delayed onset muscle cramping

Dan Hansen said:

I've had a 4-5 day hiatus from cycling two times this year. Otherwise I go out every other night and burn up the roads for 2 to 4 hours ever mindful to keep high rpm. Seems that after about the third day off the bike, specific muscle bundles will begin to cramp severely after the slightest non-cycling leg exercize (esp. descending stairs). A little bit of active soccer coaching tonight made my thighs feel like they're hosting a 'Cramp Symphony' - debilitating! Mmmm - I've managed some ways to lessen these symptoms post-facto (pills and stretching) but what I'm after in this posting is the cause. This could be a rather rare complaint since I can not find this progression described in Cycling Forums or elsewhere - seems that if I want to ride hard, I must keep regular on the bike - OR ELSE!! Ideas?

Do you run regularly during the periods in which you cycle frequently? Because different types of muscle contractions occur in running vs cycling (eccentric/concentric), running if you are only used to cycling can cause 'delayed onset muscular soreness'. The only way around this is to run more regularly (or perhaps to cycle less but who'd want to do that?).

If you run regularly even during the periods when you ride, perhaps there is a different/modified explanation.

Roadie_scum said:

Do you run regularly during the periods in which you cycle frequently? Because different types of muscle contractions occur in running vs cycling (eccentric/concentric), running if you are only used to cycling can cause 'delayed onset muscular soreness'. The only way around this is to run more regularly (or perhaps to cycle less but who'd want to do that?).

If you run regularly even during the periods when you ride, perhaps there is a different/modified explanation.

Hey, thanks. No I don't run regularly though I think you could be onto something. This could be a, 'too much of one thing - not enough of another'-type of scenario. I probably need more non-concentric leg exercize. After I read your post, my kids and I took a longish walk - felt good.
Incidentally, back when I posted this thread originally, that night I got on the bike despite the pain and stiffness and within 2 minutes I was smiling! I did a fast 60 km and had no problems while on the bike. When I got home and the next day - viola! - pain gone. Could have been a hydration thing too. Tks again!

Dan Hansen said:

Hey, thanks. No I don't run regularly though I think you could be onto something. This could be a, 'too much of one thing - not enough of another'-type of scenario. I probably need more non-concentric leg exercize. After I read your post, my kids and I took a longish walk - felt good.
Incidentally, back when I posted this thread originally, that night I got on the bike despite the pain and stiffness and within 2 minutes I was smiling! I did a fast 60 km and had no problems while on the bike. When I got home and the next day - viola! - pain gone. Could have been a hydration thing too. Tks again!

This is kind of fitting with the idea I had. I don't run at all for most of the year, but I like to play soccer so I do a little bit over a 2 month period. I spend the first 2 weeks in large amounts of pain as I retrain my muscles to work differently to how they do on the bike. The good news, however, is that it only takes about 2-5 runs in a short period of time to get the adaption. You can either maintain your ability to run by doing it occassionally (~1/week), or suffer the pain for a little while when you decide you want to run again.

I just now read your description that you logged in 2003 or 2004. I have the EXACT same thing. I am a strong 54 yo rider, and have had this symptom for 10 years now, the only period in my life where I have been training with regularity. I travel for work a bit, and this is where is happens. I was once stopped dead in my tracks in Paris, exactly as you describe. It just happened again on a 6 day trip,
Any data since 2004?

ken murphy

Dan Hansen said:

I've had a 4-5 day hiatus from cycling two times this year. Otherwise I go out every other night and burn up the roads for 2 to 4 hours ever mindful to keep high rpm. Seems that after about the third dayoff the bike, specific muscle bundles will begin to cramp severely after the slightest non-cycling leg exercize (esp. descending stairs). A little bit of active soccer coaching tonight made my thighs feel like they're hosting a 'Cramp Symphony' - debilitating! Mmmm - I've managed some ways to lessen these symptoms post-facto (pills and stretching) but what I'm after in this posting is the cause. This could be a rather rare complaint since I can not find this progression described in Cycling Forums or elsewhere - seems that if I want to ride hard, I must keep regular on the bike - OR ELSE!! Ideas?

Don't feel bad if he doesn't respond. Looks like he hasn't posted in over 5 years.

Being warmer outside have you considered that you may be dehydrated? Along with dehydration comes low potassium levels which also causes cramping.

OR, muscle cramps during long distance athletic events could be caused by exercise-induced damage to the muscles themselves. If this is true, muscle cramps during endurance events can be prevented by slowing down when you feel excessive soreness in one muscle group or straining in a muscle. Of course competitive athletes will not do this, and they pay for it with muscle cramps.