New Rider Needs Help!!

[Veronica]

Also, I experienced some crapping in my right leg during the ride. Any suggestions on how to avoid that from happening again? Thanks so much for any advice offered.

I hope you bought new shorts.

Seriously, were you sweating a lot? Might be that you needed more electrolytes.

V.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

I hope you bought new shorts.

Too much!!! I'm dyin' here.

[Bad JuJu]

Don't know about the crapping/cramping, but I do have IT band issues. I've just been through a course of PT for my left knee, and learned some excellent stretches to do, along with strengthening the quads and hamstrings. The stretches you can find on the internet or in any good book on sports stretching.

I also learned that my kneecaps are turned slightly outward, so this problem will be something I just have to live with. In addition to scrupulous post-ride stretching, and sometimes icing, I wear a Cho-Pat strap, which is a kind of brace that helps to support and, in my case, minutely re-align the patella.

If I have to stretch and wear a knee brace for the rest of my life so I can continue to cycle, so be it.

[DDH]

ROFLMAO, I have seen typo's but that one was great!! LOL

I'm with Lisa, I'm dieing

Seriously though, if I can get that way, I am a new rider too (since July) and congrats on the 65 miles!! I don't know what to say about the knee pain but I think the cramping sometimes is potasiam shortage, I know when I cramp in my legs if I eat a banana or drink some gatorade it usually quits. Of course I am not expert so wait for them to answer you okay.

I have a 50 mile ride coming up this weekend in Waco Tx. and I am thinking I may have bit off more than I can chew with that, so I envy you being able to do the 65 already.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Two quick knee helps to try out before you get into looking for complex physical causes too deeply: Do like Donna says- on a long ride keep sipping a drink with electrolytes. And raise your saddle height a cm or so- might help with "some" knee pains.

And do get some new shorts.

(JUST KIDDING!!!!)