tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14852171.post3042292314932203770..comments2023-11-02T04:23:00.400-06:00Comments on Cyclelicious: Double Charley HorseYokota Fritzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04808661100114872654noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14852171.post-63689705902277519152009-12-15T10:19:13.729-07:002009-12-15T10:19:13.729-07:00Mmm, Fritos and V8. I'll have to give that sho...Mmm, Fritos and V8. I'll have to give that shot. <br /><br />I think for me the chilled legs theory is probably what happened.Yokota Fritzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04808661100114872654noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14852171.post-56767638232277476492009-12-14T19:16:14.686-07:002009-12-14T19:16:14.686-07:00I used to get leg cramps after a long ride. Drinki...I used to get leg cramps after a long ride. Drinking more alone did not help. Now before the ride is over I stop for a bag of Fritos and a can of V8. Mmmmm Boy those electrolites taste good! And my legs no longer cramp. : )William Boydnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14852171.post-44548709680588707182009-12-14T15:32:00.509-07:002009-12-14T15:32:00.509-07:00...all kinds of good advice so i could only add by......all kinds of good advice so i could only add by way of suggestion that in the cold &/or damp we tend to do little things to compensate for subliminal physical discomfort by tensing in various spots...<br /><br />...might be as simple as having something w/ you not being as relaxed as you might be under normal conditions...<br /><br />...just sayin'...bikesgonewildhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01489983012589939600noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14852171.post-84850683775951369672009-12-14T04:45:42.419-07:002009-12-14T04:45:42.419-07:00Forgot one more thing: Yoga or Pilates or similar ...Forgot one more thing: Yoga or Pilates or similar routines are great for stretching muscles in the opposite direction that cycling tenses them. When I do yoga routinely my cramp frequency drops considerably.Miguelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09660388837358003349noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14852171.post-86959317232543680802009-12-14T04:44:18.986-07:002009-12-14T04:44:18.986-07:00Liquids and bananas.Liquids and bananas.Miguelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09660388837358003349noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14852171.post-34689567809649358302009-12-13T19:06:53.914-07:002009-12-13T19:06:53.914-07:00I'm far from the norm because both my legs hav...I'm far from the norm because both my legs have been broken, the left one twice, and the necessary surgeries have 're-arranged' some of my muscles. I've learned that staying both warm and hydrated is essential. The left leg will cramp if it gets cold, so I have to keep it covered at night, and if there's a headwind on a hot day and I'm sweating, there's a good chance it will cramp from the rapid cooling. So I drink lots of water and try to keep some leg warmers handy.Ed Whttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02661476789768156794noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14852171.post-84870588636416081222009-12-13T16:25:18.258-07:002009-12-13T16:25:18.258-07:00I used to cramp fairly regularly when I cycled in ...I used to cramp fairly regularly when I cycled in north Central Texas. Before this year, the last time I had a leg cramp was in the 90s, after a bike ride in summer heat and then I foolishly jumped into a cold swimming pool. This year I've had leg cramps twice now.<br /><br />@Duncan: It's almost always my left leg, and it's always the calf. <br /><br />@getinlost: I wanted to sever my legs for a couple of minutes there.<br /><br />@Tinker: I've read that age is a contributing factor.<br /><br />@John: That's what I did for the rest of the ride -- slowed way down! About 10 miles down the road my right leg twitched again so I let up. I wasn't going 30 mph -- the traffic around me was, which made cutting across to the sidewalk more challenging.Yokota Fritzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04808661100114872654noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14852171.post-32330611229421001932009-12-13T16:19:37.343-07:002009-12-13T16:19:37.343-07:00Three words:
Drink more fluids.
I get cramps bad...Three words:<br /><br />Drink more fluids.<br /><br />I get cramps bad in my vastus medialis muscles (the bulge just above your knee), in swimming, running, or cycling. Every time it happens, I've been lax on my fluid intake - either not enough, or assuming that coffee is a good substitute for water. <a href="http://karlmccracken.sweat365.com/2008/03/20/electrolyte-supplements/" rel="nofollow">Electrolyte-supplements seem to help</a>, but the biggest factor is always the volume of diuretic-free water (i.e. no caffeine and no alcohol!)Karl McCracken (twitter: @karlonsea)http://www.mccracken.me.uknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14852171.post-23786562963454693172009-12-13T14:38:21.890-07:002009-12-13T14:38:21.890-07:00Muscle cramps are a surprisingly complex topic due...Muscle cramps are a surprisingly complex topic due to the combination of multiple causes and typically temporary nature. Fatigue, dehydration, electrolyte imbalance, nerve impingement, temperature, stress, and injury are all likely candidates, alone or in combination. For me, a banana with some water, five minutes of rest and easy stretching, usually resolve whatever causes mine. If you're a fit cyclist doing 30mph in traffic in the rain, and if the cramps recur, I'm guessing a banana or orange juice (either for the K (potassium)) and stretching might help. Or possibly your muscle fibers are aging, protesting that you should slow down to 27mpg when it rains.John Romeo Alphahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01289456379789026152noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14852171.post-1837070312761131072009-12-13T14:35:47.283-07:002009-12-13T14:35:47.283-07:00Or maybe advancing age?Or maybe advancing age?Otto Cilindrihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18403351994610127592noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14852171.post-65906393504239439602009-12-13T12:38:52.088-07:002009-12-13T12:38:52.088-07:00That should be SEVERE.That should be SEVERE.getinlosthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11240515454256225290noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14852171.post-21610787006745310042009-12-13T12:36:18.568-07:002009-12-13T12:36:18.568-07:00Katie Compton has talked about sever cramping. May...Katie Compton has talked about sever cramping. Maybe ask her.getinlosthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11240515454256225290noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14852171.post-28698047249684456272009-12-13T11:18:04.718-07:002009-12-13T11:18:04.718-07:00I have had this happen to me recently too. For my...I have had this happen to me recently too. For myself it was at the top of a hill where I was sprinting to clear a 4-way stop. I mostly cramp in the right leg, no left leg cramps yet. I almost always unclip the left so I suspect the extra strain is somehow to blame. In the summer when this happened it was clearly electrolyte balance issues. But my most recent cases were winter riding and I suspect it was a combination of temperature, caffeine, and fatigue.Duncan Watsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01363433039416687609noreply@blogger.com