Originally Posted by
Jed19
Okay, I can agree with your explanation. In recent times, I only cramp (cycling) when I've really pushed/extended myself. Especially on hot days. I ride mostly in SoCal, and I have a hunch that bleeding electrolytes has something to do with cramping, although I can't say that with scientific certainty.
And when I played competitive soccer and lived in the tropics, the cramping was almost always after you've bled salt/electrolytes for a while. And to even add to the mystery of cramping, I do not ever remember my quads cramping until I started cycling seriously. It was always calf and hamstring muscles before I started cycling. Now, with cycling, it is sometimes all three, but most times just the quads and hamstrings.
There's a lot of controversy about the causes of cramping during an event or ride. There's a now-famous study where ultra-marathoners who wound up in the med tent with cramping were tested for electrolytes and hydration and this compared to the population who did not cramp. No significant differences were noted. OTOH, "everyone knows" that dehydration and electrolyte loss causes cramping. It's very unlikely that athletes are all idiots. In this year's Stage 11, Chris Horner cramped so badly after a descent that he had to get off his bike and drink a whole bottle of water. He was able to return to the peloton. I've experienced cramping that resolved by increasing my water intake while staying with the group. OTOH I've also been severely dehydrated during the height of the season without a hint of cramping. If you research cramping on med sites, it all comes down to, "the causes are not well understood."
However, it is certain that being undertrained does lead to cramping. I'll frequently cramp in the early season, but not later when the rides are much harder and longer.