Cramping - what to do

"Bob" wrote in message ...

Quoted message said:

I had not drank anything on the ride, but I was not even at the 20KM mark.
So my questions are: what should I do to avoid this in future and what do
I do now that I am home with pain in my calf, but no cramp?

My completely uneducated recommendations... more fluids, more bananas, and
more stretching pre and post ride...

cheers,
GPL

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

Quoted message said:

more stretching pre and post ride...

There's my problem: I only stretched my right leg as I swung it over to get
on the bike. And the cramp was on the left. Pretty [censored] poor stretching
routine I'm afraid.

On Thu, 25 Aug 2005 19:31:33 +1000, "Bob" <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

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

Quoted message said:

more stretching pre and post ride...

There's my problem: I only stretched my right leg as I swung it over to get
on the bike. And the cramp was on the left. Pretty [censored] poor stretching
routine I'm afraid.

The body already gets enough stretching of muscles from normal activities
for bike riding, except for when you've been holding a position for too
long then it is advantageous to do 'on the bike' stretching of the quads,
or rotating the neck or back. IOW, normally you don't need to do prolonged
stretching like a gymnast, ime.

You should probably now do the routine R-I-C-E and take NSAIDs every four
hours. Sounds like you might have a bit of an internal bruising.

If you do need to do some stretching, I'd advise only post-ride stretching
while you are still warm and sweating from riding, and then only gently, no
bouncing.

In my background, I've done a fair amount of stretching pre and post to be
able to do full splits and touch chin to toe with straight leg, but this
was for martial arts. Cycling doesn't really require such extreme positions
unless you're very unlimber.

Good luck!

-Wheels

Bob said:

I had not drank anything on the ride, but I was not even at the 20KM mark.
So my questions are: what should I do to avoid this in future and what do I
do now that I am home with pain in my calf, but no cramp?

Some unsci info:
thehippy.neta b faq.htmOpen ↗

The pain will go away. Time heals most wounds. 🙂

hippy

May not be relevant to you, but I have had leg cramps at various times, and
for me it is due to a magnesium deficiency. I pop a magnesium tablet each
day for a couple of days and all is well again.

BruceA

BruceA wrote

Quoted message said:

May not be relevant to you, but I have had leg cramps at various times, and
for me it is due to a magnesium deficiency. I pop a magnesium tablet each
day for a couple of days and all is well again.

We get some replacement electrolytes as part of our normal diet - sodium
from salt, potassium from bananas, chocolate.

But constant sweating will tend to exacerbate the problem that Aust water
tends to be deficient in magnesium, and that deficiency is often the problem
in high milage cyclists. Blackmores do a product called MagMin (any vitamin
retailer will know of it) which is ok - there is an industrial strength
magnesium supplement intended for horses which I am told is even more
effective but I don't know its trade name.

Most in my bunch who have had the problem report reasonably quick results
with Mg supplements, assuming problem is not a result of poor position or
similar.

Hope that fixes it - best, Andrew

"Andrew Price" wrote

Quoted message said:

We get some replacement electrolytes as part of our normal diet - sodium
from salt, potassium from bananas, chocolate.

But constant sweating will tend to exacerbate the problem that Aust water
tends to be deficient in magnesium, and that deficiency is often the
problem in high milage cyclists. Blackmores do a product called MagMin
(any vitamin retailer will know of it) which is ok - there is an
industrial strength magnesium supplement intended for horses which I am
told is even more effective but I don't know its trade name.

Most in my bunch who have had the problem report reasonably quick results
with Mg supplements, assuming problem is not a result of poor position or
similar.

Hope that fixes it - best, Andrew

Interesting about the water being Magnesium deficient. If I could be
bothered I would actually find out which foods are a good source of
Magnesium (Google is my friend!!).
I use the Blackmores Bio Magnesium. They have a cheaper magnesium
supplement but didn't find it to be as effective.
I normally have cramping problems when I have been doing high mileage and
sweating heaps. During summer I tend to have 3 or 4 Mg tablets a week for
Justin (case). I also think I used to exacerbate the problem by drinking
coffee and thus peeing more, but I have managed to almost wean myself off
the caffiene now, and feeling much better for it (better quality sleep).

BruceA

Andrew Price said:

But constant sweating will tend to exacerbate the problem that Aust
water tends to be deficient in magnesium, and that deficiency is
often the problem in high milage cyclists.

All my drinking water comes off my roof. I have no Gov't utility pipes
connected to my house. Should I have installed magnesium gutters and
downpipes?

Theo

BruceA said:

Interesting about the water being Magnesium deficient. If I could be
bothered I would actually find out which foods are a good source of
Magnesium (Google is my friend!!).
I use the Blackmores Bio Magnesium. They have a cheaper magnesium
supplement but didn't find it to be as effective.

Bananas are cheaper and have the added bonus of energy.

Theo
Who has a banana chopped up in his yoghurt in the morning, before he drives
to work.