Cramping

[wackwack]

Some where I heard that sucking Rennies  helps.  

 

It doesn't

 

[SwissVan]

 

Stretching the affected muscles also works.

 

 

[Naas V]

 

99% of cyclist don't cramp whilst training.

 

So, coz we're competitive, we race above our ability.

 

Thus, Cramping = Intensity coupled with Duration.

 

Bottomline is Train hard, Race easy.

 

Some free and gratis advice: My sweatrate is higher than normal, so I need to take supplements that can actually slow down my sweatrate ie curbing fluid depletion/loss of body weight etc.

 

Try glycerine for about 3 days before a race, about 100 ml per day and 50 ml on the morning of the race. It works like a water hoarding sponge and causes the body to hold on to 50% more fluid than water alone. This will slow down your sweatrate and subsequently the time when you normally start to cramp due to loss of electrolytes, salts, sodium etc. There's other benefits too like cooling bodytemp and increase in endurance etc.

 

 

 

[SwissVan]

99% of cyclist don't cramp whilst training.

So' date=' coz we're competitive, we race above our ability.

Thus, Cramping = Intensity coupled with Duration.

Bottomline is Train hard, Race easy.

Some free and gratis advice: My sweatrate is higher than normal, so I need to take supplements that can actually slow down my sweatrate ie curbing fluid depletion/loss of body weight etc.

Try glycerine for about 3 days before a race, about 100 ml per day and 50 ml on the morning of the race. It works like a water hoarding sponge and causes the body to hold on to 50% more fluid than water alone. This will slow down your sweatrate and subsequently the time when you normally start to cramp due to loss of electrolytes, salts, sodium etc. There's other benefits too like cooling bodytemp and increase in endurance etc.


[/quote']

 

Interesting post regarding the high sweat rate.

2 questions:

1. Does it visibly slow your sweat rate down i.e. can you definetly notice a difference in the amount you sweat?

2. Does it not cause "overheating issues" due to a lower sweat rate i.e. Your body sweats for a reason, is it not risky to interfere with this process?

 

 

 

[TNOSE_E]

99% of cyclist don't cramp whilst training.

So' date=' coz we're competitive, we race above our ability.

Thus, Cramping = Intensity coupled with Duration.

Bottomline is Train hard, Race easy.

Some free and gratis advice: My sweatrate is higher than normal, so I need to take supplements that can actually slow down my sweatrate ie curbing fluid depletion/loss of body weight etc.

Try glycerine for about 3 days before a race, about 100 ml per day and 50 ml on the morning of the race. It works like a water hoarding sponge and causes the body to hold on to 50% more fluid than water alone. This will slow down your sweatrate and subsequently the time when you normally start to cramp due to loss of electrolytes, salts, sodium etc. There's other benefits too like cooling bodytemp and increase in endurance etc.


[/quote']

 

Interesting post regarding the high sweat rate.

2 questions:

1. Does it visibly slow your sweat rate down i.e. can you definetly notice a difference in the amount you sweat?

2. Does it not cause "overheating issues" due to a lower sweat rate i.e. Your body sweats for a reason, is it not risky to interfere with this process?

 

 

 

 

Would also like to know?

 

What product do you take?

[The Saint]

Each to his own and everyone is different. Rennies helps for me whilst cramp stop does not.

 

The solution has been mentioned already and prevention is better than cure, train more. If you are going to do a 60km race then train with 100km rides it's that simple.

 

People generally do it the other way around and come race day they are doing distances they have never done before then wonder why they cramp up.

 

Lactic Acid is the cause of the problem and your "normal amount" as I understand it can only be determined by a blood test and once again each person is different.

 

We are currently busy with trials and it seems that we have "something" that is a good ingredient to keep your Lactic acid levels under control. Not going to say too much more but watch this space!!

[Naas V]

 

With the level of my fitness(high at the moment) I don't use this method often, maybe 2 - 3 times per year. So interference with norml body systems is low.

 

Typical races will be ones over 100 km like the DC for example.

 

The sweating is visibly less - remember glycerine is a fluid - "thickener" so to speak and also acts as a body coolant.

 

There's various articles on the web about this - the best being by Joe Friel, world renowned trainer, in his book The Cyclist's Training Bible.

 

[Naas V]

 

100% chemically pure Glycerine - get at your local chemist

 

[MichaelH]

 

Girl friend is new to cycling but is a competitive walker, so fitness is not an issue. Since she started cycling, she developed cramps in her calves at night, in her sleep! Put her on slow-mag but nothing seems to help! Agree that the answer lies in training but my question is, how come the cramps happen hours after completing a cycle and how does one treat the problem?

 

[TNT1]

 

Girl friend is new to cycling but is a competitive walker' date=' so fitness is not an issue. Since she started cycling, she developed cramps in her calves at night, in her sleep! Put her on slow-mag but nothing seems to help! Agree that the answer lies in training but my question is, how come the cramps happen hours after completing a cycle and how does one treat the problem?

 

[/quote']

 

The answer is not necessarily in the training. This sounds like restless leg syndrome.

 

[The Saint]

Girl friend is new to cycling but is a competitive walker' date=' so fitness is not an issue. Since she started cycling, she developed cramps in her calves at night, in her sleep! Put her on slow-mag but nothing seems to help! Agree that the answer lies in training but my question is, how come the cramps happen hours after completing a cycle and how does one treat the problem?
  [/quote']

I am no expert but have also had this happen to me before. What I believe the cause may be is lactic acid still in the muscle and hence the cramp when you are sleeping and lying down. Gravity does its thing.

 

I have tried and been advised that after a ride to lie down with my legs up in order to get the lactic acid to drain towards my liver, hence no cramping when sleeping and less stiffer legs. I have found this helps. As for the science of it all as I said I am no expert so don't quote me on my reasoning.

 

[SwissVan]

With the level of my fitness(high at the moment) I don't use this method often' date=' maybe 2 - 3 times per year. So interference with norml body systems is low.

Typical races will be ones over 100 km like the DC for example.

The sweating is visibly less - remember glycerine is a fluid - "thickener" so to speak and also acts as a body coolant.

There's various articles on the web about this - the best being by Joe Friel, world renowned trainer, in his book The Cyclist's Training Bible.
[/quote']

 

Thanks will look it up

 

 

[NC_lurker]

Girl friend is new to cycling but is a competitive walker' date=' so fitness is not an issue. Since she started cycling, she developed cramps in her calves at night, in her sleep! Put her on slow-mag but nothing seems to help! Agree that the answer lies in training but my question is, how come the cramps happen hours after completing a cycle and how does one treat the problem?
  [/quote']

Ok, so there's a big difference between fitness of various sportspeople and the resultant muscle usage, but not going to get into that.

As previously mentioned, cramping is caused by the change in intensity & the time muscles spend in different positions (shortened vs lengthened).

Have a look at the link below, I haven't read it all, but Dr Martin Schwellnus is very respected in this field, he works at SSI in Newlands.

http://www.ultracycling.com/training/cramping.html

 

To resolve your GF's cramping, you might try USN L-Glutamine before she goes to bed. I've found it helps relax my legs and helps with "restless leg" syndrome as TNT calls it.

[NC_lurker]

Another good related article written by Dr Schwellnus is available here:

http://knol.google.com/k/martin-schwellnus/muscle-cramping/TtPbefpe/gYUTkw#

 

Scroll down until you get to the section on Exercise Associated Muscle Cramps (EAMC)

(Warning, it's a fairly technical read.)

lurker2009-04-01 04:09:01

[badenhj]

My wife also used to suffer from cramps at night. She started taking Calmag at night before going to bed and no more cramping ever. She cycles runs daily.