[joeybike129]

I get really bad leg cramps almost every time I ride. I've tried everything to cure the problem. I even had a ct scan done of my legs. Pedialite seems to be the only thing that helps but I still cramp up. I ride mostly woods and the cramps start about an hour and a half after I start riding. The problem is that I race hare scrambles and they are two hours long. I've tryed varing my workouts, carb loading, water loading (dangerous), over the counter meds, and any other logical solution. I'm open to suggestions, thanks

[usmc88fan]

Use a Camelback of similar, and make sure you have potassium in ya. Bananas are great for that. Not getting the water you need is the primary reason for cramping.

[cbutler]

I had the same problem,try'd it all.What worked for me was wearing compression sockes or long skines.

[TJHELL]

Eat a banana an hour or two before riding, fill camelback with gatorade instead of water. The electrolites in the gatorade replenish the muscles!

Stretching....I know!! It sounds gay to stretch. Think about it though. You are sitting in your car driving to the event. You get dressed and hop on your bike. Then kill your body for two hours. Your muscles are getting tweaked!

I try to stretch after all my gym work outs or when I am just watching TV. Also, I stretch for ten to fifteen minutes before my race. Especially my hamstrings and quads.

[befree]

Check your boot fit!! If it is cutting in to your leg or foot somewhere, it can also cause this. Wear them around the house for 2 hours, if you get cramps, it's not the riding, it's the boots.

[kingofthewoods]

Your electrolytes could be down. I am going to doctors for a similar problem but i get them all over my body and without riding or exercising at the time of the cramp.

From all my research I know that you may not be getting enough electrolytes and or potassium. But you seem to already know about that stuff and I know non of that works for me so.... who knows.

Another suggestion is to lift some weights with your legs, this seemed to help me a little bit because I would create a safe cramping environment to see what and when something is cramping and try to strengthen your muscles there because it could have nothing to do with your nutrition, just fatigue.

[TJHELL]

Funny to say, my toes and feet have been cramping after workouts. I did some research and found that it might be more of a vitamin deficiancy. B1, B5, and B6 were metioned as vitamins that could help in stopping cramps.

[Beast Rider]

Try quinine water or quinine pills ( you do need an RX for the pills) If you have enough potassium (too little potasium causes muscle weakness and too much causes serious cardiac arythmias.)Then it is probably a fluid shift problem. Quinine water is very inexpensive and helps with fluid shift which is probably causing the cramping. You can find it in the liquor isle next to the club soda.