Pickle juice, and eating pickles after hard rides, works fine for me. I rarely get cramps in the middle of the night anymore! I’ve heard of people taking little packets of hot sauce, that you can get for free at fast food restaurants. I might try it one day, but I’ll go with the lighter of the hot sauces;)
@@podiumphysio657 there are a couple of races every year that are problems, early season hilly long time trials. The mtb race was the first in a long time, snapped the chain 1st lap, lost 10 mins, chased flat out ( including a running section in impossible mud) like a nutter, caught up with the back end, then cramped last lap.. without those mishaps it was podium time , potentially a game changer for me as an over 60s competitor. Entering a couple of mtb races this spring, one is a 3hr event so pickle juice at the ready. Cheers.
Disagree with the get fitter to solve cramps, you’ve arguably the best cyclist in the world getting cramps? I’ve also got cramps when racing, and I was in best shape of my season. What was a factor was the heat a 100k race, also had cramps going up the galibier 6.5 hours into a 9hour day on the bike. It was 38c for most of the day ☀️. A Frenchman gave me over last cramp shot, 1k from the summit. Got me home before dark, a lifesaver 🙏. I’ll give the pickle juice a try for my next big race😉👍
Hey Kris. I think the point here is about relative fitness. In Pogacar's interview he actually references being unwell in the lead up to the race, so was actually not at his full fitness. In your situation one could argue that yes you were in great shape, but you were not fully heat acclimated and perhaps not accustomed to a 26 km French Alp climb? I think it is about specific fitness relative to the challenge at hand. We all know that fitness is specific, this is just a micro narrow view of specificity. The Galibier is such a magnificent climb by the way. One of my best days on the bike! Hope you enjoyed it despite the muscle seizures!
This, along with tyre pressure, sock height and crank length are the perpetual questions that cyclists seek answers for... perhaps with this advice, we can just go back to the tyre pressures and crank length issues...
Can you drink something after you got your pickle juice ? I'm super-prone to cramps, so, if that does really work, I've got to bring a small bottle for the next rides ! Does it work during a ride ? If that stops the cramps, can I resume my intervals, or will the cramps come back ?
Hey great questions Gousti. The pickle juice has a neurological method of effect, so it should work very quickly whenever you take it. I have definitely tried it during rides and races and it was very helpful. I guess the more you use it, the more it will help. Maybe you could try a little PJ before, during and after riding? I can't see any reason why you could not drink other liquids afterwards. Don't forget also the commentary about cramps being related to relative fitness. If you are trying to perform well above your current level of conditioning, no amount of anti cramp measures are going to make up for that.
@@podiumphysio657I've always been prone to cramps: I remember that when I was a kid playing soccer with friends, I had to stop running on the field after 30 min. and to switch to the goalkeeper role. Well, I just ordered a batch of Pickle Juice bottles (on iherb), "cant' wait" (hum) to have the opportunity to try that !
Pickle juice, and eating pickles after hard rides, works fine for me. I rarely get cramps in the middle of the night anymore!
I’ve heard of people taking little packets of hot sauce, that you can get for free at fast food restaurants. I might try it one day, but I’ll go with the lighter of the hot sauces;)
Hot sauce - proceed with caution!
Good stuff, I'll try this. I got severe cramp in a mtb race last weekend, losing 5 minutes or so. Potential game changer if it works. Thanks.
Cool. Love to hear how you go!
@@podiumphysio657 there are a couple of races every year that are problems, early season hilly long time trials. The mtb race was the first in a long time, snapped the chain 1st lap, lost 10 mins, chased flat out ( including a running section in impossible mud) like a nutter, caught up with the back end, then cramped last lap.. without those mishaps it was podium time , potentially a game changer for me as an over 60s competitor.
Entering a couple of mtb races this spring, one is a 3hr event so pickle juice at the ready. Cheers.
@steveprice9737 Good luck! But dont forget the part about "Getting Fitter!" 😁
@@podiumphysio657 doing my best 😉
Disagree with the get fitter to solve cramps, you’ve arguably the best cyclist in the world getting cramps? I’ve also got cramps when racing, and I was in best shape of my season. What was a factor was the heat a 100k race, also had cramps going up the galibier 6.5 hours into a 9hour day on the bike. It was 38c for most of the day ☀️. A Frenchman gave me over last cramp shot, 1k from the summit. Got me home before dark, a lifesaver 🙏. I’ll give the pickle juice a try for my next big race😉👍
Hey Kris. I think the point here is about relative fitness. In Pogacar's interview he actually references being unwell in the lead up to the race, so was actually not at his full fitness. In your situation one could argue that yes you were in great shape, but you were not fully heat acclimated and perhaps not accustomed to a 26 km French Alp climb? I think it is about specific fitness relative to the challenge at hand. We all know that fitness is specific, this is just a micro narrow view of specificity.
The Galibier is such a magnificent climb by the way. One of my best days on the bike! Hope you enjoyed it despite the muscle seizures!
This, along with tyre pressure, sock height and crank length are the perpetual questions that cyclists seek answers for... perhaps with this advice, we can just go back to the tyre pressures and crank length issues...
David - maybe I need to dive into the sock height issue. Sounds like a very marginal gain!
They drink Pickle Juice on the big gravel races in the States. Dirty Kanza etc.
it’s a tradition
Those gravel riders are a clever bunch!
Can you drink something after you got your pickle juice ?
I'm super-prone to cramps, so, if that does really work, I've got to bring a small bottle for the next rides !
Does it work during a ride ? If that stops the cramps, can I resume my intervals, or will the cramps come back ?
Hey great questions Gousti. The pickle juice has a neurological method of effect, so it should work very quickly whenever you take it. I have definitely tried it during rides and races and it was very helpful. I guess the more you use it, the more it will help. Maybe you could try a little PJ before, during and after riding? I can't see any reason why you could not drink other liquids afterwards.
Don't forget also the commentary about cramps being related to relative fitness. If you are trying to perform well above your current level of conditioning, no amount of anti cramp measures are going to make up for that.
@@podiumphysio657I've always been prone to cramps: I remember that when I was a kid playing soccer with friends, I had to stop running on the field after 30 min. and to switch to the goalkeeper role.
Well, I just ordered a batch of Pickle Juice bottles (on iherb), "cant' wait" (hum) to have the opportunity to try that !