Calf cramps

[PVCGriff]

I find that after around 25 miles of energetic cycling I start to get cramps in my calf. Can anybody suggest obvious remedies. Is my seat too high or low; saddle too far forward/back or poss my cleats poorly aligned. What is the most likely reason. Or am I just unfit! Any thoughts welcome.
Cheers
Nigel

[HardtopManual]

There are quite a few things that could cause it, but I'd look at:

- Fatigue (are you a beginner?)
- Electrolyte depletion or simple dehydration (do you drink while riding?)
- Inflexibility in your lower back or hamstrings (can you touch your toes while keeping your legs straight?)

[finishing touch]

I used to get calf pain. I had an angioplasty and wow, what a transformation

[SixtySpeedTwin]

I'd go with Electrolytes, put some tabs in your water bottle and just make sure you drink enough.
Its the easiest to rule out initially.

[Tri_Doc]

I had this problem. Solved it with two main things:

1) Bike fit
2) More training

Avoiding glucose drinks when racing. Used to love munching on lucazade etc when putting in hard sessions but find this makes me more prone to cramp. Electrolytes are sensible idea though.

[TwistingMyMelon]

Do the calves ache off the bike?

[pauloroberto]

A lower gear and higher cadence might help. It has certainly helped me.

[bigdom]

PVCGriff said:

I find that after around 25 miles of energetic cycling I start to get cramps in my calf. Can anybody suggest obvious remedies. Is my seat too high or low; saddle too far forward/back or poss my cleats poorly aligned. What is the most likely reason. Or am I just unfit! Any thoughts welcome.
Cheers
Nigel

Could be all three. Having recently had a bike fit, I used to occasionally get the same thing, mines remedied by.

Cleats back further, I have size 49/50 - mine sit back 20mm or so from the metatarsal. Have a look at Steve Hogg.

Saddle higher
Saddle further back

Only move the saddle 5mm at a time, go for a ride, see if it helps and tweak again as required. Don't do both at the same time

[bryanclassic1]

I'm in my 2nd year of being back on the bike after a 24 year gap, and I am training for my second L2B. Today I did Box Hill at Dorking for the first time. My BIL is a great riding partner for me as he is so much fitter and more f a frequent rider. His advice to me is always to keep the legs spinning rather than using a higher gear and standing. Ultimately you are a bit slower, but the momentum is there and you use the aerobic cycle of the leg rather than muscle (hope that makes sense?).

I still ache after that climb though!

[PVCGriff]

Thanks for all the replies fellas. Need to experiment with a few settings - and stretch (thankfully I think the heart is ok).
Nigel

[stuarthat]

Usually stretch and warm up before ride/race stopped mine .