Cramps

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

Quoted message said:

It's calves for me. Seems to be getting worse year by year.

Training, proper hydration and minerals. LSD works for me, though "slower"
in this case means just a little off as fast as I otherwise ride.

hmm I'm thinking I see enough colors and flashy things when I'm biking as it
is.. a drop or two of the Lysergic probably wouldn't be a good thing...

or am I off the mark on this LSD thing..

jpw

Jonathan Geater said:

What can be done? Just put in more longer rides? More suitable
gearing? Eat more salt? It's very frustrating when you're doing 26mph
one minute and 16 the next...

Advice and references welcome.

have you done a google search on the subject? this site seems fairly
informative
http://www.medicinenet.com/muscle_cramps/article.htm#1whatare
(11 or so pages of info)

h

Raptor said:

Date: Sun, 17 Apr 2005 10:54:56 -0600
NNTP-Posting-Date: Mon, 18 Apr 2005 04:55:50 +0000 (UTC)

I guess your clock is off.

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Which muscle(s) is(are) cramping? Both legs, or just one? Cramping at the
same time, same onset, or does one start before the other?

Cramping in cycling seems to occur primarily in the large muscles of the
quadriceps, the hamstrings, or to a lesser extent the calves. There is a
small muscle, the sartorius, that runs from the inner back side of the knee
up and across to the inner front of the groin. If you are sitting in a
chair, legs bent, feet apart, and raise one heel to the other knee you will
be using the sartorius muscle (and others). If you try to turn your heel in
or out while pedaling you will also be using your sartorius. If your pedals
do not allow float, and particularly if they do not allow smooth,
resistance-free float, you may end up fatiguing the sartorius muscles and
causing them to cramp. Since they are small, relatively unused muscles, it
will not take long to fatigue them. One solution that I know has worked is
to switch to Speedplay pedals which allow complete freedom of rotation,
unlike most(?) other pedals.

As previously stated, cramping in such a short event typically is not a
problem for a trained athlete eating a proper diet- even a questionable diet
should be sufficient. Do pay attention to your hydration every day of the
week- it is far better to come in to the event with your system in balance
than to try to correct something an hour beforehand.

Best of Luck,

Randy Hermann
Midwest Cycling Group

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

Quoted message said:

I'm relatively new to cycling, coming from a track athletics background,
although I've been doing a 15-mile commute for the last couple of years
and some longer (30-odd mile) tempo rides in the summer evenings. However,
I have a real problem with cramping - today I did my first 10 mile TT, and
did the second 5 miles with cramp biting at my inner thighs all the way
(limping home in 28:mumble - I've done 50 mile rides at higher speeds than
that!). This happens to me fairly often.

What can be done? Just put in more longer rides? More suitable gearing?
Eat more salt? It's very frustrating when you're doing 26mph one minute
and 16 the next...

Advice and references welcome.

Cheers,

Jon