Cramps

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by gospeedracergo
Just started up riding recently, after a bad accident with my ankle during a soccer game i have been told i can't run on it anymore. So i've started cycling.

Riding back from kurnell this afternoon, i was slowing down for a set of lights when they decided to change. I applied a fair bit of pressure to get back up to speed only to have my two calf muscles [censored] up. What are you meant to do in this situation?

The best i could do was to drop my gears and just keep riding with no pressure, after a half a minute it went away.

Is there a better way to relieve the strain?

Steve, Cronulla

something aint right if your cramping on a bike

not enough fluids, not enough food or poor riding position
seat too high perhaps?
have seat just high enough so you can put heal on centre of pedal with straight leg

It only happened when i got out of my seat to accelerate.

Steve

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by gospeedracergo
It only happened when i got out of my seat to accelerate.

Steve

The only thing I can suggest to relieve the cramp (other than drinking fluids) is to stretch your calf muscle by dipping your heel. Do this at the bottom of you pedal stoke and hold it there for a while. It should fix it.

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by gospeedracergo
It only happened when i got out of my seat to accelerate.

Steve

Amongst other things, including gradually building up your fitness, please check if you're correctly fitted to your bike, look at these links for tips,

How to Fit a Bicycle,
<http://www.peterwhitecycles.com/fitting.htm>
or <http://tinyurl.com/2u3wc>

How to Fit a Mountain Bike,
<http://mountainbike.about.com/library/weekly/aa100102a.htm>
or <http://tinyurl.com/2qfkg>

Bicycle Victoria - Safety & Skills,
<http://www.bv.com.au/Content/NavigationMenu/Cycling_Q_and_A/Safety_and_Skills/Default268.htm>
or <http://tinyurl.com/3dhjr>

Didn't quite get cramps today, but cycling up Lennox St, Richmond into a delightful headwind made me stop & rest for a few moments.

Cheers, hopefully other people will have advice & tips too. 🙂

[QUOTE]Originally posted by gospeedracergo

Quoted message said:

Is there a better way to relieve the strain?

"hippy" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
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Quoted message said:

Originally posted by gospeedracergo

Quoted message said:

Is there a better way to relieve the strain?

Not really. Stretching them out is about all you can do.

But, preventing them is in the FAQ:
thehippy.neta b faq.htmOpen ↗

hippy

You can also slap the muscle which sometimes works.

Kevin

K&C Russell said:

You can also slap the muscle which sometimes works.

Kevin

Man, I'm not touching that one! :P

- Munk3y (no spanking references either please)

"gospeedracergo" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
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Quoted message said:

Just started up riding recently, after a bad accident with
my ankle during a soccer game i have been told i can't run
on it anymore. So i've started cycling.

Riding back from kurnell this afternoon, i was slowing
down for a set of lights when they decided to change. I
applied a fair bit of pressure to get back up to speed
only to have my two calf muscles [censored] up. What are you
meant to do in this situation?

The best i could do was to drop my gears and just
keep riding with no pressure, after a half a minute
it went away.

Is there a better way to relieve the strain?

Steve, Cronulla

Cramping can be a sign you don't have enough potassium in
your system.

Fraser

"gospeedracergo" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]

Quoted message said:

Just started up riding recently, after a bad accident with
my ankle during a soccer game i have been told i can't run
on it anymore. So i've started cycling.

Riding back from kurnell this afternoon, i was slowing
down for a set of lights when they decided to change. I
applied a fair bit of pressure to get back up to speed
only to have my two calf muscles [censored] up. What are you
meant to do in this situation?

The best i could do was to drop my gears and just
keep riding with no pressure, after a half a minute
it went away.

Is there a better way to relieve the strain?

Causes of cramps:

Dehydration - drink more water Cold - wear tights
Inadequete magnesium - Gatorade or similar Inadequate
sodium - Gatorade or similar Inadequate potassium -
Gatorade or similar Inadequate quinine - tonic water or
prescription tablets

Or it could be simple muscle fatigue in which case you just
have to butch up and work through it until your body adapts.
Since you've not been cycling long this is the most likely.

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"DRS" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
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[...]

Quoted message said:

Causes of cramps:

Quoted message said:

Inadequate potassium -Gatorade or similar

Bugger it, for potassium eat a banana.

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Quoted post said:

Originally posted by Drs
"DRS" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
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[...]

Quoted message said:

Causes of cramps:

Quoted message said:

Inadequate potassium -Gatorade or similar

Bugger it, for potassium eat a banana.

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I am lead to believe that it is Magnesium and calcium deficiencies which are the underlying causes of cramping, in addition to fluids and general salts replaced by gatorade et al.

I have an ongoing problem, with thigh / upper leg cramps, kept at bay with a twice daily dose of Bio-magnesium (which contains calcium).

This by the way is a recognised treatment used to help women suffering from general cramping during pregnancy.

If the stretching and fluids thing doesn't work, as it didn't for me, (physio included) give this a try. It's working for me.

stevedel

I ride to work, to work to ride.

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by Fraser Johnston


[snip]

Quoted message said:

Is there a better way to relieve the strain?

Steve, Cronulla

Cramping can be a sign you don't have enough potassium in
your system.

Fraser

It's also a sign that your cleats are too far forward. If you're wearing street shoes, its a sign that you need to get cycling shoes (they have stiffer soles).

On balance, if you've just started riding, it's probably more to do with bike position than nutrition. (Like I said - probably).

Ritch

"SteveDel" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
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[...]

Quoted message said:

I am lead to believe that it is Magnesium and calcium
deficiencies which are the underlying causes of cramping,
in addition to fluids and general salts replaced by
gatorade et al.

Cramps have a number of causes. If it were otherwise they'd
be a lot easier to prevent or treat.

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