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Hi this is Barndoor,

Can you tell me what part of your leg is cramping? Are you using aero bars?
Are you clipped in?

Sounds like from what you said it coud be a fit issue, good luck

;)
would you be suggesting that his seat could be to Low causing him to use his upper quads. Since that is the only bike fit problem i have ever encountered but i used to do it purposely.

if not what other bike fit problem have you encountered that causes muscle groups to become so exhausted that they cramp up?

hi shreklookalike,

i have been doing this cycling seriously for about 12 months. i realise that if i start off slowly, i do not experience cramps even after 30km or so. but if i start off speeding like 28-30 km/h in rthe 1st 15-20 mins the cramps will come in. warmup about 5 mins, gear ratios max after 10 mins into the cycle. because i m trying to chase(cycling) after my friend who has been always better than me. this joker always inisist that i go 1st than he overtakes me! and he just loves that everythime! i think his speed is about 32-34km/h

cheers
mark

Mark,

You didn't mention how long you've been training or what training methods you're using, how you're warming up, etc., so it's hard at this point for anyone to give you advice that will really be helpful.

I doubt that your problem would be related to fluid intake so early into a ride unless you're starting your ride already under hydrated.

You didn't state what gear ratios you've been training with. It's possible that you're already trying to mash too high of a gear for your skill level and that you should drop down a gear or two and spin a higher cadence thereby taking some of the strain off your leg muscles and building a better cardio/pulmonary "engine".

Before you start doing one legged drills you should know that one of the forums better known posters who happens to coach elite level cyclists feels that those drills are pretty much useless (unless you're a one legged cyclist).

It's also possible that all you need is to adjust your bike fitting. An improperly fitted bicycle can cause a less efficient pedal stroke, and this could also be causing your cramps.

i think you r right will try to spin more



Another possibility is that you are trying to go maximum effort all the time. Try doing longer distance for awhile at a slower pace.

hi barndoor,
yes i used clips. lower back of my legs muscle, that night was right the rigth leg.

cheers!
http://www.cyclingforums.com/images/icons/icon12.gifmark

Hi this is Barndoor,

Can you tell me what part of your leg is cramping? Are you using aero bars?
Are you clipped in?

Sounds like from what you said it coud be a fit issue, good luck

;)

sure will try, let you guys posted

cheers!
mark

Another possibility is that you are trying to go maximum effort all the time. Try doing longer distance for awhile at a slower pace.

hi closesupport,

i think i might me also trying to push down to much instead of pulling up will try to train slowly-slowly on the one legged .

cheers!
mark



Now i have a little more time, you do one leg intervals in smaller gears to help smooth out your pedal stoke so to help you make you pedal stroke more efficient, for instance most cyclist new to the sport, push down on the pedal and only use a small percentage of the full pedal stroke, if you use one leg at a time you will find that you have to pull up on the pedal to get up to 12 o'clock position and push across and forward to get over the top and back to your start position. this helps you correctly use your pedals thus making it more efficient.

Mashing out big gears with one leg at a time with a pretty slow cadence helps you work fast twitch fibres and allows you to generate strength in your Quads this is pretty much the same as muscle tension intervals, where you would use a 5-8% slope with a slow cadence of 50-55rpm with a relatively large gear enough to generate tension in your thighs.

Now up and under intervals are to help you build up your lactate threshold, if you either complete an exercise stress test and obtain your maximum heart rate and take 90% from it to obtain your Lactate threshold or even.

for instance 220 - (Age) 32 = 188 - 90% will give me a lactate threshold say of 177Bpm so now i need to work 3bpm above then 3bpm below LT to recover, for a duration of time that i find comfortable as it becomes easier increase the thime of your intervals, I try to recover over half the time i spend above my LT as you begin to find the 3bpm easy then you can increase the amount that your working above LT but try to balance it out.

there are a number of Intervals that you can complete to improve your cycling, Since i have Interval training methods wrote by chris carmicheal for lance armstrong who i remember having 2 legs during the tour de france this being an interval; method that

Quote: One Legged Intervals
Isolates the pedaling action for a smoother, more efficient spin.

Lance Armstrong performance program? LanceArmstrong&chrisarmicheal

As for cramps maybe you should try looking into Electrolyte/ fluid embalances at a cellular and extracellular

http://www.sirinet.net/~jgjohnso/waterbalance.html
or maybe you'd like to learn a little more.
http://www.sirinet.net/~jgjohnso/biologyII.html

hi barndoor,
yes i used clips. lower back of my legs muscle, that night was right the rigth leg.

cheers!
http://www.cyclingforums.com/images/icons/icon12.gifmark

I was just thinking about foot position if it is the calf muscle. Sometimes if I point my toes this happens to me. If the hamstring is cramping, maybe the seat is a smidge to high. Anyway, sounds like you may be charging out of the gate to catch your buddy and that is the main issue... try bending a rim on his bike to slow him down.

would you be suggesting that his seat could be to Low causing him to use his upper quads. Since that is the only bike fit problem i have ever encountered but i used to do it purposely.

if not what other bike fit problem have you encountered that causes muscle groups to become so exhausted that they cramp up?

I guess I'm just thinking about what muscles are bothering him and could seat height ( to high mostly in his case since he rides more ) be the cause.

Hi all! I'm from Centurion S.A. just rescently bought my 3rd MTB after not cycling for 6years. Boy did the MTB components improve!
I seriously spin vinyl and now go for mud-rides on weekends!

Hello all, I am in Northern Virginia. I am just starting to get back into riding again. I am looking for a good road bike now, and anticipating spring.

Hello to all of you fellow avid cyclists of the world! I was born in Queens, NY city, raised in Puerto Rico and I am currently residing in El Paso, TX.The weather is mostly dry and warm, the winters mild and hardly a few snow flakes on rare occassions... The traffic is tolerable in the country roads, particularly the ones leading to southern New Mexico.
I am 45 years old and I practice general and internal medicine as a physician assistant. I own two old classic bicycles: a Masi Criterium and a Gios Torino-Super Record 1980, both nicely equiped with Campy NR and Cinelli, and GP4 wheels with tubulars.
I used to race as a teenager and in my 20's in P.R. and in Colorado, Denver and Colorado Springs, mostly road races and criteriums. I stopped cycling for over 14 years, specially when I was in medical school, just did...burnt out?!
I recently re-inmersed myself into this fascinating cycling sport and lifestyle.
I have lost 4 inches off my waist and dropped 8 pounds since September 04.
I ride every morning for about 1 hour, alternating spinning with big gears days, and flats with hills every other day (weather permitting, of course).
On Saturdays I ride 85 to 90 miles in a little less than 4 hours (if the wind is helping...). I changed my old strapped pedals for the moderns version, and WOW, what a an improvement in power transfer!
I believe that cycling is the "fountain of youth", and one of the best ways to overcome obesity, insulin resistance, and even the prevalent metabolic syndrome- a condition with elevated blood pressure, elevated cholesterol, elevated fasting blood sugar, waist obesity or central obesity, etc.
About two weeks ago, after cycling 60 miles, I was approached by another avid cyclist, and he greeted me cheerfuly like this: "Hi, I am George, and I am almost 77, and I feel great. I used to spend $400/month on medicines, now I spend less than that on cycling stuff... in a year!!!"
This was a very remarkable person, and George truly challenged my previous perception (from my previous medical training) of aging as an irreversible and inevitable catabolic process...
I have found a new inspiration for cycling now! Keep on cycling, faithfully and committed, and if you persist, the reward is marvelous and truly wonderful!
Yours truly,
Don Quijote

Hello to all of you fellow avid cyclists of the world! I was born in Queens, NY city, raised in Puerto Rico and I am currently residing in El Paso, TX.The weather is mostly dry and warm, the winters mild and hardly a few snow flakes on rare occassions... The traffic is tolerable in the country roads, particularly the ones leading to southern New Mexico.
I am 45 years old and I practice general and internal medicine as a physician assistant. I own two old classic bicycles: a Masi Criterium and a Gios Torino-Super Record 1980, both nicely equiped with Campy NR and Cinelli, and GP4 wheels with tubulars.
I used to race as a teenager and in my 20's in P.R. and in Colorado, Denver and Colorado Springs, mostly road races and criteriums. I stopped cycling for over 14 years, specially when I was in medical school, just did...burnt out?!
I recently re-inmersed myself into this fascinating cycling sport and lifestyle.
I have lost 4 inches off my waist and dropped 8 pounds since September 04.
I ride every morning for about 1 hour, alternating spinning with big gears days, and flats with hills every other day (weather permitting, of course).
On Saturdays I ride 85 to 90 miles in a little less than 4 hours (if the wind is helping...). I changed my old strapped pedals for the moderns version, and WOW, what a an improvement in power transfer!
I believe that cycling is the "fountain of youth", and one of the best ways to overcome obesity, insulin resistance, and even the prevalent metabolic syndrome- a condition with elevated blood pressure, elevated cholesterol, elevated fasting blood sugar, waist obesity or central obesity, etc.
About two weeks ago, after cycling 60 miles, I was approached by another avid cyclist, and he greeted me cheerfuly like this: "Hi, I am George, and I am almost 77, and I feel great. I used to spend $400/month on medicines, now I spend less than that on cycling stuff... in a year!!!"
This was a very remarkable person, and George truly challenged my previous perception (from my previous medical training) of aging as an irreversible and inevitable catabolic process...
I have found a new inspiration for cycling now! Keep on cycling, faithfully and committed, and if you persist, the reward is marvelous and truly wonderful!
Yours truly,
Don Quijote
you could be right there! my grandfather is 89 he has only just hung up his bike maybe just for the winter, and more than likely he'll be out on it again come the summer, if his health permits him to continue riding his old sit up and beg with his old 3 speed stermy archer wheels.

so i guess maybe the rewards could be truely marvelous, especially if your still around to see your grand children and there children cause i'm truely happy to see him still glowing with good health and my boys are equally pleased to see him too :) **whipes eye**

Hello everyone! Bicycle travel has been a central part of my life. I grew up in New Hampshire, and kept right on riding when I got my driver's license. I think that's where most people end their relationship with bicycles. I commuted for years in New York City, then rode across the US several times. Glorious living, life on the bicycle. I spent a year traveling around the US and Canada, on up to Alaska, 14,000-mile trip. I wrote a book about it which I hope to get published soon - Alaskan Moonlight, check out excerpts at www.wanderingphotographer.com/akml/ (http://www.wanderingphotographer.com/akml/).
I moved to southeast Alaska after that, and traded my bicycle for a kayak and a pair of hiking boots. I just got a house with a good bicycle workshop and dry storage, essential to keeping a functioning bicycle in a rainforest. I'm excited to have a bicycle in my life again, even if it is wet riding. I can't go far, anyway, because our town is accessible by boat and plane only, and is 14 miles long from one end to the other.

Thank you for sharing such an AMAZING and emotional story, I truly admire your grandfather, for his discipline and courage, what a witness to us all! I will persist in trying to motivate my father also in getting more active, since a sedentary lifestyle is potentially deadly and disrupts our quality of life: you don't feel good, don't look good, and get more irritable, "cranky"...., just because you can't even stand your own self, consequently everyone around you shares your burden, and that is not a good thing. Again, congratulations on your blessings: a healthy and happy family, wow, you are indeed VERY RICH!!!

Don Quijote

you could be right there! my grandfather is 89 he has only just hung up his bike maybe just for the winter, and more than likely he'll be out on it again come the summer, if his health permits him to continue riding his old sit up and beg with his old 3 speed stermy archer wheels.

so i guess maybe the rewards could be truely marvelous, especially if your still around to see your grand children and there children cause i'm truely happy to see him still glowing with good health and my boys are equally pleased to see him too :) **whipes eye**

Hello, hey I also share your feelings about cycling, and I will check on your book ASAP. Yes, cycling is just fantastic, keeping our inner child alive! Don QHello everyone! Bicycle travel has been a central part of my life. I grew up in New Hampshire, and kept right on riding when I got my driver's license. I think that's where most people end their relationship with bicycles. I commuted for years in New York City, then rode across the US several times. Glorious living, life on the bicycle. I spent a year traveling around the US and Canada, on up to Alaska, 14,000-mile trip. I wrote a book about it which I hope to get published soon - Alaskan Moonlight, check out excerpts at www.wanderingphotographer.com/akml/ (http://www.wanderingphotographer.com/akml/).
I moved to southeast Alaska after that, and traded my bicycle for a kayak and a pair of hiking boots. I just got a house with a good bicycle workshop and dry storage, essential to keeping a functioning bicycle in a rainforest. I'm excited to have a bicycle in my life again, even if it is wet riding. I can't go far, anyway, because our town is accessible by boat and plane only, and is 14 miles long from one end to the other.

Hi,

I'm from Tigard, OR and lately have ridden my bike in the kitchen to a NO DOUBT
DVD (on my trainer)...can't wait for some clear weather!

Hello there.

I'm from Stavanger, Norway.

What do I do? Electronics/Medical technologi, flyfishing(fishing in general)
I have a 15 month old daughter. That takes some time.
And I do a lot of biking.

Hello everyone, I'm maddox300 from Ohio, (Don't blame me I didn't vote for him) USA- and I ride my bike just for fun and to get around my neighborhood. Not for competition, conditioning or racing. I'm an editor. I like reading, politics, music, lifting weights, and eating.

Hey ya'll I'm from South Carolina, I'm 15, I ride a mongoose dual-suspension from WALMART and I love cycling. Offroad or on. I don't do as much training as I used to, but I ride whenever I can. Me and my friend are planning on starting a ride to New Mexico within the next couple of months. I also enjoy blacksmithing, bladesmithing, breakdancing, backyard gymnastics, carpentry and food. I would like to get into serious cycling and came here to get some tips and talk with other cyclists.

Where - Just moved to Wollongong, from Emerald (Central QLD). Have notice all the hills at Wollongong and i'm just about to upgrade mtn bikes. Am thinking about a Giant NRS.

Ride- A couple of times a week.

Future - The Munda Biddi track in WA in September.

Job - Underground Coal Miner.