Cramp, cramps !!!!

[Guest eyecandy]

Eyecandy, I think I'll skip one before the start. I don't normally cramp up, so I will give it a go and take one IF I start to cramp up. That way I will know if it works for me or not. Sceptical and do not know enough about additives etc.... Having said that I do hope it works!

rennies cant harm u. U can take 6-8 a day ive heard. Yest i had 5.

[MyGT]

Heidelberg, just off the R550. Very easy if you go down the N3

 

It's a tough route and I believe very good for training. There are hills a plenty. I believe the climb is about 1140m and the route is 57km. Best part of all, very little traffic but one needs to be careful!

 

thanks

[CharlV]

So for 2011. set yourself a managable tempo. ride slower. Trust me just because the other guys are workign at the front or racing past you doesn't mean you have to chase the tyre like a dog out in the street.

Let them go. The chance that you will see them on Krugersdorp road is. ......pretty good.

 

 

Gents

You saved my life ! I was about to have three peanut butter sarmies , 4 bananas ,1 gallon 32Gi and a Packet GU and then gooi myself down a Mine Shaft because of yesterdays failure ,............. also looked at 03h15 and got in at 04h17 my race was doomed when I crossed the 30km mark ,(no response from the legs ,when asked to go faster!) ,then at 80 km cramped so bad I was screaming like a girly! up to the finishline.

check my volgende jaar!

[Guest Iron]

Suikerbosrand is one of the best place around to get yourself conditioned for hard races, even if you do a easy ride you are going to be out of your comfort zone which is what happens at races and not when we train ( well most of us ).

 

Quality over quantity. Ive been doing very little training over the last while but go to SBR (as we know it)ever second week or so and still pulling of a 2h40 yesterday which is not wow but considering how much i have ridden i think SBR has helped my body cope with shock better.

[scott]

hi ... what was the temp yesterday . my start was at 9 am and the talk was of 40 deg c already

[Trubie]

well prepared and all, still suffer from cramps from time to time

to avoid I take Rennies every 30 mins or so.

certainly works, unlike cramp stop etc..

make sure you drink enough of the right stuff too

 

didnt cramp yesterday although I had a very crappy race.

 

cramping afterwards during night or next day - I have that too yes

Suppose its got to do with your make up and muscle fatigue.

Sitting still or lying in same position and then a sudden movement and the muscle responds by cramping - VERY UNCOMFORTABLE AND SORE

[Klappertjie]

rennies cant harm u. U can take 6-8 a day ive heard. Yest i had 5.

I'm not worried about the rennies harming me. I'd just like to make doubly sure that the rennies supresses the cramps. Wouldn't mind adding an "emergency cramp repair" kit to my saddle bag in the event of a cramp.

[Balsie]

94.7 is a really tough race if you havn't put the correct training in. It is a constant grind from beginning to end. Even the downhills are hard work with the road surfaces and the width of the road especially in bigger bunches. Although most enjoyable my body definitly worked harder than say Amashova. Did a 03h05 at Amashova thinking that I would easily break 3 hours at 94.7 because of shorter distance but did almost identical time yesterday. So distance is not an issue as I feel that 94.7 really fatigued my muscles alot more due to heat and gradient of the route.Also train hard but I find resting your muscles the week before does a whole lot of good.

[The Saint]

Lotsa salt the night before and suck Rennies, but most importantly if you are going to ride a 100km race train for 120km's

[Elvin]

my solution was salt tabs and proper stretching before and after training

[Trubie]

hi ... what was the temp yesterday . my start was at 9 am and the talk was of 40 deg c already

 

I started at 5:50 - 19 degr, finished at 8:40 ish - 30 degr.

Ave temp was 27.

 

No idea how hot it got, but sure pretty high 30's would be a good guess.

[Whiskers_81]

hi ... what was the temp yesterday . my start was at 9 am and the talk was of 40 deg c already

 

I got to the N14 midday and it was 37 degrees

[zula dude]

a. vogel - multiforce alkaline powder

 

starting taking it to deal with very sweaty and smelly feet (sad but true)

 

Cured that problem - also noticed that I no longer suffered from cramps.

 

Heard similar reports of it having the same effect for other cyclists.

[MDW]

There are only so many things that cause cramps, but generally if the cramps occur only in the legs, then I am afraid to say you re racing at an intensity you are not used to in training. This can mean medium, hard or slow, you have different types of muscle fibers in the body fast and slow twitch. When you train you should try and do sessions which cover all. As an example at Comrades most runners cramp not because they are not good at speed or pace work, but because they are not good at running longer distances at a slower pace. Different muscles come into play in a variety of conditions and events. You need to ensure your muscles are conditioned to cater for all of these.

Second most number of reasons for cramping, over hydration. Yes taking in too much water with no electrolytes and diluting your levels. Dr Ross Tucker has actually shown that most athletes and the testing they did was at 2 Oceans showed that sweat is hypotonic, so salt concentration levels increase when you sweat, as you sweat out more water than salt. Food for thought, does slight dehydration cause cramping not according to him. Anyway, number 1 above is most likely.

 

later

M

[sputnik-f1]

Training hard and being fit is obviously important. When I started XC racing I suffered badly from cramps in the last 30mins of the races. But getting fitter sorted this out.

Heard about the Rennies being good when I last was in SA (2008).

Over here in the UK the XC racers that I know swear by NUUN tablets. Not sure you can get them in SA though.

[sputnik-f1]

Oh, and forgot to say, you pop them in your water bottle or Camelbak bladder, you don't suck them