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!
Keep up with the latest mountain bike news by adding Singletracks as a preferred source on Google.
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