Legs gave up today
Discussion
Nearing the end of a mixed incline road ride of 28 miles today I stood to climb up a medium sized hump-backed bridge. As soon as I put some power down the upper right leg cramped painfully, followed immediately by the left doing the same, meaning I had to sit down and coast for a moment. They were still aching as I climbed the stairs to my flat.
Just too much I guess? No warning though so I suppose that's my 'wall'? Never had it before, obviously not trying hard enough
Oh, I also witnessed the coming together of two cyclists too. One swerved right as the other was mid overtake. Fortunately I had stopped at a red light (they didn't) so I witnessed from a safe distance. Popped collarbone and dislocated finger from the swerver, police and ambulance called and had to give a witness statement. Ouch.
Just too much I guess? No warning though so I suppose that's my 'wall'? Never had it before, obviously not trying hard enough
Oh, I also witnessed the coming together of two cyclists too. One swerved right as the other was mid overtake. Fortunately I had stopped at a red light (they didn't) so I witnessed from a safe distance. Popped collarbone and dislocated finger from the swerver, police and ambulance called and had to give a witness statement. Ouch.
Something similar happened to me today.
I stopped after 30km to top-up my drink and start heading back. From that point onwards it was a nightmare! It was uphill and I had a head-wind all the way back - my average speed dropped by 8 km/h. Legs were so tired and by 50km I had such a huge build of of latic acid in my thighs and cramped up so much I had to get the train and get the GF to pick me up from the station.
Not sure if the hot weather had something to do with it, making me slight more dehydrated but I feel your pain!
I stopped after 30km to top-up my drink and start heading back. From that point onwards it was a nightmare! It was uphill and I had a head-wind all the way back - my average speed dropped by 8 km/h. Legs were so tired and by 50km I had such a huge build of of latic acid in my thighs and cramped up so much I had to get the train and get the GF to pick me up from the station.
Not sure if the hot weather had something to do with it, making me slight more dehydrated but I feel your pain!
Must have been the day for accidents... the finish of our local handicap road-race had an imrpressive stack up with lots of claret and rash, one dislocated shoulder (yuk), and a stout concussion...
Almost glad I never got my entery sorted
The cramp thing is weird, plagues me sometimes, othertimes no worries. Have tried electrolytes, salt, potassium etc etc... no discernible difference that I could ever tell.
Locked up solid in a sprint a few years back, tried to force through it (money was at stake), and spent three weeks limping badly. Lesson learned.
Almost glad I never got my entery sorted
The cramp thing is weird, plagues me sometimes, othertimes no worries. Have tried electrolytes, salt, potassium etc etc... no discernible difference that I could ever tell.
Locked up solid in a sprint a few years back, tried to force through it (money was at stake), and spent three weeks limping badly. Lesson learned.
Tried my first ever 100 miler this Wednesday. Left Debden, near Saffron Walden, Essex at 1420hrs, took a nice route out via Clavering, Fowlmere, Barrington (tasty climb past the cement factory) to the A14, and on to the fens. Averaging about 14.2mph up to the fens, but upped it to 17.2mph average by Soham. Then, as I completed the loop to the East of Newmarket and back in via Haverhill it all went horribly wrong. From 65 miles onwards, fatigue set in, and I was barely making 12mph through Suffolk. No cramp, thank god, but when I finally got back at 2150hrs with 95.8 miles on the Cateye, I was regretting my decision and the average speed was down to 15.0 mph dead.
Poor preparation may have contributed. Fuel for the ride was a half rack of ribs with chips and coleslaw for lunch, and a Tuna Mayo sandwich at the petrol station at the southern tip of Soham. I've been meaning to sort out a second bottle and cage for the bike, but have so far failed, so I had 750ml of cheap Spar squash, bottle topped up with 500ml Ribena at shop in Barley, and 750ml Lucozade Sport at Soham. At the mercy of village shops in Cambs/Herts/Suffolk/Essex, and so many villages are either entirely without them, or their opening hours are very limited, and when you do find a shop open, it doesn't always stock isotonic sports drinks.
Methinks I should look more closely at nutrition and carry more fluids on the bike, but I've never tried an energy gel, and have heard that they can give a person 'bowel issues'.
Despite the fatigue, a very good week on the bike. Bought it last October, done just over 760 miles on it since, 140 of those just this week. I'm even tempted to enter some events now. Bonus was that I worked out my 100 mile route by guesstimation using OS 1:50000 map, and was only 4.2 miles short in the end. I should really have gone all the way to Ely, as it would have been over the 100 if I'd been a man about riding up the A10.
Poor preparation may have contributed. Fuel for the ride was a half rack of ribs with chips and coleslaw for lunch, and a Tuna Mayo sandwich at the petrol station at the southern tip of Soham. I've been meaning to sort out a second bottle and cage for the bike, but have so far failed, so I had 750ml of cheap Spar squash, bottle topped up with 500ml Ribena at shop in Barley, and 750ml Lucozade Sport at Soham. At the mercy of village shops in Cambs/Herts/Suffolk/Essex, and so many villages are either entirely without them, or their opening hours are very limited, and when you do find a shop open, it doesn't always stock isotonic sports drinks.
Methinks I should look more closely at nutrition and carry more fluids on the bike, but I've never tried an energy gel, and have heard that they can give a person 'bowel issues'.
Despite the fatigue, a very good week on the bike. Bought it last October, done just over 760 miles on it since, 140 of those just this week. I'm even tempted to enter some events now. Bonus was that I worked out my 100 mile route by guesstimation using OS 1:50000 map, and was only 4.2 miles short in the end. I should really have gone all the way to Ely, as it would have been over the 100 if I'd been a man about riding up the A10.
Blimey Jack, that was some ride!
I usually have a carb drink and an energy replcement one too. Energy bars are in the back pocket and energy burst beans for longer rides. Try them, they make a noticeable difference, you can always sample near home to test if they suit your (ahem) insides.
I'd love to do a 100 miler
I usually have a carb drink and an energy replcement one too. Energy bars are in the back pocket and energy burst beans for longer rides. Try them, they make a noticeable difference, you can always sample near home to test if they suit your (ahem) insides.
I'd love to do a 100 miler
Some ride that I wasn't planning at the start. I'd ridden the Debden to Fowlmere/Barrington section a couple of times, and know the end section very well too. It was one of those things - rear pockets of jersey contained Left:hi-vis yellow lightweight jacket and clear lens for glasses/Centre:Map/Right:ID, Phone, Money, Cashcard. The saddle pack had a tube and some patches with multi tool and tyre levers, and the pump on the frame. I had the afternoon off and just rode out, stopping occasionally to read the map and decide where to head for next. By the time I worked out how far I would end up riding I was approaching the A10 from the west on the A1123, and instead of heading North to Ely, I headed East as I was worried about getting back on the same date that I left. Legs (quads) were burning through Thursday, Physio (planned appointment) warned me that I may suffer on the second day after such a long ride, but I did an easy 10 miler on the Thursday evening, and felt OK, if a little tired, through Friday and Today. Only real problem encountered during the ride was a little bit of 'geographical embarrassment' at Fordham, mainly due to using an out-of-date map. This was soon rectified by the judicious application of some local knowledge - I stumbled into the end of a time trial, and asked for directions. Friendly bunch, looked like a couple of local clubs represented, mainly from Newmarket area I think. The strangest part of the ride was that all but one of the cyclists I met were travelling in the opposite direction. I never once caught, or was caught by another cyclist going in the same direction I was, except on the hill between Barrington and Haslingfield, but that one didn't count as the poor lad was on a BMX and when I passed him at the top of the hill he had stopped to pick up his lungs. 
All this was inspired by some of the younger lads of our commando bomb disposal/EOD brethren training for a memorial charity ride in aid of the Carver Barracks Injured Soldiers Fund. They will ride from Essex to the Commando Memorial in Spean Bridge near Ben Nevis in Scotland, and although they are all fit lads, some of them aren't cyclists at all. One of the riders I spoke to has bought a Cube Agree for the ride, and was struggling with some of the technical aspects of cycling, like clipping in and out when you start and stop! Now that WILL be SOME RIDE.
All this was inspired by some of the younger lads of our commando bomb disposal/EOD brethren training for a memorial charity ride in aid of the Carver Barracks Injured Soldiers Fund. They will ride from Essex to the Commando Memorial in Spean Bridge near Ben Nevis in Scotland, and although they are all fit lads, some of them aren't cyclists at all. One of the riders I spoke to has bought a Cube Agree for the ride, and was struggling with some of the technical aspects of cycling, like clipping in and out when you start and stop! Now that WILL be SOME RIDE.
Did a 50 flat ride on the MTb today around the coast or Wirral, got cramp in my right foot at 40 miles, proper bad, pins n needles in it to the point where i couldnt feel it, jumped off the bike to stretch and nearly fell over as it didnt want to be stood on. Was nearly in tears the last couple of miles with that headwind 
Really do need to get back in training.
Really do need to get back in training.
When its cramp like that, I think your right that is down to fluids/body salts etc.
Theres tonnes of different options out there. I'm not keen on Lucozade and the like as its quite strong tasting. I usually use weak-ish mixtures of various products, and for the MTB a weak one in the bladder to sip on whilst riding, and a stronger, properly isotonic drink in the bottle to have during any pauses and when you have a bite to eat.
A proper 'bonk' though, thats a whole new world of hell. Its like Flu - everyone thinks they've had Flu, until the time they actually do get Flu and they realise all the other times were just a nasty cold.
I've done it twice. One time I was out with friends who dropped me, found me god knows how long later. Had to get my bike carried back to the car, had to be manhandled down the hill and someone else had to drive my car home. Its horrific. Puking, cramps, unable to hold own body weight up on legs - not good. Always take a moment before every ride to just double check im properly prepared, even an emergency kit-kat or something stashed in a pocket can be enough to prevent a total disaster.
Theres tonnes of different options out there. I'm not keen on Lucozade and the like as its quite strong tasting. I usually use weak-ish mixtures of various products, and for the MTB a weak one in the bladder to sip on whilst riding, and a stronger, properly isotonic drink in the bottle to have during any pauses and when you have a bite to eat.
A proper 'bonk' though, thats a whole new world of hell. Its like Flu - everyone thinks they've had Flu, until the time they actually do get Flu and they realise all the other times were just a nasty cold.
I've done it twice. One time I was out with friends who dropped me, found me god knows how long later. Had to get my bike carried back to the car, had to be manhandled down the hill and someone else had to drive my car home. Its horrific. Puking, cramps, unable to hold own body weight up on legs - not good. Always take a moment before every ride to just double check im properly prepared, even an emergency kit-kat or something stashed in a pocket can be enough to prevent a total disaster.
I'm also using the Lucozade powder. It tastes good and has made a big difference to my endurance. I'm also taking a gel (SiS Tropical) if it's a ride over 35 miles, having the gel at 25-30 miles out.
I did 34 miles Sat and 45 Sun, averaging 16.7 and 16.4. I have have done longer and faster on just water but have been dead at the end and once felt I was on the point of bonking.
The new nutrition regime means I am finishing my rides feeling like I could do them again.
I did 34 miles Sat and 45 Sun, averaging 16.7 and 16.4. I have have done longer and faster on just water but have been dead at the end and once felt I was on the point of bonking.
The new nutrition regime means I am finishing my rides feeling like I could do them again.
Garlick said:
Aside from a cycling specific energy bar and some energy beans I was only drinking squash. Nail hit, probably.
Possibly. I suffer from cramp and have tried everything (drinks, bars, apricots etc.) but get cramp every time. This is usually what limits my distance and although I can work through it have to ensure I'm no further than 10 miles from home when it sets in. I've just put it down to my reaching the limits of my legs.The only way I can beat it is to ride more and apply the 10% rule i.e. increasing your distance bit by bit each time. I've worked my way up to 90 miles by increasing my distances progressively but it is frustrating as I had a big break in cycling last year and am now trying to build it up again (currently at 40 miles).
Hopefully it'll be nutrition but if not then just keep working those quads
snotrag said:
When its cramp like that, I think your right that is down to fluids/body salts etc.
A proper 'bonk' though, thats a whole new world of hell. Its like Flu - everyone thinks they've had Flu, until the time they actually do get Flu and they realise all the other times were just a nasty cold.
Would need to agree on both counts.A proper 'bonk' though, thats a whole new world of hell. Its like Flu - everyone thinks they've had Flu, until the time they actually do get Flu and they realise all the other times were just a nasty cold.
Bonking just feels like someone has stolen all your leg muscles and turning the pedals is all but impossible no matter how hard you try - see Contador in the 2009 Paris Nice for reference - all of a sudden he just explodes and starts going backwards - pain you can deal with, running out of gas you can't.
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