Leg cramps are the worst. Well ok, a pedal strike to the shin is pretty terrible too, but cramps are definitely near the tops of the list. If you’ve never experienced muscle cramps during a ride you’re either lucky or smart, so we’d love to hear your tips for avoiding them in the comments below!
4 Comments
Jul 19, 2021
When I would eat high-sugar food during a ride to try to get calories in, it seemed like I was thirstier, perhaps because it takes a lot of water to metabolize sugar. Cramps started after the ride ended, or happened at night when I settled down and didn't move much for a half hour or so (bedtime, long drive in car on way home from ride, etc.).
After noticing a possible correlation with sugar consumption, I started eating nuts and drinking low-sugar electrolyte replacement on the ride and avoiding all sugar afterwards, and now almost never get cramps. Before, on one occasion, returning from a brutal century ride and a celebratory dinner, I had quads, hamstrings, adductors, abductors and calves on both legs cramp simultaneously on the car ride home and I nearly crashed because it hurt so much. Now, any cramps are relatively minor on the infrequent occasions they happen.
Jul 19, 2021
Jul 18, 2021
Jul 19, 2021