Exercise R Us

Question:

>If you feel like dropping over $10 for a small can of Cytomax, it will >also help prevent cramping and pain from lactic acid buildup.  Dunno >how it works, but it does.

You can get multi-mineral supplements at your local drugstore which will cost about half as much and last much longer.  I’ve been using YourLife "Ultra Multi-Mineral Formula with Electrolytes," $5 per 90 at my local CVS. A great cramp-avoider is potassium gluconate, generic versions of which run about $3 per 100 at 550mg.  One of those before a ride and the cramps will have to go find somebody else to bother. When I was playing ultimate regularly (before blowing out my knee and having to go back to bicycling to kill myself I used a combination of regular multimineral dietary supplements and before-the-game potassium hits.  Cramping was never an issue. jim frost — http://world.std.com/~jimf

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > It’s from typing too many characters in each line.  Happens all the time. > > Or, it could be from electrolyte depletion or dehydration.  Just make sure > you drink plenty before, during, and after your rides.  I like to eat > bananas to keep my pottasium (sp?) levels up, but there are other foods > and sports supplements to do the same thing.  In fact, almost all of the > "sports drinks" contain all the necessary electrolytes to keep your > muscles firing through the Boston Marathon.   > If you feel like dropping over $10 for a small can of Cytomax, it will > also help prevent cramping and pain from lactic acid buildup.  Dunno > how it works, but it does. > Good luck – I know how tough it is to suddenly find yourself trying > to ride a "Crampagnolo"!

"pain" from lactate buildup isn’t a bad thing- it’s your body trying to tell you something- like slow down, or learn to spin. If you reduce your effort somewhat, and keep spinning, your circulatory system catches up, and dissipates the excess lactate, and you recover. Besides, you aren’t getting excess buildup until you feel like you want to puke. —        New York, New York

Response:

> I was out biking today and about 20 minutes into the ride I got a cramp in the lower part > of my right leg.  From that point on I tried to rely more on my left leg

and give my right leg > a rest.  About 10 minutes later, the cramp in my right leg dissappeared and my left leg > starting acting up.  Other then riding a different bike, I did nothing

out of the ordinary.   > The new bike feels better then the old one if anything.  Anyways the

cramp in my left leg > eased much as the one in my right leg did.  What causes these damned

occurances? and how can > I prevent them?  The cramps were both annoying and sudden!  What gives?

It’s from typing too many characters in each line.  Happens all the time. Or, it could be from electrolyte depletion or dehydration.  Just make sure you drink plenty before, during, and after your rides.  I like to eat bananas to keep my pottasium (sp?) levels up, but there are other foods and sports supplements to do the same thing.  In fact, almost all of the "sports drinks" contain all the necessary electrolytes to keep your muscles firing through the Boston Marathon.   If you feel like dropping over $10 for a small can of Cytomax, it will also help prevent cramping and pain from lactic acid buildup.  Dunno how it works, but it does. Good luck – I know how tough it is to suddenly find yourself trying to ride a "Crampagnolo"! Mark Hickey Habanero Cycles

Response:

I was out biking today and about 20 minutes into the ride I got a cramp in the lower part of my right leg.  From that point on I tried to rely more on my left leg and give my right leg a rest.  About 10 minutes later, the cramp in my right leg dissappeared and my left leg starting acting up.  Other then riding a different bike, I did nothing out of the ordinary.   The new bike feels better then the old one if anything.  Anyways the cramp in my left leg eased much as the one in my right leg did.  What causes these damned occurances? and how can I prevent them?  The cramps were both annoying and sudden!  What gives?

Response: