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@ElPrez
May Flyer today, my first sportive (at 55). It was going great, averaging 18mph until I got to the feed station at 33 miles and pulled something slightly in the groin/thigh area when lifting my right leg over the saddle. Was still ok until we got to a steep climb, the one before Coombe Hill. Half way up I got massive cramp in the back of my thigh. Excruciating. Have never had cramp during or after a ride before. Tried to continue but got cramp again near the bottom of Coombe Hill, but this time in both thighs. Walked up the hill and very slowly cycled on the flat or downhill bits (walking on the uphill bits) until the finish. Any effort at all and the cramp was threatening to come back. A cyclist riding past me on a hill asked if I was ok and when I said I had cramp he asked if I had an isotonic drink. It then dawned on me that I had replaced my usual Nuun tablet with carb sachets mixed with water. I wasn't concerned because I'd never had a problem before, even when I cycled to Brighton. Have never had to push the bike up a hill since I started 'proper' cycling a couple of years back (although Coombe Hill is a beast and I'm not sure I could have made it without the cramp!)
Now I'm seriously concerned that it'll happen again - it's knocked my confidence big time.
Is lactic acid related to cramp? I've never even had stiff legs after a ride so maybe my training is too half-hearted.
I know I'm improving slowly, but my Richmond Park best lap is only 22.45.
What made it worse today was that I had a massive cramp in front of all the other cyclists who had finished and were enjoying a drink in the sunshine. Felt like such a rinse :(