - 120 Capsules at REI.com

Notice that hikers don't usually notice any difference. I think that's because of the intensity: the harder I go, the more I notice it. Hiking is pretty much just zone 1.

berner

That is pretty much my take on the use of Sportlegs; intensity has much to do with effectivness. Sunday I was on a club ride, a fairly short loop for me but with some rollers that I usually enjoy because I stand and crank, barely loosing speed. This year I did not have the same strength and stamina. Due to crappy weather, I've not put in the miles of previous years and thus do not have the endurance. On a few rides lately I've taken several tablets before the ride and have had minimal soreness and fairly quick recovery in the following day or two. This year I've not put in the miles of previous years and thus do not have the same stamina. As I said earlier, I can't prove they work, but I've a strong impression they do.

There are quite a few posts regarding cramping. I would urge people to, first, get plenty of miles in and give Sportlegs a try and then, report back.

Looigi

I have not noticed any effect.

travelerman

I thought they helped me on (my first) MS150 last year, but after using them on a metric this year that had me cramping like crazy, I am more convinced that training and proper hydration are more effective