Low Mileage Progress

It's been a week or so since I posted--right after getting the bike computer and rear-view mirror--and it's amazing how motivating that bike computer can be. Apparently I'm a sucker for numbers turning over. So the distances are creeping up, interrupted by a day of massive leg cramps, another day of bad weather (not confident at all on wet roads), and yet another day of the handlebars rotating in a very alarming way (in fact, a "get off the bike and walk it home" way. But a day in the bike shop (for a complete tune-up, the repair, and raising the seat a little) got me back on the road, the cramps eased off with a day's rest, and so on. And the daily rides can now be measured in multiple miles. Not many multiple miles, but "'more than one' is an infinite number." One session is at two miles and the other is creeping its way up (today, with a strong gusty headwind on the up-slope segments, the last ride was just over a half mile. Boy, do I hate headwind when going up a slope!) Some of the dogs along the route have gotten used to me (usually no barking, sometimes one woof) but some of them use me as an excuse for exercise, yapping frantically as they run back and forth in their yards. SO glad they're all behind fences.

As encouraging as the increasing distance on the street is increasing confidence on both the street and on the land. I managed almost the whole trail through the dry woods--winding, with a climb over a hump, then a sharper drop-off followed by a (for me) sharp turn, and more winding between cactus and then brush. (I still can't get up the drop-off, going the other way, with enough oomph to make it the rest of the way over the high point of the trail. But I will.) Picking up speed on the down-slope direction of the street brings back the feeling I had on my first "real" bike (the one that had never had training wheels) with the wind in my hair. (No, none of us had helmets in those days. I'm not even sure bike helmets existed.) The bike computer tells me how fast I'm going, which is, like the distance readout, an incentive. If I can do 7.9 up-slope, why not 8? (Shut up, legs.)

The old mountain bike is gone from the place, handed over to the bike shop to check over for possible donation to a person in need--though they expressed concern about its age and the long-term viability of the frame. "We might hang it up to show what a really good mountain bike looked like that long ago." I refrained from pointing out that I was more than five times as old as that mountain bike and nobody's going to hang me from a ceiling (I hope!) any time soon.

glad to hear that your riding is going well. Some thoughts about leg cramps and possible solutions. Make sure you are super hydrated- in the cooler weather you don't feel yourself sweating unless you get way overheated, plus the humidity tends to be a bit lower when the weather is cold and dry. Try making a point of eating at least one banana a day- quick and easy way to get a good dose of potassium (anti cramp mineral). You can break the banana into chunks, freeze it and throw it into a smoothie, or just eat the frozen chunks for a ref reshing pseudo ice cream like treat. Finally, if the cramps persist, try taking something like sports legs with a healthy dose of water before yu ride. It is available at most local bike stores. I tend to routinely take two with my daily morning vitamins as I have had some problems with cramping in the past.

If you don't like bananas, coconut water is also a good source of potassium and calcium (and other things). It's not calorie free - bananas aren't either - but it is a good alternate source if you can't tolerate bananas. I am starting to turn to this on my hard effort days and my cramping has disappeared. Bananas helped, but I was still cramping at night a bit.

Honestly, unless it's really hot where you are and/or you sweat super heavily, I don't think you need to worry about electrolytes at this point. That's more of an issue as you get into hard rides of 2 hours or more. I'd expect your cramps were more from unaccustomed use of the muscles, and they'll lessen as you keep getting stronger.

Regardless, congrats on the progress! It's great to see you having so much fun. :)

I don't have any suggestions about the leg cramps. I've had them and I never found a solution. I lost 25 pounds the first year I biked and I don't know if the leg cramps went with muscle building or weight loss. I still get them from time to time, if I go on a few long rides after I haven't been on long rides in a while. But not nearly so bad.

For me they always happen at night. It wakes me up (painfully) but it doesn't interfere with my day or my riding.

Actually, speaking only for my body and not anything scientific, that pretty much is the difference, for me. The ones that wake me up at night are electrolytes (usually magnesium, sometimes calcium). The ones I get during an event are mostly unaccustomed use, although I do supplement electrolytes during a long run/ride just to avoid hyponatremia, which I'm very prone to a mild form.

I got nothing for you re leg cramps, but I just want to thank you for posting. It's exciting catching up on your progress. I can picture you riding as I read. Love it.

Woohoo, go you! :D I agree with the others that it's very fun and exciting to watch your progress and enthusiasm develop. (Let's hope no one hangs you from a ceiling any time soon! lol)

I've gotten a few leg cramps, usually an hour or two after being off the bike... I soak them in a hot bath and massage them while I'm in there to warm up the muscles, then get out to do some gentle leg stretches before the muscles cool back down. It hurts like heck but boy do they feel a lot better afterward! It's more of an "Ahhh, they hurt so good" feeling more than the "ouch ouch ouch what the heck!?" feeling of before :p

Wow, I just managed to catch up with your progress and new bike. Awesome! You are one fearless lady after looking over photos of where you ride off road, threat of rattlesnakes and uneven terrain. You are doing great! You've taken on a lot of challenges for someone new to riding.

My husband occasionally suffers from night thigh cramp - very painful. A medical doctor suggested keeping a small can of non-diet tonic water (the one containing quinine) by the bed. He reckons it calms down the cramps much faster than his hopping around saying 'OW' a lot :-), or me stretching his leg and massaging it. Well done with the progress on the bike - isn't it great?!