HillsSuck

Every time I stand to power up hills or maybe on a vary rare occasion sprint, I almost immediately cramp. This happens only on my road bike and doesn’t matter is on a ride or on the trainer. Does anybody else have this issue?

Iride01 

Not when my hydration and electrolytes are correct. Then again, I don't stand up. I can go up hills much faster by shifting to a lower gear and keep a fast cadence while seated. I prove this to myself every time I ride with my son that likes to stand going up hills even though he has a lower gear available. The only time it works for him is when we are on a hill that is steep enough to have us both in our lowest gears and at a low cadence to where I have to stand too. He can sustain the extra effort standing requires much longer than I.

So how is your hydration.... do you take a couple gulps of fluids every 10 to 15 minutes of your ride?

Carbonfiberboy 

On how long a ride? What's your experience? How many miles last year? How many miles/week have you been doing? Do you do anything physical other than riding? What muscle(s) cramps?

ThermionicScott 

Judging by that and your username, you just need to do it more. My quads get sore if I suddenly start riding more out of the saddle than usual. Means they were out of shape.

redlude97

what about if you say stand up at 100w 10 mins into a ride on the trainer? Can you do say an 800w sprint seated in the same circumstances and not cramp or are you standing because it is the only way for you to generate that output?

HillsSuck

I agree that I need to ride more. A cramping is different than soreness. And hills do suck

ThermionicScott 

Sure, but either one means you could be in better shape for what you're trying to do. Electrolytes are a red herring for most cramping issues. Once you've got the leg muscles for it, you'll be changing your username to "HillsAreAwesome."

Carbonfiberboy 

Sure can't answer your question without your answering mine. That does however imply that you are simply out of shape. Ride more, especially ride standing more. Start by just standing, wherever you are, every 10 minutes by the clock, for as long as is comfortable. When you can do that, stand even more. If you can't stand at all, go back a step and start doing unweighted full squats, all the way down until your hams rest on your calves. Once a day. Say 3 sets of 15 or whatever is comfortable. Another good thing is wall-sitting, back against a wall, knees at 90° until you can't stand the pain. Maybe every other day.

HillsSuck

I’m just getting back to riding. But this happened when I was riding on a more regular basis. 30-50 miles a week, which to some I’m sure is not a lot. The cramps happen in the upper thigh and hamstrings.

Carbonfiberboy 

Then I think there's another thing you could do: Climb more hills, lots more hills, as hard as you can, seated. There's a special exercise for leg strength on the bike: on a long steady hill, not too steep, put the bike in such a large gear than at a 50 cadence, you are breathing hard. Do a set of 3 10 minute hill repeats once a week. That'll help a lot.

HillsSuck

Thanks for the replies and suggestions. Guess I’ll hit the trainer for now and roads when the weather breaks. And definitely need to drink more, don’t drink enough throughout the day let alone in the bike.