"Philip W. Moore, Jr." wrote:
<snip>
Quoted message said:if anybody has
any good ideas about how to deal with major leg cramps while on a ride
without having to dismount and stop or quit.
Two words: salt, salt, salt.
Seriously, when I do a long ride or race where sweating a lot is an issue, I
put extra salt in my bottles, in addition to the cytomax or whatever. I use
about 1/3 to 1/2 tsp per big bottle, which is approximately a gram of sodium
(if I did my chemistry right). That's way more than you get with your sports
drinks but I think you need it when you really sweat. It does take a while
to get used to the disgusting taste. Also, I suppose there might be some
concern about blood pressure. YMMV but extra salt has made a significant
difference for me.
Another thing to know is that your body goes through some key adaptations
when you train enough in heat. IIRC, they include having an increased blood
plasma volume, more capillaries close to the skin surface, and a lower
concentration of salts in your sweat.
Mark