Crampin up!

[steve_t]

Also the carbo shots are really good. It means you can just have water in your backpack as sugar drinks are a bugger to clean out.

Yup. Camelbak just with water cos the bladder gets mouldy after a while with other stuff in it. Those Leppin Squeezy shots are crazy strong though!!

[WRFracer]

Try hydrating 3 days before your event, basically so your pissing clear for 3 days leading into your race/trail ride etc, if your not already fully hydrated it takes roughly 3 days to fully hydrate your body, same goes for carbohydrate loading, your body can only take in so much per day if you get my drift.

Also the others are right in regards to the electrolyte drinks but its best to stay away from the ones you can buy from the BP station such as powerade as they contain a lot of sugar and they are expensive in the long run, head to your local cycle or adventure store and purchase a quality electrolyte drink.

Also cramping is a lot like arm-pump as in it can be caused by many different factors and everybody is different so sometimes a little experimentation is the key.

[thecharmed01]

Yup. Camelbak just with water cos the bladder gets mouldy after a while with other stuff in it. Those Leppin Squeezy shots are crazy strong though!!

I can't drink those :-(
They just make me feel so sick!

[Crabby]

Camelbak just with water cos the bladder gets mouldy after a while with other stuff in it.

Not if you flush it with water and then put the camelbak in the freezer when you get home, I have two bladders, store both in the freezer unless im riding. Sometimes I forget to flush them, but put them in the freezer and have never had mould in mine since a mate told me that

Get fit, get on a bicycle and ride 100kms a week.

In a perfect world, that would work, unfortunately I run my own business from home and look after my 19 month old daughter so time out by myself for that sort of thing is rare

[steve_t]

Not if you flush it with water and then put the camelbak in the freezer when you get home, I have two bladders, store both in the freezer unless im riding. Sometimes I forget to flush them, but put them in the freezer and have never had mould in mine since a mate told me that

That's a great tip.

Now if only I wasn't too lazy to flush it out when I got home

[BoristheBiter]

Not if you flush it with water and then put the camelbak in the freezer when you get home, I have two bladders, store both in the freezer unless im riding. Sometimes I forget to flush them, but put them in the freezer and have never had mould in mine since a mate told me that

Yep we used to do that but it still turns nasty.
I think the main problem is when it is being used for a whole weekend so only gets topped up and not cleaned out so little things start growing.
Like TC1 said just pre-load and you should be fine.

[2fitty]

Thanks for all the help, will take a bit from everyone i think and see what works. I'm no fatty but definately not the fittest dude around and i know i sweat like a wrestler when i ride, so i think preloading leading up will def help, cos i know i dont drink nearly enough as i should. i use that leppin enduro booster, mixed with water and go thruogh about 1.5l per loop.but dont follow it up post ride with anything. Which might not be helping. Want to get the most out of tussock buster in march and not have to ride the last 10 kms of the day with my legs stetched out in front. like last year!!

[kiwifruit]

I use "Nuun". Sweated out over 7 litres (and drank 7+ litres of nuun mixture, half strengthish) doing the Auckland Marathon in black one piece leathers and a full face helmet. No cramp.

http://www.nuun.com/

Available from cycle shops and the like.

[green machine]

I get it bad,i use a spray called Cramp Stop....a couple of sprays on the tongue and it goes away....also i load up on Mega Magnesium pills before i ride

[gwynfryn]

I cycled at an elite level for years and would generally cramp at the beginning of the season, especially if pushing hard. I either had to stay race fit all year(Not a good idea) or manage the cramps.
So get fitter for riding, stretch, and stay hydrated. We use to drink weak raro with as much added table salt we could comfortably stomach. Oh yeah my mate who does ultra marathons suffered full body cramps, he went to dietician Jenny Hart who told him to add salt to all his meals. Just like Mum did!
ps i never wash out my camelback - straight in the freezer.

[flyingcr250]

Yup. Camelbak just with water cos the bladder gets mouldy after a while with other stuff in it. Those Leppin Squeezy shots are crazy strong though!!

The black mould hasnt got me yet

[green machine]

The black mould hasnt got me yet

Keep the bladder in the freezer when not using it...........

[steve_t]

Some bleach from time to time will keep your stomach mould-free

[Crisis management]

In a perfect world, that would work, unfortunately I run my own business from home and look after my 19 month old daughter so time out by myself for that sort of thing is rare

Good on you, it's hard work but well worth the effort.

If I can offer the one thing I learnt from parenthood / self employment & trying to keep the bank manager happy, take 30 minutes a day for yourself, you need to be healthy & happy to survive adulthood.

[Jinxycat]

Those Leppin Squeezy shots are crazy strong though!!

please note that if you do one of these or any other type of carbo shot ant your not 100% hydrated they can draw water back out from you and give really bad cramps.