Cramping in Races

[FanieFiets]

Ja, blerrie parents.

Weird, mind is better at low cadence. Race cadence is usually 103. When cramping starts I lower it and it usually does wonders.

 

[SwissVan]

Thanks all for your comments.  I have finished all the races but the cramps are a real pain "no pun intended ;-)" especially when the guys I train with don't experience any problems.

 

Could be you are allergic to Vanessa, just a guess?.

 

 

[CaptainDura]

....as well as crucnching big gears.  I find that I suffer more when I have a low cadence. 

 

I have found that no matter the cadence I still cramp. I have tried the high candence race - Cramp.

 

I have tried the low cadence race - Cramp.

 

I have tried the high intensity - less mileage training. Cramp.

 

I have tried the low intensity -more mileage training. Cramp.

 

I have tried Slowmag/ crampstop etc etc . Cramp.

 

So it seems that If you are going to cramp you are going to cramp.

 

 

One thing I can say about cramping is that generally when I cramp I get off the bike and stretch for a short while just to get the cramp out.

 

Then when i feel another cramp coming on, I stand up and pedal standing for a while and that seems to help to prevent my legs cramping again. This seems to stretch the muscles a bit and supports the idea that cyclists  stay in one position for too long..

 

I do however cramp only one specific muscle in my legs and normally my left leg starts first. It is the mucle between your hammie and your quads close to the knee on the inside of the leg. 

 

I will try the Eno's test next. will see how that will work out.

[DRIVETRAIN]

There is NO hard or Fast cures for cramping - even with Science being what it is there is NO real answers

 

DT

[noembus]

The only way fixing the problem is to get a coach and let him help you for about 8 months, then you will see a difference, and pls get one that use watt training, the other training methods are a bit odd. You will see the gramps disapear, all the people have all the wisdom of google and all, but at the end it comes down to training, and how you start your season, 8 hours of cycling a week most people on the 94 will cramp, and what makes it wors if you train alone to, well just pm me, i now of some cool coaches. Good luck

[SwissVan]

The only way fixing the problem is to get a coach and let him help you for about 8 months' date=' then you will see a difference, and pls get one that use watt training, the other training methods are a bit odd. You will see the gramps disapear, all the people have all the wisdom of google and all, but at the end it comes down to training, and how you start your season, 8 hours of cycling a week most people on the 94 will cramp, and what makes it wors if you train alone to, well just pm me, i now of some cool coaches. Good luck[/quote']

 

 Only way to fix cramps is to get a coach? And then do u take the coach with water, before or during races?

 

Wonder how cyclists trained before pwr? Not saying pwr training does not work, but it is definetly not the only means of training, nor the only way to solve cramps.

 

How many hrs do u need to train / week to not cramp on 94.7?

 

 

 

[Vincent]

Guys, Call me Mr. CRAMP.

I USED TO CRAMP UP LIKE HELL- EVEN WITH  MANY HOURS OF TRAINING.

 

Last year while preparing for the Cape Epic, I raced the Diamondback. A 300 K/M MTB race in the mountains in the Cape. Day 1 I cramped again like usual. On completing day 1, I went to the medic's for a massage and told them about my cramps- They asked me "DID YOU TAKE YOUR RENNIES?

 

Day 2 - First twitch - 2 Rennies- No more cramps.

Day 3- First twitch - 2 Rennies- No more cramps.

 

Epic - 4 days - 4 Rennies - No Cramps.

 

Never Cramped again.

 

94.7 MTB 2006 - found a guy lying on the ground- cramping up totally- Gave him 2 Rennies- 3 minutes, he was back on the bike.

 

A WEEK AGO - OUDTSHOORN MAXXIS (300 K/M MTB) - 3 Days - 2 Rennies used. No cramps.

 

Guys, THIS WORKS !!!!!!!!

[Willehond]

The only way fixing the problem is to get a coach and let him help you for about 8 months' date=' then you will see a difference, and pls get one that use watt training, the other training methods are a bit odd. You will see the gramps disapear, all the people have all the wisdom of google and all, but at the end it comes down to training, and how you start your season, 8 hours of cycling a week most people on the 94 will cramp, and what makes it wors if you train alone to, well just pm me, i now of some cool coaches. Good luck[/quote']

 

 Only way to fix cramps is to get a coach? And then do u take the coach with water, before or during races?

 

Wonder how cyclists trained before pwr? Not saying pwr training does not work, but it is definetly not the only means of training, nor the only way to solve cramps.

 

How many hrs do u need to train / week to not cramp on 94.7?

 

 

 

 

Well said SwissVan,  I could not have said it better...

[Kobie]

Interesting Vincent. Can someone explain this medically. Rennies are suppose to neutralise stomach acids (as far as I know, I've never had to use them).

 

Also interesting was the comment about medicines like Lipitor makes you prone for cramping. I've been using 20mg Lipitor daily for a number of years and only cramped for a period when I stopped using a Mg supplement. Although it works for me, it might not work for the next guy.

 

It might also depend on how hard you normally race? What is considered "normal" racing effort. I can easily do an average of 85% of max over a 100km race. Is this too high?

 

[Willehond]

Don't analyse it Kobie, BELIEVE it!  Doesn't make sense to me either, but I have heard this from other, normally VERY sceptical, bike riders as well.  Seems to have something to it, but I believe in the school of hard training and high cadence.  Might however sneak a Rennie into my pocket just in case...

[NC_lurker]

(CaptDura..)Then when i feel another cramp coming on, I stand up and pedal standing for a while and that seems to help to prevent my legs cramping again. This seems to stretch the muscles a bit and supports the idea that cyclists  stay in one position for too long..

 

I do however cramp only one specific muscle in my legs and normally my left leg starts first. It is the mucle between your hammie and your quads close to the knee on the inside of the leg. 

 

Just a guess, but sounds like it might be linked to a muscle imbalance (which we all have in varying degrees).

Might be worth while seeing someone to give you a program to at least take away that option.

lurker2007-10-09 14:25:09

[Bikalot]

also used to cramp a lot,agree with you guys that you got to train at a higher intensity. Supplements for cramping i found dont really work. Eating a healthy diet!drinking lots of water to keep your body hydrated and the water helps to "flush" the lactic acid out your body

[Velouria]

 

Guys' date=' Call me Mr. CRAMP.

I USED TO CRAMP UP LIKE HELL- EVEN WITH  MANY HOURS OF TRAINING.

 

Last year while preparing for the Cape Epic, I raced the Diamondback. A 300 K/M MTB race in the mountains in the Cape. Day 1 I cramped again like usual. On completing day 1, I went to the medic's for a massage and told them about my cramps- They asked me "DID YOU TAKE YOUR RENNIES?

 

Day 2 - First twitch - 2 Rennies- No more cramps.

Day 3- First twitch - 2 Rennies- No more cramps.

 

Epic - 4 days - 4 Rennies - No Cramps.

 

Never Cramped again.

 

94.7 MTB 2006 - found a guy lying on the ground- cramping up totally- Gave him 2 Rennies- 3 minutes, he was back on the bike.

 

A WEEK AGO - OUDTSHOORN MAXXIS (300 K/M MTB) - 3 Days - 2 Rennies used. No cramps.

 

Guys, THIS WORKS !!!!!!!!

[/quote']

 

Now that you mention it, our backup crew for the Epic insisted we take a Rennie every morning before the day's riding, and I didn't cramp once. Had completely forgotten about this.

 

I also mixed a sachet of Rehydrate into my CamelBak each day, along with the usual energy juice.

 

[CaptainDura]

Guys

 

VERY cool responses.

 

Im gonna try both the rennies and the eno theories seperately and if that doesnt work then try the rennies/enos with rehydrate and see if that makes a difference.

 

Looking forward to racing again with this newfound knowledge.

 

 

[wonduhboy]

Guys' date=' Call me Mr. CRAMP.

I USED TO CRAMP UP LIKE HELL- EVEN WITH  MANY HOURS OF TRAINING.

 

Last year while preparing for the Cape Epic, I raced the Diamondback. A 300 K/M MTB race in the mountains in the Cape. Day 1 I cramped again like usual. On completing day 1, I went to the medic's for a massage and told them about my cramps- They asked me "DID YOU TAKE YOUR RENNIES?

 

Day 2 - First twitch - 2 Rennies- No more cramps.

Day 3- First twitch - 2 Rennies- No more cramps.

 

Epic - 4 days - 4 Rennies - No Cramps.

 

Never Cramped again.

 

94.7 MTB 2006 - found a guy lying on the ground- cramping up totally- Gave him 2 Rennies- 3 minutes, he was back on the bike.

 

A WEEK AGO - OUDTSHOORN MAXXIS (300 K/M MTB) - 3 Days - 2 Rennies used. No cramps.

 

Guys, THIS WORKS !!!!!!!!

[/quote']

Now that you mention it, our backup crew for the Epic insisted we take a Rennie every morning before the day's riding, and I didn't cramp once. Had completely forgotten about this.

I also mixed a sachet of Rehydrate into my CamelBak each day, along with the usual energy juice.

 

If I'm not mistaken, both Rennies and Enos contain CaCO3 (can think of the normal name now) which is the ingredient which neutralizes stomach acid (and makes you burp).

So if I'm correct, perhaps there is some truth to taking supplements to stop cramping - Enos/Rennies just have a large dose of Calcium and make it readily available

[Guest colonel]

Train harder and for longer, 10hrs a week is 1h40min a day so what is that? 40-45km a day of training where your races are 100km?