Calf cramps

Spider1977

Yesterday I suffered some major cramps in calf muscles. Could this be due to poor technique or just lack of electrolytes in body?

What is the best position for the feet/ankles/legs at various parts of the pedalling cycle?

I am 183cm (6ft 1) riding a 60cm frame, my legs are long for my height. Legs not quite straight at bottom of stroke. I think this position is OK.

Circumstances were as follows:

I hadn't had a good ride for five days due to shocking winter weather. Had spent most of the day in the car.

Rode about 10km mostly in 42/15 gear averaging about 30kph.
Going down a steep downhill about 150 metres long pedalling about 60 cadence in 53/12, cramp started about half way down, when I was doing about 70 kph (Very scary when it happened). Luckily I was able to pull up at the base of the hill and get off the bike safely. Had a five minute rest but still a bit of tightness in the leg when I took off again. Rode another 25km including three reasonably long hill climbs - no trouble. It was only on downhills that I would get a twitch in the muscle, found that if I stopped pedalling it would ease up the tightness.

Finally about a km from home I put in a couple of quick strokes to get across a busy road. Bang! both calf muscles went into severe cramp. Made it across the road and had to fall off the bike as I was in too much pain to get feet out of the clips. Took a while to recover and ride very slowly the last km home. Leg pain lasted for quite a while after.

CatSpin

Spider 1977,

Had this problem too. Positioning maybe, but most likely training.

1. you will cramp if you are not fit enough or overtrained
2. you may need a massage to loosen up the muscle tissue
3. stretching is a must, 20 minutes of stretching before a race needed plus warm up
4. dietary calcium - if you are not eating enough DARK greens, try supplementing with Magnesium /Calcium vitamin.
5. Stay hidrated

That should do it.

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