Reasoning for cramping?

CramCycle

Lusk_Doyle wrote: »

Could position on the bike have anything to do with it? Saddle too high/low or forward/back or your position on the saddle?

It could, over or under working some areas, under or over utilisation. I certainly suffered badly from cramps before my bike fit when I pushed it out over a long distance.

DKmac

death1234567 wrote: »

I'm no scientist but I thought this would be common sense for cycling. Cramp is caused by lactic acid building up in your muscles (at least I think that's the cause). This lactic acid comes from anaerobic exercise where your muscles are working with an oxygen deficiency, i.e. you're giving it the beans. To avoid this when cycling stay in lower gears and have a high cadence so the muscles in your legs are working aerobically and your heart/lungs and other muscles that don't produce lactic acid are doing the work. This way you won't get cramp in your legs. I'm not sure on the science but I have plenty of anecdotal evidence to back up this theory.

The hydration/electrolyte theory (I think) was just based on the idea that if you are dehydrated it'll be harder for your body to "wash out" the lactic acid that's built up in your muscles.

Conclusion --> Spinning is Winning. Just look at Chris Froome and his high cadence.

Correct, you are not a scientist.
Muscles do not produce lactic acid during exercise. They produce lactate and is not produced as a waste product of anaerobic excersize. It’s actually a link between anaerobic and aerobic.

Lactate accumulation in the muscles actually delays fatigue as lactate produced during exercise can be “recycled” into glucose and used as fuel by the muscles. The thinking is now that elite athletes do not produce less lactate but actually use it more efficiently as fuel.

Craig06

Check this out;

http://www.skratchlabs.com/pages/faq

Allen Lim is a sports scientist. Maybe answer a few questions.

ian_rush

In my experience cramp is always related to doing bigger efforts than I am used to. Either going faster than normal or longer than normal, fluids, electrolytes and heat have had no major impact but that is just me. If I train for the speed or distance I won't cramp, If I don't train I will cramp. That said, I suspect the reason trained athletes cramp and the reasons Freds like myself cramp can be quite different.

YeahOK

For me anyway it was hydration. Cramp so bad one day I couldn't swing my legs over the bike to get off it. Spent 5 mins stuck at the side of the road doubled over the bike repeatedly saying sh*t, sh*t, sh*t and waiting for my legs that were locked solid to ease. Realised when I did manage to get off the bike that the lady who owned the house I was stopped outside was just inside the garden wall I was stopped at tending to her flowers. I'm sure she was wondering wtf was wrong me. Mind you I could have been having a heart attack and she didn't once ask was I okay......