Muscle cramps hours after ride

[FLN333]

I am not sure if anyone else is experiening this. I do not get leg cramps during a ride but later in the night. Sometimes I feel it in my feet like my big toe curls up. I can get them in my calf and theigh but again it is not when I am riding but after. When i get this I feel the tightness and it takes a bit for me to straighten my leg or toes. It wakes me up and I walk a bit try to go back to bed but sometimes I have to get up a few times. I drink like G2 on my ride and try to dring a lot. any tips?

[colorisnt]

Well, you are drinking G2, so I am assuming you are getting SOME potassium (K+), but you could probably stand to get more. When I was running, the number one complaint I had was leg cramps. My sister (also a runner) told me to eat bananas. It works and you are likely to cramp less. Cramps at night are MISERY, so I am really sorry you are experiencing them.

[ridebikeme]

I too, will eat bananas and hydrate well, but at times, will still cramp and mostly after being in bed for some time. The only thing that has worked for me is to make sure that I stretch each day, especially after a ride. I tend to stand on my feet all day at work, so am sure that may have something to do with it... but stretching has definitely helped! I've recently started doing some yoga and that has helped as well.

Good luck!

[gnat23]

I had better results with Calcium than potassium. Started taking supplements everyday (and maybe a second dose on big-bike-ride days) and the late-night foot-arch charlie-horses disappeared.

-- gnat!

[FLN333]

I had better results with Calcium than potassium. Started taking supplements everyday (and maybe a second dose on big-bike-ride days) and the late-night foot-arch charlie-horses disappeared.

-- gnat!

Calcium - hmmmm good idea. Like the term night foot arch - it is a stange feeling and looks strange too. Tx all

[OakLeaf]

Magnesium. You should take magnesium any time you take calcium, since they need to be in balance, but when I get cramps it's much more likely to be magnesium that's the culprit.

[PamNY]

Magnesium worked for me when I had that issue. I don't think I've gotten a single nighttime foot cramp since I started taking it.

[ChillyWilly]

Had that problem quite a bit from mucle overuse. Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate, and if you're already doing that, Cal Mag with D. Calcium, Magnesium with D. The D helps upload the others to your system.

[trek4.5]

Try taking mustard. I take a pack of yellow mustard (that you get at a fast food restaurant) or a tablespoon before each ride and have not experienced cramps. A couple of guys that ride with us swear by it. The one gentlemen even keeps a bottle of mustard in his night stand for night leg cramps. I've even seen them stop and buy it at a convenience store on a ride if they did not take it. I've also heard of drinking pickle juice.

[shootingstar]

Try taking mustard. I take a pack of yellow mustard (that you get at a fast food restaurant) or a tablespoon before each ride and have not experienced cramps. A couple of guys that ride with us swear by it. The one gentlemen even keeps a bottle of mustard in his night stand for night leg cramps. I've even seen them stop and buy it at a convenience store on a ride if they did not take it. I've also heard of drinking pickle juice.

Pickle juice sounds extreme...would it even have enough mustard?

Interesting, the mustard solution. I like mustard.. but not to eat it plain beyond a teaspoon..without a cracker or bread.

[Chicken Little]

Mustard and pickle juice are "mood killers" you guys-stick with the Mag/Ca advice.