Defeating Muscle Cramps
#26
Grupetto Bob
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2020
Location: Seattle-ish
Posts: 6,227
Bikes: Bikey McBike Face
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2587 Post(s)
Liked 5,649 Times
in
2,924 Posts
Yeah, I have heard of and experienced brain cramps too. The ones that really get me out of bed in a nanosecond are of the hamstring variety.
__________________
Road 🚴🏾♂️ & Mountain 🚵🏾♂️
Road 🚴🏾♂️ & Mountain 🚵🏾♂️
Likes For rsbob:
#27
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2010
Posts: 8,516
Mentioned: 69 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3241 Post(s)
Liked 2,512 Times
in
1,510 Posts
Mustard contains tumeric.That's supposidly the magic ingredient. Tumeric is in the Ginger family. Isn't Ginger used to calm an upset stomach?
#28
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 982
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 506 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 639 Times
in
357 Posts
They are both simply a good source of electrolytes. Table salt works wonders as well. Good hydration is not really possible in hot, humid conditions without a good dose of electrolytes to keep your water balance. Being in shape, hydration, and electrolytes are what work for me.
Likes For KerryIrons:
#29
Randomhead
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Happy Valley, Pennsylvania
Posts: 24,402
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4 Post(s)
Liked 3,700 Times
in
2,520 Posts
Likes For unterhausen:
#30
Klaatu..Verata..Necktie?
Join Date: May 2007
Location: SF Bay Area
Posts: 17,987
Bikes: Litespeed Ultimate, Ultegra; Canyon Endurace, 105; Battaglin MAX, Chorus; Bianchi 928 Veloce; Ritchey Road Logic, Dura Ace; Cannondale R500 RX100; Schwinn Circuit, Sante; Lotus Supreme, Dura Ace
Mentioned: 41 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 10442 Post(s)
Liked 11,915 Times
in
6,102 Posts
Why not eat a pickle instead? It's a lot better than drinking the brine.
__________________
"Don't take life so serious-it ain't nohow permanent."
"Everybody's gotta be somewhere." - Eccles
"Don't take life so serious-it ain't nohow permanent."
"Everybody's gotta be somewhere." - Eccles
Likes For genejockey:
#32
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Jacksonville, FL
Posts: 6,887
Bikes: Trek Domane SLR 7 AXS, Trek CheckPoint SL7 AXS, Trek Emonda ALR AXS, Trek FX 5 Sport
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 768 Post(s)
Liked 1,747 Times
in
1,017 Posts
I know this has been beaten to death, but let’s take another whack at it. The article states that the reason for muscle cramps are unknown by medical professionals, but the one thing they have found that is effective is: https://apple.news/A6feny7o6Tq2Buu9ofHa7uw
I can get them after or during a long hot ride, at night if I really tax myself. Been a pickle juice believer for over a year.
I can get them after or during a long hot ride, at night if I really tax myself. Been a pickle juice believer for over a year.
#33
Newbie
Join Date: Apr 2022
Location: New England
Posts: 37
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 4 Times
in
3 Posts
Regular calf cramps for 50 years.
Taking calcium with magnesium daily has vastly reduced cramps frequency and duration.
A winter bout of alarming escalating 20 minute long cramps eventually linked to new use of an unregulated testosterone supplement. Stopped use and deescalated the new cramps.
Rarely cramp after biking on our Bafang assisted tandem, as i dont strain as much. More often cramp riding solo on regular bike.
Taking calcium with magnesium daily has vastly reduced cramps frequency and duration.
A winter bout of alarming escalating 20 minute long cramps eventually linked to new use of an unregulated testosterone supplement. Stopped use and deescalated the new cramps.
Rarely cramp after biking on our Bafang assisted tandem, as i dont strain as much. More often cramp riding solo on regular bike.
#34
Grupetto Bob
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2020
Location: Seattle-ish
Posts: 6,227
Bikes: Bikey McBike Face
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2587 Post(s)
Liked 5,649 Times
in
2,924 Posts
Thanks for the reminder. Have a long ride planned today so I baggied a pickle for insurance.
__________________
Road 🚴🏾♂️ & Mountain 🚵🏾♂️
Road 🚴🏾♂️ & Mountain 🚵🏾♂️
#35
Full Member
Join Date: Oct 2019
Location: Foothills of West Central Maine
Posts: 410
Bikes: 2007 Motobecane Fantom Cross Expert, 2020 Motobecane Omni Strada Pro Disc (700c gravel bike), 2021 Motobecane Elite Adventure with Bafang 500W rear hub drive
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 174 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 143 Times
in
94 Posts
Coconut water
If you can tolerate the foul taste. If I cycle and golf the same day, I get restless legs and can't sleep. The when I do finally sleep, I wake to cramped calves, painful as heck.
Bought an 8 pack of coconut water, 10 ounce cans recently. Drank a can in the evening after cycling and golf, with good results. Don't know if I can bring myself to try it again. No nausea or I'll effects; just a remarkably foul taste. And that's a refrigerated can poured into a beer mug fresh from the freezer. Best to get it down as quick as possible.
I'm going back to tonic water when the coconut water is used up, or before...
Bought an 8 pack of coconut water, 10 ounce cans recently. Drank a can in the evening after cycling and golf, with good results. Don't know if I can bring myself to try it again. No nausea or I'll effects; just a remarkably foul taste. And that's a refrigerated can poured into a beer mug fresh from the freezer. Best to get it down as quick as possible.
I'm going back to tonic water when the coconut water is used up, or before...
#36
don't try this at home.
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: N. KY
Posts: 5,940
Mentioned: 10 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 974 Post(s)
Liked 512 Times
in
352 Posts
The linked story in the Wash Post isn't about pickle juice as a preventative. It's a "short circuit the cramp by taking a tablespoon of pickle juice".
excerpts:
I'm guessing it's the acid, not the salts and minerals.
A post in a previous thread mentioned trying packets of pickle relish, carried on the ride.
I used to get painful random leg cramps in bed, and now I have a tiny squeeze bottle of wine vinegar standing by. No cramps for a couple of months lately though, so it's not been tested.
excerpts:
- Experimental data in healthy college-aged men suggests that pickle juice inhibits muscle cramps through a reflex involving a nerve in our throats. It’s why a tablespoon of pickle brine hitting the back of the throat seemed to bring relief within seconds.
- Pickle juice may also work for cramps that aren’t induced by exercise.A randomized controlled trial published last year found that a sip of pickle juice reducedmusclecramp intensity in patients with cirrhosis.
I'm guessing it's the acid, not the salts and minerals.
A post in a previous thread mentioned trying packets of pickle relish, carried on the ride.
I used to get painful random leg cramps in bed, and now I have a tiny squeeze bottle of wine vinegar standing by. No cramps for a couple of months lately though, so it's not been tested.
Likes For rm -rf:
#37
Grupetto Bob
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2020
Location: Seattle-ish
Posts: 6,227
Bikes: Bikey McBike Face
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2587 Post(s)
Liked 5,649 Times
in
2,924 Posts
I am trying to do the math and all I can get is 45%.
__________________
Road 🚴🏾♂️ & Mountain 🚵🏾♂️
Road 🚴🏾♂️ & Mountain 🚵🏾♂️
#38
Full Member
My father regularly took quine pills for cramps, which ties in the the tonic water suggestions above. I have used lemons fairly successfully to help with cramps in the calves. But generally cramping has not been a problem until about 2 weeks ago. Although I am retired I occasionally fill in for folks when needed. It is a relatively specialized field and I don't mind helping. I am now in the 5th week of stint away from home which impacted my ability to ride regularly [5-6 days a week, 20-40 miles]. I did manage to get home 2 weeks ago for a few days. I rode an easy 30 miles with no problem. That evening I suffered the worst cramp I ever had on my inner thigh, along the gracilis muscle of all things [that muscle is usually not an issue in men except for hockey players. I did play hockey, but that was 50-60 years ago]. In any event, it contracted so hard that I ended up with a huge bruise on the inner thigh. The bruise was very, very large and I still have remnants now. The best I can figure it that the cramp was so violent that caused some blood vessels to break and hence the contusion. Very odd. I did take an easy ride after that and everything seemed fine except for the wicked bruising.
The ride that day was easy, the weather not hot, and I was hydrated and fueled. It truly seems ideopathic. I sure didn't expect it.
Mike
The ride that day was easy, the weather not hot, and I was hydrated and fueled. It truly seems ideopathic. I sure didn't expect it.
Mike
#39
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2021
Posts: 8,456
Mentioned: 12 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4420 Post(s)
Liked 4,873 Times
in
3,017 Posts
Even though the specific causes of cramp are still unknown, muscle fatigue appears to be a major factor when cramping during a ride. The only times I’ve suffered cramp during a ride is when I’ve over-reached significantly beyond my conditioning at the time. I have never cramped on a ride that I was adequately conditioned for. Neither have I ever cramped in the early part of a ride. So for me it is down to fatigue and conditioning.
I would rather suffer cramp than pickle juice!
I would rather suffer cramp than pickle juice!
#40
Not lost wanderer.
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Lititz, Pa
Posts: 3,332
Bikes: In USA; 73 Raleigh Super Course dingle speed, 72 Raleigh Gran Sport SS, 72 Geoffry Butler, 81 Centurion Pro-Tour, 74 Gugie Grandier Sportier
Mentioned: 73 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 886 Post(s)
Liked 1,000 Times
in
526 Posts
Bananas, pickles, and fresh coconut juice with a spritz of lemon.
__________________
Cambodia bikes, Bridgestone SRAM 2 speed, 2012 Fuji Stratos...
Cambodia bikes, Bridgestone SRAM 2 speed, 2012 Fuji Stratos...
#41
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 3,843
Bikes: Trek Domane SL6 Gen 3, Soma Fog Cutter, Focus Mares AL, Detroit Bikes Sparrow FG, Volae Team, Nimbus MUni
Mentioned: 11 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 896 Post(s)
Liked 2,065 Times
in
1,081 Posts
Back when 40 miles was a pretty long ride for me, and a century was a once a year deal, I would cramp frequently both during and after rides. Sometimes debilitating cramps would lock up my legs after a ride.
Then I discovered randonneuring, and now do a 200km or longer every month. Sometimes much much longer.
Now I experience two types of cramps: inner thigh, and calf. The inner thigh ones I call climbing cramps, because they only occur after a bit of low cadence high effort climbs. They hurt like hell, then go away and don't come back no matter how many more miles i ride that day. Weird. Tucking my knees in while pedaling seems to help, but i don't treat then in any way. Profanity also seems to help. Occasionally I'll get calf cramps at night, after a hard (not necessarily long) ride. Maybe I'll throw some of those pickle juice packs on my kit to try. I'm just not sure i want another thing to deal with, whilst already in a situation on the road.
Then I discovered randonneuring, and now do a 200km or longer every month. Sometimes much much longer.
Now I experience two types of cramps: inner thigh, and calf. The inner thigh ones I call climbing cramps, because they only occur after a bit of low cadence high effort climbs. They hurt like hell, then go away and don't come back no matter how many more miles i ride that day. Weird. Tucking my knees in while pedaling seems to help, but i don't treat then in any way. Profanity also seems to help. Occasionally I'll get calf cramps at night, after a hard (not necessarily long) ride. Maybe I'll throw some of those pickle juice packs on my kit to try. I'm just not sure i want another thing to deal with, whilst already in a situation on the road.