Leg cramps when riding
Discussion
After riding for much over an hour I get pains in my legs, sometimes above the knees sometimes below. I regularly shift between having my insteps on the pegs or the balls of my feet and wave my legs around sometimes but this doesn't stave it off. I'm sure it's partly psychological because going onto a different type of road, dual carriageway to country lane or vice versa, helps, and it's always the same in both legs.
I'm on probably the most comfortable bike in the universe, a Deauville, yet I'm limited to about 100 miles in one hit, then I have to get off the bike for 5 minutes.
Any suggestions? I'm mid fifties so I was hoping I'd have another 10 years at least of serious riding.
I'm on probably the most comfortable bike in the universe, a Deauville, yet I'm limited to about 100 miles in one hit, then I have to get off the bike for 5 minutes.
Any suggestions? I'm mid fifties so I was hoping I'd have another 10 years at least of serious riding.
Dr Jekyll said:
Any suggestions? I'm mid fifties so I was hoping I'd have another 10 years at least of serious riding.
Buy yourself a really cramped bike so that you can appreciate the comfort of yours... 
I'm a similar age and have had a cramped-in-the-legroom bike (916) for many years, last year I bought a Guzzi 850 Lemans, now the 916 feels like an armchair...
On the other hand are the footpegs in any way adjustable? if not are rearsets/adjustable pegs available? Maybe the seat is too low (that is part of the problem on my Lemans) meaning you're in a tight legs-bent position? or the bars too far forward meaning you're leaning at an uncomfortable angle?
Otherwise accept you're getting on a bit and find a more comfortable bike or MTFU.
Thanks for all the suggestions. The riding position is about as good as you can get short of a huge adventure bike. Reasonably low footrests, decent knee and hip angles and if anything slightly too upright. One possible issue is that the seat and tank are quite wide so perhaps my knees are splayed out a bit. The trousers don't restrict movement, but good shout on blood flow, they do feel a bit bunched around the hips.
Speed addicted said:
Are your bike trousers bunching behind your knees at all? They could be restricting blood flow.
If in doubt take out the knee armour to give more room and go for a ride. Or wear different gear.
This for me. Had a set of leathers which cut off blood to my legs (massive legs from cycling!). Changed leathers and the problem went. If in doubt take out the knee armour to give more room and go for a ride. Or wear different gear.
As with all things being fitter and stronger will make it easier. What's your build? If you are a lythe racing snake there won't be much to improve upon.
I would encourage any exercise that promotes good core strength and leg strength, like cycling/running and some light lifting.
If you already do this please ignore.
I would encourage any exercise that promotes good core strength and leg strength, like cycling/running and some light lifting.
If you already do this please ignore.
This may sound like an odd suggestion - but it could be caused by a trapped nerve in your back.
I had some major issues with leg pains - nobody could find the answer - until one of the GPs at my surgery sent me to see a physiotherapist. After a course of treatment with the physio, everything was fine. I do have to be careful lifting and carrying stuff - and if I start to get leg pains, I go back to my recommended stretching exercises.
I had some major issues with leg pains - nobody could find the answer - until one of the GPs at my surgery sent me to see a physiotherapist. After a course of treatment with the physio, everything was fine. I do have to be careful lifting and carrying stuff - and if I start to get leg pains, I go back to my recommended stretching exercises.
Trabi601 said:
This may sound like an odd suggestion - but it could be caused by a trapped nerve in your back.
I had some major issues with leg pains - nobody could find the answer - until one of the GPs at my surgery sent me to see a physiotherapist. After a course of treatment with the physio, everything was fine. I do have to be careful lifting and carrying stuff - and if I start to get leg pains, I go back to my recommended stretching exercises.
Or a pressure spot through the saddle causing reduced blood flow. Cramps are generally caused by reduced blood flow or low volumes of blood salts, and assuming you're not constantly dehydrated, then poor posture or a saddle that's not getting good blood flow would be a reasonable explanationI had some major issues with leg pains - nobody could find the answer - until one of the GPs at my surgery sent me to see a physiotherapist. After a course of treatment with the physio, everything was fine. I do have to be careful lifting and carrying stuff - and if I start to get leg pains, I go back to my recommended stretching exercises.
I have similar problems, although not quite as bad as yours by the sound of it.
I am a bit lardy, and certainly losing weight helps me as there is more room for the knees to bend freely.
I find twisties much more comfortable as it is an excuse to move around on the bike a bit to stop things stiffening up. I suspect also that the increased concentration takes my mind off the pain!
The other thing I do which helps a lot is to take ibuprofen before I head out on the bike and again mid journey (most of my trips are usually 210 miles straight), but that is subject to the usual caveats about medication.
I am a bit lardy, and certainly losing weight helps me as there is more room for the knees to bend freely.
I find twisties much more comfortable as it is an excuse to move around on the bike a bit to stop things stiffening up. I suspect also that the increased concentration takes my mind off the pain!
The other thing I do which helps a lot is to take ibuprofen before I head out on the bike and again mid journey (most of my trips are usually 210 miles straight), but that is subject to the usual caveats about medication.
graeme4130 said:
Or a pressure spot through the saddle causing reduced blood flow. Cramps are generally caused by reduced blood flow or low volumes of blood salts, and assuming you're not constantly dehydrated, then poor posture or a saddle that's not getting good blood flow would be a reasonable explanation
Bananas are a good source of potassium and should prevent cramp.Thanks for all the suggestions. I'm not totally sure these are technically cramps but I can't think how else to describe them. At it's worst I feel like I'd expect to feel if I'd ridden for miles using my leg muscles to suspend myself an inch or so above the seat.
I don't generally have leg cramps at other times, just the occasional one in the middle of the night.
I don't generally have leg cramps at other times, just the occasional one in the middle of the night.
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