Yesterday I suffered some major cramps in calf muscles. Could this be due to poor technique or just lack of electrolytes in body?
What is the best position for the feet/ankles/legs at various parts of the pedalling cycle?
I am 183cm (6ft 1) riding a 60cm frame, my legs are long for my height. Legs not quite straight at bottom of stroke. I think this position is OK.
Circumstances were as follows:
I hadn't had a good ride for five days due to shocking winter weather. Had spent most of the day in the car.
Rode about 10km mostly in 42/15 gear averaging about 30kph.
Going down a steep downhill about 150 metres long pedalling about 60 cadence in 53/12, cramp started about half way down, when I was doing about 70 kph (Very scary when it happened). Luckily I was able to pull up at the base of the hill and get off the bike safely. Had a five minute rest but still a bit of tightness in the leg when I took off again. Rode another 25km including three reasonably long hill climbs - no trouble. It was only on downhills that I would get a twitch in the muscle, found that if I stopped pedalling it would ease up the tightness.
Finally about a km from home I put in a couple of quick strokes to get across a busy road. Bang! both calf muscles went into severe cramp. Made it across the road and had to fall off the bike as I was in too much pain to get feet out of the clips. Took a while to recover and ride very slowly the last km home. Leg pain lasted for quite a while after.:eek: