My husband and I are extremely athletic on bikes (both road and mountain) compared to your average career person. We enjoy long distance events and train for them accordingly. My husband has done three key mountain bike events this year, one was 64 miles in 9 hours, another was 100 miles in 13 hours, and most recently an event where he rode for 10 hours but it should have been 12. In every day riding and these events, he starts getting salt rings on his clothes at about the third hour. In each event he's had cramping problems in his legs only after about the 6th hour. In each event he increased electrolytes in-take (starting from average recommendations) in the form of, GU2O, e-caps, salty foods, and calcium magnesium tablets. He focuses on hydration and electrolytes at least during the week before the event and we maintain a fairly healthy everyday diet, minimizing processed foods and maximizing fresh foods. Of course cramps are debilitating and we've done research, and we've tried to avoid the cramping problems, but besides his best efforts this last event was finished on the side of the trail in agony at the top of a 20 mile descent he couldn't coast down because of the cramps. I'm baffled! I perceive myself as fairly well educated in nutrition in terms of every day health and endurance on the bike. And that cramping issues can be caused from a mix of elements, calcium, magnesium, potassium, and sodium. It’s apparently a “replacement†problem he’s having during the event, should he just carry a salt shaker with him!!! What are your suggestion for seemingly above normal cramp control?!
Optional Information: Female , Age: 25
|
