Arrrrrrrrgh cramp!!!!

Harry B

I'm back riding again after about 6 weeks out due to the weather, work and illness. I went out and did a gentle 20 miles on Sunday without any problems other than leaving a trail of snot behind me. On Tusday I cycled home from work and got a bit of cramp in my right calf after about 12 miles. This soon wore off and everything was fine. Yesterday when I was riding home the cramp came back in the same muscle after about 10 miles and it was really painful. I could feel a knot moving around in my calf as I was cycling. After a few miles it wore off a bit but then I started to get cramp in my other calf. Finally I started to get cramp in my right thigh. I managed to get home and my lovely wife kindly gave me a massage which made things a bit better. I've rode in this morning only from the train station which is about 5 miles from work and will be riding all the way home this evening.

Any tips on how to avoid cramp? I try to drink plenty of water during the day and I don't think my sodium intake is too low. I've got a couple of bananas to eat (to help with potassium intake). I'm hoping once the muscles get used to it again the cramps will disappear but does anyone have any other tips in the meantime?

Avanti Roman

I used to suffer a lot from cramps until I started taking Holland & Barrett super strength timed release multi vits for the extra high dose of vitamin E and tonic water to make up my drinks as it contains quinine.

I don't suffer from them any more - only once when I had mistakenly set my saddle far too high (doh!) for a hilly sportive which resulted in thigh cramps as opposed to my previous calf cramps.

rick_chasey

Avanti Roman wrote:

I used to suffer a lot from cramps until I started taking Holland & Barrett super strength timed release multi vits for the extra high dose of vitamin E and tonic water to make up my drinks as it contains quinine.

.

So a G&T then?

Avanti Roman

Rick Chasey wrote:

Avanti Roman wrote:

I used to suffer a lot from cramps until I started taking Holland & Barrett super strength timed release multi vits for the extra high dose of vitamin E and tonic water to make up my drinks as it contains quinine.

.

So a G&T then?

Sadly most gin bottles are the wrong shape to fit in a standard bottle cage.. Hic

Anonymous

SIS do an electrolyte drink powder. Also Nuun tablets are very good for preventing cramp. I think wiggle sells Nuun, Evans sells the SIS stuff I believe.