Originally Posted by
Rowan
..I think the fact that you ride a LOT means that the relevant muscles in that part of the leg have been trained and strengthened and have become used to the exertion. I think that's one of the key elements coming out of this thread -- ride more and get that muscle used to the job it's meant to be doing. Oh, and you're a really lucky rider to have avoided this pain from hell!!
That probalby does help. I remember on my very first century I was climbing this 19% grade (at about 2mph) about 70 miles into the ride and came upon this group of people standing around this guy who was all bent over. I stopped and asked "did you loose a contact?" I asked because that's what it looked like but apparently he was just cramping so bad he couldn't stand up! Then I noticed all his blood vessles were sticking out and it looked like he was trying to lift 1000lbs. I rode off thinking, "man, I'm glad that isn't me!" That looked like no fun at all.