Cramp..?

Hunterg46

I had race yesterday evening at Goodwood, and after 10 miles (U16's race) I made a break and sprinted for the finish. With about 50m to go my right leg just suddenly went really stiff and I couldnt straighten my leg. The fact it's still hurting now makes me think maybe I pulled it or something?

Is cramp (or pulling a muscle) normal whilst cycling? If so, any ways of preventing it?

(I raced the evening before aswell which may have made difference?)


Thanks

barrybridges

Cramps perfectly normal. Causes could be heat, fatigue or low electrolytes.

Consider drinking a salinated drink or juice during the race, like a lucozade sport perhaps?

Hunterg46

Yeah that sounds right, thanks i'll give it a go

oldwelshman

As mentioned before, probab;ly not related to lack of electrolytes but more to do with the much higher intensity of your ride compared to your normal riding so you muscles went into spasm due to the extra work they were doing.
Basically you need to train a bit harder with intensity close to race intensity.
I sometimes get your symptoms in early season races or if I have had couple of weeks off bike.
They usually recover in couple of days with added benefit of improving your musles
Shows you put in good effort also

Hunterg46

Yeah, one of my first races, so your right I should probably be looking to do some more shoter, but more intense training

Si C

Exactly as Oldwelshman said.

I did a little club race on Sunday and thought I'd try and attack and open up a gap from the start. 3 laps from the end I got a real bad spasm in my calf.

Basically its your muscle saying ...."your aving a larf mate"

My calf was really painful the next day. try some very light spins on the rack to relieve it.

Corporate Ascents

I get cramp if my legs are cold or if my saddle height and resulting position have been changed, especially when giving a big effort. ouch its nasty.

gsk82

i've felt the pre cramp bubbling up in both my races this season, last night was especially bad because i was struggling to keep on as it was. i get it when i stand up to sprint out of corners and have resorted to doing this sitting down.

i have also found though that i can't get a stretch in my calves. ive tried a few different stretches but nothing actually feels like its doing the job. anyone got any good calf stretches i could try?