Hey everyone. Anyone have a tip on this issue. Basically I been riding for more than 5 years. My problem only happened on the downhill. my quad start cramping once in a while which slow me down a lot. I do have mtb specific shoes. And no matter what kinda of hydration I do doesn't help. My guess is bad riding position. Downhill my seat is all the way down right foot on the front . pedal level to the ground and pedal on the ball of my foot.
Cramping only when on the downhill
jaysix79
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Hey everyone. Anyone have a tip on this issue. Basically I been riding for more than 5 years. My problem only happened on the downhill. my quad start cramping once in a while which slow me down a lot. I do have mtb specific shoes. And no matter what kinda of hydration I do doesn't help. My guess is bad riding position. Downhill my seat is all the way down right foot on the front . pedal level to the ground and pedal on the ball of my foot.
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Standing out of the saddle on downhill is a whole different animal. I suffer a similar problem from muscle imbalance brought on by a previous injury. You need to work on your glutes, hip flexors, hamstrings. Squats, lunges will help but there's many more exercises you can do to correct the imbalance.
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Does this happen on every downhill, or only on downhills after you've been riding awhile (especially after long climbs or on super long downhills)?
I had those cramping issues in the past, also. Strength training was not my issue. If anything, my overall leg strength is LESS now than it was when I had those cramping issues. For me, it happened after riding for awhile, so I was tired when it happened. Strength wasn't the problem. Stamina was. The only answer was to just ride more. Take a break when I started having problems (electrolyte drinks can help if part of the problem is because you've sweated away your salts), and just keeping it up.
If it happens early on, strength work would also be a good idea, but if this sort of thing only crops up after you've been riding awhile, I don't think strength work will help you.
Make sure you're replenishing electrolytes on long rides. If you start cramping, make sure you rest and stretch, and keep riding.
I had those cramping issues in the past, also. Strength training was not my issue. If anything, my overall leg strength is LESS now than it was when I had those cramping issues. For me, it happened after riding for awhile, so I was tired when it happened. Strength wasn't the problem. Stamina was. The only answer was to just ride more. Take a break when I started having problems (electrolyte drinks can help if part of the problem is because you've sweated away your salts), and just keeping it up.
If it happens early on, strength work would also be a good idea, but if this sort of thing only crops up after you've been riding awhile, I don't think strength work will help you.
Make sure you're replenishing electrolytes on long rides. If you start cramping, make sure you rest and stretch, and keep riding.
It can happen on short or long ride. When I ride uphill I do push my self a lot and I do get slots of test on top of the hill. It can be 15-30 minutes
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assuming you are riding clipless pedals, MOVE YOUR CLEATS BACK.
I had a trusted roadie fitter adjust my cleats one day and he shoved them way forward on the shoes. I am sure this works well for riding on roads, but the first long downhill I took had my legs (especially my calves) hurting so badly that I had to shorten my ride. I pushed the cleats back a bit and everything was much better.
I had a trusted roadie fitter adjust my cleats one day and he shoved them way forward on the shoes. I am sure this works well for riding on roads, but the first long downhill I took had my legs (especially my calves) hurting so badly that I had to shorten my ride. I pushed the cleats back a bit and everything was much better.
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