mariesha

Hi started riding my giant bike with a group of riders. I rode approx: 36 miles on sat and 26 on sundays. After two months I was loving it and noticed my left calf cramping. Now I am being treated for a left plantar fascitis. I am going crazy. I want to ride, but every time I am on my feet throughout the day I get this burning pain in my arch of my foot and then my calf cramps baddddd. I know i am still out of shape but there has to be something i can do in order to get back on the road and ride. I am getting therapy three times a week with a shocker thing and it doesnt seem to get my cramps to stop. Help meeeeee. Anyone have any ideas. Please these doctors have me off work and Its is driving me nuttssss.

late

Hi,
High arches are a pain. Consider a different job. While you are doing that, you are going to need some arch support. There are many types of innersoles. You can find them in bike shops and sneaker stoes and medical supply houses. Keep trying different ones
until one works. You can find one at Walmart that has a carbon fiber arch. That is one of the ones I use. I use a Superfeet in my cycling shoes... https://www.superfeet.com/content/index.html
Btw, flexy cycling shoes can aggravate the problem. You may need to get walking sneakers to accomodate the support. And over time as your feet recover you may need to go to different support.

Now, they make book shaped blue cooler things that go in your freezer. The one you want has curved sides. Freeze it and slap your feet down on them to ice down the Foot Nazis (Plantar Fascistis, a joke). It will hurt. It will work. You do that immediately after you stretch, or exercise.

The cramp is prob a reaction to the other pain, nonehteless, let's make those calves stronger. Do calf raises on a step. When you can do 15, next session hold something heavy. 25 pound bags of cat litter work fine; but build up to it a few pounds at a time. You might find taking Alleve or Advil before a workout prevents all or part of the cramping.

I had similar problems that ended my hiking. They never completely go away; but you can manage it and get on with your life. Don't give up, and you will get back to doing the things you like.

mariesha

Thank you for the message. I will try what you wrote. I may have to go buy a bag of cat litter. hehehhehe just kidding. I can use my dog food bag.

Bop Bop

A doctor I'm not, but I have gotten these types of cramps in the past, they've brought tears to my eyes. I've been told it's from two reasons, lack hydration and potassium.

I am now drinking twice as much water as I used too, especially when I ride. I also have at least one bananna a day.

Do not know if this will help but it seems to work for me.

mariesha

Thank you for the nice note. I love the name. Bop Bop. Have a great week.

Bop Bop

Mariesha,

Thank you. It's the name my grand daughter calls me.

Long Strider

I experienced cramping in my feet and calfs after changing pedals from SPD to Ultregra. One night I realized that maybe the cleat was too far forward. I moved them back about 4mm and since then, no cramps. With the platform too far forward, I was using my toes and calfs too much to press the pedals. Since moving them back, I feel more power force through the spindle of the pedal, my toes are relaxed and there is less pressure on my arch. I have high arches too. It is hard to believe that 4mm would make such a big difference.

RiPHRaPH

if its just on the left side and not bilateral, it more than likely is cleat/pedal setup. we are not exactly even on both sides, and you've got to acct for that.

is this plantar fascitis from running or some other activity? basketball players get this a lot. but illfitting cycling shoes (too narrow?) can put even more pressure on this.

mariesha

Thank you for your information. I did just change peddals, I also changed from softer shoes to harder shoes. I am going to ask my team to assist me in ajusting them. Thank you for the information.

mariesha

Thank you for the info. I have changed my shoes and my pedals. I will try to adjust them. I went to a harder shoe from a soft off road riding shoe. I then went from basic pedals to a pair of look pedals. The look pedals seem to be harder to adjust to.