CRAMPS: The clearest view I've read yet...

[cadenceblur]

Up your training intensity is a good start.

I've started taking Bicarbonate of Soda, it appears to have helped.

[NivenT]

Some extremely fit athletes also cramp and some individuals never cramp, no matter how unfit, overwieght etc they are.

Dr Jeroen Swart was on television a few years back where he insisted that the causes of cramp are not fully understood. All the suggestions of training harder, getting your eletrolyte balance right, bike fit etc are thought to improve your chances of a crampless ride, but it does not eliminate the possibility. It seems clear from this thread that what works for one, does not work for all.

Whatever the cause, how can we get rid of it, when it strikes whilst out on a ride?

I have tried numerous other cramp blockers and even malaria tablets as was suggested in a forum somewhere, but to no avail.

Again i say, Eno improves my situation and I think ,bicarb is an active ingredient in Eno. So Cadence Blur and I, seem to get some relief from a similar source.

Assuming I have no Eno, another trick Jeroen Swart mentioned, was too lightly load the muscle that was cramping and not to rest the muscle completely. If you are lucky, after a while you can "ride out" the cramp.

This also seems to work for me, but you have to be careful, because when you start to push it again, too soon, the cramp may return.

 

I am also interested to know, how many riders that suffer from cramps, have also had at least one episode with gout.

[Veebee]

Up your training intensity is a good start.

 

This has worked for me. When i started cycling last September, I had cramps settling in on some rides from about 20km. More time on the bike, and I can go comfortably for 80+km now. on the more intense rides my weak Hams get hit bad, so need to focus on that more.

[F111]

Theories and Fallacies of muscle cramps Post by Dr Ross Tucker and Dr Jonathan Dugas. I found most helpful in my struggle with cramping.

http://sportsscientists.com/2007/11/muscle-cramps-part-i/

 

I have been of Statins for 20 months I don't cramp anymore.

[JannievanZyl]

I think it will be easier to stick your finger in the spokes while riding at speed, the pain in your finger well make you forget about the cramp.

 

Pickle juice...[spoeging sound]

Actually some good research backing up the pickle juice solution.

 

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19997012

[wonduhboy]

Actually some good research backing up the pickle juice solution.

 

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19997012

This makes me think that these guys are on to something:

 http://itsthenerve.com/

[SwissVan]

Actually some good research backing up the pickle juice solution.

 

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19997012

Hehe I'll be damned... 5 years later

Seems pickle juice does help memory ????

 

Hate pickles and definetly not going to try pickle juice no ways

????

[intern]

I heard about quite an interesting "cure" for cramps last night.

My sister-in-law's husband's (how the hell do I put this otherwise??) came back from doing the Tour de Tule (he's from th USA) and told me that probably the best thing for cramps is the juice in a bottle of pickles. Thats what he uses and it works immediately. Probably due to the high sodium content.

 

Gonna give it a go and take a small bottle of this along in future long rides.

 

One other remedy he mentioned is that mustard you normally get with take-aways, but that one would be hard to swallow I think.

 

What do u guys think?

Jeez cyclists are a flippen weird lot. Just don't get the gherkin juice mixed up with the Gu sachet...

[Max001]

stretching is key. starting a race with tight muscles almost always leads to bad cramps later on...

[Neverfit]

I battled with serious cramping for months and tried all sorts of cramp remedies.

Some worked better than other and I am convinced some actually caused the cramps!...

 

Any ways - USN's Cramp blocker works like a charm for me. I take 2 the night before and 2 just before the ride and haven't had a hint of any cramping since. They are available at almost any sport shop and pretty cheap - might want to give them a try..

[Steven Knoetze (sk27)]

Cramp blocker and an absolute black oval ring have all but cured my chronic cramping.

I also take a daily magnesium supplement now.

But I agree with most sentiments, train more and you will cramp less provided you take in enough fuel and fluids.

[Boerklong]

I can tell you what WILL give you cramps.Imodium.

I never cramp on the bike. Maybe a hint of a cramp here and there, but never an actual cramp.

this includes 2 × Argus and 3 x K2C and a lot of training rides 65km+ without cramps.

Last year with K2C I had a dodgy stomach and took 2 Imodiums 1.5hrs before the start. 20km into the race the first cramp started. Struggled with cramps up until Simola.

Never again. It was awfull.

[Cruz Addict]

my problem and solution found to cramps, ( yes i am a freak but it works like a bomb for me)

https://community.bikehub.co.za/topic/155811-cramping-solution-tequila/

['Dale]

BUMP ????????

['Dale]

Another BUMP

 

Cramps are common in hot temps

[Titleist]

I’m raising this thread from the grave.

 

 

I’m on 2200km for the year and yesterday at the 100miler my legs started cramping at 60km. I’ve done a few rides above 60km’s this year, most notably the Bouckhaert Soenen 122km in February. That day my ave speed was 27km/h with my mtb.

 

Fast forward to yesterday, I’ve never experienced this before and I’m trying to find the reason for the cramps. All my fluid/solids intake was the same as every other ride, actually a bit more yesterday as I new it was a long way. I’m definitely not unfit as well, I can run a sub 50 minute 10km.

 

I had a light flu this past week, took some Benylin 4 in 1 and Viral Choice until Friday morning.

 

Has someone else on here also experienced cramping after flu? No luck with google so far.

 

Only other reason could be a new larger frame bike, but it doesn’t make sense or could it be?