35 miles & cramped up! What's all that about...?

[Cosmicned]

Had a nice run last Saturday of around 35-40 miles - had a tough-ish return journey into a headwind on the way back - got home and after a quick rest my legs cramped up really bad - bloody excruciating in fact... what was that all about...? I'm not super-fit by any means - but cycle between 40 - 80 miles a week... anything I might be doing wrong guys...?

 

[screenman]

Not riding enough.

 

[YahudaMoon]

Lactic acid ? Pre & post leg stretching exercise work or squeeze it out with massage

Everyone should do stretching exercise before a ride though most don't

 

[Globalti]

Not drinking enough water?

 

[PK99]

Had a nice run last Saturday of around 35-40 miles - had a tough-ish return journey into a headwind on the way back - got home and after a quick rest my legs cramped up really bad - bloody excruciating in fact... what was that all about...? I'm not super-fit by any means - but cycle between 40 - 80 miles a week... anything I might be doing wrong guys...?

It's surprising how much extra effort is required into a head wind
http://bikecalculator.com/wattsUS.html

15mph on level ground. no wind = around 100W

5mph headwind = around 160W

10mph head wind = around 230W

I tend to suffer from cramps too and find that spinning gently for the last 20minutes on the way home (easy as i hit traffic!) eases everything out.

It could just be that you worked harder than you thought into that headwind

 

[NormanD]

Cold bath ... instant cure

 

[Paulus]

Could be a combination of things, Lactic acid, Not drinking enough fluid berfore and during the ride, lack of salts/electrolytes and maybe over exertion. Some stretching before and after a ride really helps.

 

[HLaB]

Had a nice run last Saturday of around 35-40 miles - had a tough-ish return journey into a headwind on the way back - got home and after a quick rest my legs cramped up really bad - bloody excruciating in fact... what was that all about...? I'm not super-fit by any means - but cycle between 40 - 80 miles a week... anything I might be doing wrong guys...?

You've kinda answered your own question but on your usual cycles of 40-80 miles a week what is your longest cycle if its 5 x 16 miles that may also explain why you were struggling, its a lot less in a oner and you could have been worn out from it.

 

[lulubel]

Everyone should do stretching exercise before a ride though most don't

I'm firmly in the "stretching cold muscles is bad" camp, which is why I don't. I just take it easy until I'm fully warmed up.

 

[Cosmicned]

Thanks very much for the input guys- I did drink a fair amount - at least a litre of fluid & it wasn't warm by any means. I think now it was a combination of over exertion & not bothering to stretch properly when I got back... using the bike calculator I reckon I must have been pushing more like 300 watts on the 18 mile return journey with that b*st*rd head wind - no wonder something had to give ... maybe i need to take it a little easier 'til my fitness improves some more... let that learn me!

 

[montyboy]

Thanks very much for the input guys- I did drink a fair amount - at least a litre of fluid & it wasn't warm by any means. I think now it was a combination of over exertion & not bothering to stretch properly when I got back... using the bike calculator I reckon I must have been pushing more like 300 watts on the 18 mile return journey - no wonder something had to give ... maybe i need to take it a little easier 'til my fitness improves some more... let that learn me!

It could be that like me you are just really old and its only going to get worse

 

[Col5632]

Headwind is a nightmare Wind is only good when its behind you, i would defo put it down to too much effort and not used to doing quite as much in the one go cause that happened to me 2 weekends ago

 

[Cosmicned]

It could be that like me you are just really old and its only going to get worse

Ah- now there's something I hadn't considered... 52 old...? Erm... maybe you have a point...!

 

[Paulus]

Ah- now there's something I hadn't considered... 52 old...? Erm... maybe you have a point...!

No way young fella. I am a couple of years infront of you and did 80 odd miles on sunday. It is all a state of mind, keep active and the miles will care for themself.

 

[CopperCyclist]

Cramp is normally due to insufficient salt too, consider taking something on your ride that has a little salt input. Some riders even suggest putting a small amount in your drink, but I've never been able to think of anything more vile! Check the statistics of your food you bring with you, some biscuits may help.