woodcraft

Last weekend I did a long ride, & that evening got a cramp in the inner thigh.

It lasted for a minute or more, & actually tore the muscle.

I can still feel it. Never had that happen before!

Robius

After a long ride i always eat a banana and drink electrolyte drinks like Powerade or Gatorade.

Pactin

Funny, I had the same cramp in the same area the last few days - minus the bruising. Perhaps you should get that checked out...

Machka 

It happens.

When you get in from a long ride ...

Drink a tall glass of water and take an electrolyte tablet.
Get out of your gear and take a hot shower.
Drink a tall glass of water.
Eat something with carbs and protein ... and salt. Pizza is good.
Drink a tall glass of water.

It helps.

woodcraft

I had done some drills the week previously that included pulling up on the pedal stroke-

so that muscle was more worked/activated.

Not unusual to have some cramping- hamstrings mostly- but never there nor causing a bruise.

I did shower, stretch, drink, & eat but no specific electrolyte input.

You see pro athletes- football, runners, etc. cramping sometimes, I wonder if they get this?

Machka 

I had a BAD cramp in that exact location about 2/3 of the way through a hilly and very hot 100K ... hot like up into the low 40s.

I had already started showing signs of heat exhaustion by about the halfway point, and was slogging along trying to finish the event, when I topped yet another hill ... and cramped. I was able to get both feet on the ground and stand there, straddling my bicycle by the side of the road ... but I couldn't move. Even the slightest movement of anything below my hips made every muscle (especially that one) in one leg, and most muscles (especially that one) in the other leg cramp even more painfully again.

So I did the only thing I could ... I drank most of my bottle of water, and rummaged through my handlebar bag for painkillers and electrolytes.

But while I was standing there unable to move, unable to dismount from my bicycle ... a car roared past, and then suddenly pulled up in front of me.

I wasn't sure if help had arrived, or if I should be worried. I was out in the middle of nowhere all by myself ... and there was absolutely no way I could make any sort of move to get away.

A guy hopped out and jogged over to me ... and asked me for directions to the next town!! And then the car roared away.

It was about 15 min before I could dismount my bicycle and start walking. I had to DNF the ride because the rest of the way to that town was spent walking slowly up hills, then carefully getting on my bicycle and coasting down the other side. Any little exertion set off the cramping again.


But I didn't bruise ... so you might want to get that checked.

PhotoJoe 

I take potassium and magnesium every day, plus, I drink like a fish while riding. Of those bottles, 2 out of 3 will have NUUN tabs. Without this protocol, I cramp on an easy ride, let alone anything challenging.

Oldhead

I get cramps there at the begining of the season. never had a bruise but they hurt like hell. After hot rides I have been drinking water and pickle juice. So far so good

dvdslw

For me cramping is a result of conditioning or the lack there of. When I first started riding I'd cramp up during rides and after while watching tv or in bed but after about 6 months of riding hard and staying hydrated, I hardly ever cramp at all unless I really push myself.

Pirkaus

Hydration, electrolytes, proper post ride stretching and muscle rolling keep me cramp free.
Had several severe cramps before I figured this system out, but nothing that was so severe as to bruise.

Long Tom

Rookies get cramps. Real cyclists have after-training peak-wattage quality time with individual muscles.

Buck up, trooper!


(I regularly cramp that same muscle in my left leg, but not to the point of discoloration. Ouch!)

gaucho777 

I've heard of torn muscles from cramping before. I've also torn that muscle (from break dancing, not cramping--I'm not a good break dancer ) and it also resulted in a big nasty bruise like that. Bound to get darker before it gets better. Those quads can leak a lot of blood when they tear. Heal well.

merlinextraligh

There's actually very little data to support hydration or electrolytes as pre preventing cramps.

The only cause there is any
Real support for is pushing past what you're trained for. The answer is therefore more training.

Take the electrolytes and pound water if you think it helps, but it's
Likely placebo at
Best

Reynolds 

I had a similar, but no so severe cramp once just after a long race. It was on my right leg only, and I think it happened because I tended to pedal with my right knee slightly outwards when going hard. I paid more attention and corrected this, no more cramps after that.

PhotoJoe 

Just saw this. It's an interesting read:

The Real Cause of Muscle Cramps | TrainingPeaks