Cramps - Page 2 - Cycling Mob: Road Cycling, Mountain Biking and More

05-31-2004, 02:12 PM

In article <MzLuc.16852$[Only registered and activated users can see links. ].pas.earthlin k.net>,
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ] says...

....

> So what to do about this? How to avoid it. I want to do rides like this
> and more. It wasn't like a bonk. If it weren't for the cramps, I had
> plenty of energy to keep going. It seems like it was some sort of
> depletion thing going on. I hit zero on something and the cramps
> started. I stopped and recovered a little bit, but before long I zeroed
> out again, and finally I got to where there was no recovery at all.

Pure muscular exhaustion can cause cramps, but from what I've read and
experienced, low electrolytes (particularly potassium and sodium) can
contribute as well. In your case, it sounds like you had simply over-
worked your legs.

--
Dave Kerber
Fight spam: remove the ns_ from the return address before replying!

REAL programmers write self-modifying code.

05-31-2004, 02:30 PM

David Kerber writes:

>> So what to do about this? How to avoid it. I want to do rides like
>> this and more. It wasn't like a bonk. If it weren't for the
>> cramps, I had plenty of energy to keep going. It seems like it was
>> some sort of depletion thing going on. I hit zero on something and
>> the cramps started. I stopped and recovered a little bit, but
>> before long I zeroed out again, and finally I got to where there
>> was no recovery at all.

> Pure muscular exhaustion can cause cramps, but from what I've read
> and experienced, low electrolytes (particularly potassium and
> sodium) can contribute as well. In your case, it sounds like you
> had simply over- worked your legs.

In that respect, V8-Vegetable juice is probably the best drink
commonly found in stores that contains the electrolytes needed. Of
course it isn't a classy name like Power Bar or Gatorade, but it beats
these in content. Check the label.

Jobst Brandt
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

05-31-2004, 02:30 PM

David Kerber writes:

>> So what to do about this? How to avoid it. I want to do rides like
>> this and more. It wasn't like a bonk. If it weren't for the
>> cramps, I had plenty of energy to keep going. It seems like it was
>> some sort of depletion thing going on. I hit zero on something and
>> the cramps started. I stopped and recovered a little bit, but
>> before long I zeroed out again, and finally I got to where there
>> was no recovery at all.

> Pure muscular exhaustion can cause cramps, but from what I've read
> and experienced, low electrolytes (particularly potassium and
> sodium) can contribute as well. In your case, it sounds like you
> had simply over- worked your legs.

In that respect, V8-Vegetable juice is probably the best drink
commonly found in stores that contains the electrolytes needed. Of
course it isn't a classy name like Power Bar or Gatorade, but it beats
these in content. Check the label.

Jobst Brandt
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

05-31-2004, 02:30 PM

David Kerber writes:

>> So what to do about this? How to avoid it. I want to do rides like
>> this and more. It wasn't like a bonk. If it weren't for the
>> cramps, I had plenty of energy to keep going. It seems like it was
>> some sort of depletion thing going on. I hit zero on something and
>> the cramps started. I stopped and recovered a little bit, but
>> before long I zeroed out again, and finally I got to where there
>> was no recovery at all.

> Pure muscular exhaustion can cause cramps, but from what I've read
> and experienced, low electrolytes (particularly potassium and
> sodium) can contribute as well. In your case, it sounds like you
> had simply over- worked your legs.

In that respect, V8-Vegetable juice is probably the best drink
commonly found in stores that contains the electrolytes needed. Of
course it isn't a classy name like Power Bar or Gatorade, but it beats
these in content. Check the label.

Jobst Brandt
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

05-31-2004, 02:30 PM

David Kerber writes:

>> So what to do about this? How to avoid it. I want to do rides like
>> this and more. It wasn't like a bonk. If it weren't for the
>> cramps, I had plenty of energy to keep going. It seems like it was
>> some sort of depletion thing going on. I hit zero on something and
>> the cramps started. I stopped and recovered a little bit, but
>> before long I zeroed out again, and finally I got to where there
>> was no recovery at all.

> Pure muscular exhaustion can cause cramps, but from what I've read
> and experienced, low electrolytes (particularly potassium and
> sodium) can contribute as well. In your case, it sounds like you
> had simply over- worked your legs.

In that respect, V8-Vegetable juice is probably the best drink
commonly found in stores that contains the electrolytes needed. Of
course it isn't a classy name like Power Bar or Gatorade, but it beats
these in content. Check the label.

Jobst Brandt
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

05-31-2004, 02:30 PM

David Kerber writes:

>> So what to do about this? How to avoid it. I want to do rides like
>> this and more. It wasn't like a bonk. If it weren't for the
>> cramps, I had plenty of energy to keep going. It seems like it was
>> some sort of depletion thing going on. I hit zero on something and
>> the cramps started. I stopped and recovered a little bit, but
>> before long I zeroed out again, and finally I got to where there
>> was no recovery at all.

> Pure muscular exhaustion can cause cramps, but from what I've read
> and experienced, low electrolytes (particularly potassium and
> sodium) can contribute as well. In your case, it sounds like you
> had simply over- worked your legs.

In that respect, V8-Vegetable juice is probably the best drink
commonly found in stores that contains the electrolytes needed. Of
course it isn't a classy name like Power Bar or Gatorade, but it beats
these in content. Check the label.

Jobst Brandt
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

05-31-2004, 03:33 PM

InfoQuest wrote:
> I have been fighting cramps for about 5 years and have done a ton of
> research. Other than the Gatorade indicate below, do you use any
> sports/energy type drinks?
>
> Have you had any previous episodes?
>
>

I haven't used anything but Gatorade. Note to Jobst--I took a look at a
the label on a can---37% RDA of Sodium and 22% RDA of Postassium--You're
right.

I have had this happen a time or two before on backpack trips--a heavy
load, long climb + altitude did it too me, but I'm lighter and in better
shape now and wasn't expecting it. I didn't drink anything while on the
hard part of the climb. That may be the key. I have noticed as I expand
by capabilities, the first time on something new is ghastly, the second
time hard, the third time I wonder what the problems was, and the fourth
time I get careless and its hard again.

Mike

take 100 out of my email to reach me.

05-31-2004, 03:33 PM

InfoQuest wrote:
> I have been fighting cramps for about 5 years and have done a ton of
> research. Other than the Gatorade indicate below, do you use any
> sports/energy type drinks?
>
> Have you had any previous episodes?
>
>

I haven't used anything but Gatorade. Note to Jobst--I took a look at a
the label on a can---37% RDA of Sodium and 22% RDA of Postassium--You're
right.

I have had this happen a time or two before on backpack trips--a heavy
load, long climb + altitude did it too me, but I'm lighter and in better
shape now and wasn't expecting it. I didn't drink anything while on the
hard part of the climb. That may be the key. I have noticed as I expand
by capabilities, the first time on something new is ghastly, the second
time hard, the third time I wonder what the problems was, and the fourth
time I get careless and its hard again.

Mike

take 100 out of my email to reach me.

05-31-2004, 03:33 PM

InfoQuest wrote:
> I have been fighting cramps for about 5 years and have done a ton of
> research. Other than the Gatorade indicate below, do you use any
> sports/energy type drinks?
>
> Have you had any previous episodes?
>
>

I haven't used anything but Gatorade. Note to Jobst--I took a look at a
the label on a can---37% RDA of Sodium and 22% RDA of Postassium--You're
right.

I have had this happen a time or two before on backpack trips--a heavy
load, long climb + altitude did it too me, but I'm lighter and in better
shape now and wasn't expecting it. I didn't drink anything while on the
hard part of the climb. That may be the key. I have noticed as I expand
by capabilities, the first time on something new is ghastly, the second
time hard, the third time I wonder what the problems was, and the fourth
time I get careless and its hard again.

Mike

take 100 out of my email to reach me.

05-31-2004, 03:33 PM

InfoQuest wrote:
> I have been fighting cramps for about 5 years and have done a ton of
> research. Other than the Gatorade indicate below, do you use any
> sports/energy type drinks?
>
> Have you had any previous episodes?
>
>

I haven't used anything but Gatorade. Note to Jobst--I took a look at a
the label on a can---37% RDA of Sodium and 22% RDA of Postassium--You're
right.

I have had this happen a time or two before on backpack trips--a heavy
load, long climb + altitude did it too me, but I'm lighter and in better
shape now and wasn't expecting it. I didn't drink anything while on the
hard part of the climb. That may be the key. I have noticed as I expand
by capabilities, the first time on something new is ghastly, the second
time hard, the third time I wonder what the problems was, and the fourth
time I get careless and its hard again.

Mike

take 100 out of my email to reach me.