The Dreaded Cramp - Advice please

[azaro]

the triathlon coach at my local swimming pool says to drink gin and tonic, somthing to do with Quinine in the tonic.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tonic_water

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quinine

and drink more milk, better than any sports drink

+1

It's the quinine in the tonic.
Prefer vodka to gin myself though!

 

[RobMac]

Quinine is a muscle relaxant.

 

[Groundoggy]

I would nix the gin and vodka, a little tonic water might not be a bad idea though.

Definitely suggest an energy drink. Gatorade or whatever. The salted crisps and banana do address some areas of need. Not sure salted crisps are exactly the best source of sodium and most of us probably get too much sodium as it is. A banana or two can't hurt.

It's complicated scientific stuff but basically there are 'pumps' in the body driven by Sodium and Potassium ions. A lack of either can cause the pump to stop working properly and you get a cramp. Drinks with electrolytes are designed for this purpose and contain all the electrolytes you need to help keep these pumps properly fueled.

Haven't worked in a lab in over a decade and my scientific knowledge is rapidly deteriorating but I'm pretty sure these pumps are a big reason you area suffering a cramp.

Here is a demonstration of one such pump:

http://highered.mcgraw-hill.com/sit...ion__how_the_sodium_potassium_pump_works.html

Conditioning is of course another factor in cramping, so ride more.

 

[Woz]

About 45 seconds into the video it went above my head and was too impatient for the punch line. I then said "Sod it, I'll have a G&T".

 

[Groundoggy]

About 45 seconds into the video it went above my head and was too impatient for the punch line. I then said "Sod it, I'll have a G&T".

Can't say I blame you - just pointing out there really is something behind those energy drinks/gels. I left all that mumbo jumbo behind for a career in the horse race wagering industry long ago.

I doubt his cramps would have gone away had he been given a few salted crisps rather than some scientifically formulated super goo.

 

[Iwasgoodonce]

Three pages in and I'm not sure if anyone has mentioned riding position! Saddle height is pretty important especially as the OP mentioned it was a new bike. The fact he described it as a "rig" suggests it is a tractor rather than a road bike and a lot of mountain bikers tend to have vastly too high/low saddles.

If you are stretching to reach the bottom of the pedal stroke 50/60/70 times a minute cramp is a likely result.

I'm going to try the gin approach though. Same whisky can't offer the same benefits!

 

[Student Bob]

... just pointing out there really is something behind those energy drinks/gels. I left all that mumbo jumbo behind for a career in the horse race wagering industry long ago.

There’s been a few articles published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine over the last couple of years, all of which agree that sports gels and drinks are expensive, shiny packaged placebos with no influence on whether or not you’re going to cramp up.

The official Theory Du Jour on cramp is that it’s related to fitness and muscle fatigue, the less fit you are and the more you try to do, the higher the likelihood of cramping up. So, unfortunately, the best remedy is to be fitter in the first place! Or ride slower/take more G&T breaks…

 

[AdamAsh]

Thanks for all the input & help..

I think I'm gonna take a G&T flask out next time


I am trying to get some rides to & from work in to build up a little fitness..

It is a bit of a heavy bike with slack geometry, probably 36+lbs with 2.5 tyres.

Ill just keep trying things

 

[Groundoggy]

There’s been a few articles published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine over the last couple of years, all of which agree that sports gels and drinks are expensive, shiny packaged placebos with no influence on whether or not you’re going to cramp up.

Ah. Those studies are financed by 'Big Water' and the scientists are paid to come to that conclusion.

Agree fitness likely plays the largest part in cramping. The function of an energy drink isn't just to prevent cramping. Not familiar with any new research but the old research seemed to suggest no difference from water early on among elite athletes but as fatigue set in energy drinks helped the body to continue to perform longer at a higher level. Whatever benefit there may be is small and only appears when fatigued. It would be a difficult thing to prove with a significant level of confidence either way.

That probably doesn't mean a whole lot to an aged RBer who struggles to ride on weekends anyways. Water is my first bottle - if I bring a 2nd it's probably an energy drink.

 

[Neil]

There’s been a few articles published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine over the last couple of years, all of which agree that sports gels and drinks are expensive, shiny packaged placebos with no influence on whether or not you’re going to cramp up.

Ah. Those studies are financed by 'Big Water' and the scientists are paid to come to that conclusion.

Agree fitness likely plays the largest part in cramping. The function of an energy drink isn't just to prevent cramping. Not familiar with any new research but the old research seemed to suggest no difference from water early on among elite athletes but as fatigue set in energy drinks helped the body to continue to perform longer at a higher level. Whatever benefit there may be is small and only appears when fatigued. It would be a difficult thing to prove with a significant level of confidence either way.

That probably doesn't mean a whole lot to an aged RBer who struggles to ride on weekends anyways. Water is my first bottle - if I bring a 2nd it's probably an energy drink.

Thing is, though, you seem to be conflating energy issues with cramping.

Now I'd accept a few factors probably influence people getting cramp whilst exercising - but it's not just running out of easily available "energy" to do so.

I've nothing really against energy drinks, per se, be they expensive or otherwise - but the one thing they're not, is essential - they're merely convenient.