Cramps when riding

4031 Views 39 Replies 25 Participants Last post by DesPeresMark, 8 mo ago

DesPeresMark

Discussion Starter · 9 mo ago

Road about 125 miles on my V Strom, did some fishing and then rode back. Bad cramps in my left hand on the way down bad cramps in my left hand right biceps and left foot on the way back. They come and go. They’ll last for maybe 10 minutes and then they’ll just disappear as quickly as they start it.

I guess I’ve always been a kind of person to get cramps easily but this is just happening more and more frequently. 61 years old. In OK health, I can walk 18 holes with my own golf bag. Has anybody else experienced it and what did you do? I’ve heard about pickle juice and that has worked a little bit. I’ve tried to eat bananas various other minerals things like that but when those cramps hit your left hand, it’s debilitating and potentially dangerous.

any comments?

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K9 Wee

· #2 · 9 mo ago

DesPeresMark said:
Road about 125 miles on my V Strom, did some fishing and then rode back. Bad cramps in my left hand on the way down bad cramps in my left hand right biceps and left foot on the way back. They come and go. They’ll last for maybe 10 minutes and then they’ll just disappear as quickly as they start it.

I guess I’ve always been a kind of person to get cramps easily but this is just happening more and more frequently. 61 years old. In OK health, I can walk 18 holes with my own golf bag. Has anybody else experienced it and what did you do? I’ve heard about pickle juice and that has worked a little bit. I’ve tried to eat bananas various other minerals things like that but when those cramps hit your left hand, it’s debilitating and potentially dangerous.

any comments?

Have your Thyroid function checked....also, this can be a symptom of dehydration...water or coconut juice. Yup, bananas good, too.

Reactions: 2

PlugnPlay

· #3 · 9 mo ago

The easy answer (hand cramp) is your grip at the bar, but I'm guessing you have enough riding experience (and are a 'relaxed' rider) to rule that out. If you remove said hand from the bar, let it drop, does it alleviate the cramping? Will standing up on the pegs prevent the foot from cramping?

Coincidentally, had a physical yesterday and dr ordered me to include stretches in my workout as flex decreases more quickly at my age (67). I do get cramps at the hip flexor, depends on what I'm wearing - tight fit encourages the cramp.

Curious what others might have to say about this ...

Reactions: 1

Dado8

· #4 · 9 mo ago

DesPeresMark said:
Bad cramps in my left hand on the way down bad cramps in my left hand right biceps and left foot on the way back.

did you ride in some stop and go traffic?
or did you pick the road that require more then usual amount of shifting?
when did you lube your clutch cable, and shift lever pivot?

I can suggest a great solution, it worked for me, no more fatigue and discomfort in my left extremities

...it's called; "DCT" (and I am serious about it, not joking)

JBNY

· #5 · 9 mo ago

DesPeresMark said:
Road about 125 miles on my V Strom, did some fishing and then rode back. Bad cramps in my left hand on the way down bad cramps in my left hand right biceps and left foot on the way back. They come and go. They’ll last for maybe 10 minutes and then they’ll just disappear as quickly as they start it.

I guess I’ve always been a kind of person to get cramps easily but this is just happening more and more frequently. 61 years old. In OK health, I can walk 18 holes with my own golf bag. Has anybody else experienced it and what did you do? I’ve heard about pickle juice and that has worked a little bit. I’ve tried to eat bananas various other minerals things like that but when those cramps hit your left hand, it’s debilitating and potentially dangerous.

any comments?

Super beats and vitamin C

D.T.

· #6 · 9 mo ago

I usually get them after a long day in the saddle. The night after in bed.

Protective clothing too tight?

Griff

· #7 · 9 mo ago

When I get cramps it is almost always down to dehydration. I am 71 and I suppose it has become more important to keep hydrated as I get older. The downside of course is more frequent need to urinate.

Reactions: 3

DesPeresMark

Discussion Starter · #8 · 9 mo ago

Dado8 said:
did you ride in some stop and go traffic?

or did you pick the road that require more then usual amount of shifting?

when did you lube your clutch cable, and shift lever pivot?

I can suggest a great solution, it worked for me, no more fatigue and discomfort in my left extremities ...it's called; "DCT" (and I am serious about it, not joking)

I have a CTX700 as my around town bike but for this trip we were going down some gravel & dirt roads and where we ending up havI got to park the bikes was in a very rough spot that I could never have gotten my CTX in and out of. I love DCT and I was thinking about trading my Vstrom and CTX in for a new NC750x with DCT but can’t find a dealer with one. The 1200 African Twin is just too big for my riding at this stage. That was one reason I got the CTX. I get the same cramps on my DCT but with no clutch and floor boards, it’s much easier to manage.

DesPeresMark

Discussion Starter · #9 · 9 mo ago

PlugnPlay said:
The easy answer (hand cramp) is your grip at the bar, but I'm guessing you have enough riding experience (and are a 'relaxed' rider) to rule that out. If you remove said hand from the bar, let it drop, does it alleviate the cramping? Will standing up on the pegs prevent the foot from cramping?

Coincidentally, had a physical yesterday and dr ordered me to include stretches in my workout as flex decreases more quickly at my age (67). I do get cramps at the hip flexor, depends on what I'm wearing - tight fit encourages the cramp.

Curious what others might have to say about this ...

I try to stay as relaxed as possible and rest my left hand on my leg or tank bag for miles at a time but the cramps still come back. I’m beginning to think I don’t drink as much water as I think I do. I think I’ll start a log and see how much water I actually drink. Coffee doesn’t count.

Reactions: 4

DesPeresMark

Discussion Starter · #10 · 9 mo ago

Griff said:
When I get cramps it is almost always down to dehydration. I am 71 and I suppose it has become more important to keep hydrated as I get older. The downside of course is more frequent need to urinate.

And as a prostate cancer victim after radical robotic prostatectomy, that’s its own issue. The time between I gotta piss to I GOTTA piss is much shorter than it used to be! But it better than the alternative so I can deal with that.

Reactions: 3

Sladep

· #11 · 9 mo ago

PlugnPlay said:
The easy answer (hand cramp) is your grip at the bar, but I'm guessing you have enough riding experience (and are a 'relaxed' rider) to rule that out. If you remove said hand from the bar, let it drop, does it alleviate the cramping? Will standing up on the pegs prevent the foot from cramping?

Coincidentally, had a physical yesterday and dr ordered me to include stretches in my workout as flex decreases more quickly at my age (67). I do get cramps at the hip flexor, depends on what I'm wearing - tight fit encourages the cramp.

Curious what others might have to say about this ...

Agree with all your good advice, esp. doing regular stretching, and consciously relaxing those muscles while riding. Often I find myself holding certain muscles tense when riding hard, even when they are not being used. Must remember to relax them.

Reactions: 1

Spec

· #12 · 9 mo ago

DesPeresMark said:
I try to stay as relaxed as possible and rest my left hand on my leg or tank bag for miles at a time but the cramps still come back. I’m beginning to think I don’t drink as much water as I think I do. I think I’ll start a log and see how much water I actually drink. Coffee doesn’t count.

I fish and might be on the river all day. I carry a water bottle and/or a filter. I have to make myself drink usually. If I don't by the end of the day I'm more beat them I would have been if hydrated. I've also noticed that I cramp up more.

On the bike I've rigged a way to drink while riding. Bottle in tank bag with a hose that has a bite valve.

Idaho fishing trip

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Reactions: 2

Dado8

· #13 · 9 mo ago (Edited)

DesPeresMark said:
I get the same cramps on my DCT but with no clutch and floor boards, it’s much easier to manage.

maybe time to set up an appointment to see what the doctors have to say about the condition. Guessing you are not getting any cramps while in the car, or otherwise...just when you are on your bikes probably, due to vibration and seating posture, where some blood flow might be restricted or something.

from Google:
In order to relieve and/or prevent motorcycle throttle hand pain, try the following:

Stretching: stretch your hands, wrists, arms and finger before going on a ride. Do it every time your stop for a break as well.
Massage: give yourself a hand massage to alleviate the pain or ask someone to do it for you. You can find some great tips for hand massage here.
Shake it off: When your hands start feeling sore, hold them loosely at your sides and shake vigorously.
Relax: when riding, make sure you hold the grips as loosely as possible and try not to lean against the handlebars. All that pressure adds extra tensions in your hands and wrists.
Padding: wear padded gloves and change to softer handle grips with extra padding, this will help absorb vibration and reduce shock to your hands.
Specialty products: buy throttle control paddles or purchase a cruise control system.
Higher handlebars: higher bars mean less pressure on your wrists.
Visit a hand specialist: never ignore hand and wrist pain because it can result in a serious condition. If the pain persists or becomes more bothersome visit a hand specialist to get a professional diagnosis and start the path to riding pain-free.

- At the beginning of your ride, the forearm muscles are not getting enough blood flow to accommodate those times when they are working very hard. Thus when you squeeze down, they are more likely to go into a spasm (cramp) when they are working with inadequate nutrients and oxygen.

and from the Doctor:

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Reactions: 3

TX-2112

· #14 · 9 mo ago

Could be a simple electrolyte deficit. As mentioned bananas are good, salty foods but try to avoid chips and the fried or fatty stuff. Also sports drink or one of the many electrolyte supplements on the market.

Reactions: 1

D.T.

· #15 · 9 mo ago

Yeah, eat salty stuff and get kidney stones.

Always a trade off.

JMPCUT

· #16 · 9 mo ago

TX-2112 said:
Could be a simple electrolyte deficit. As mentioned bananas are good, salty foods but try to avoid chips and the fried or fatty stuff. Also sports drink or one of the many electrolyte supplements on the market.

Yep, people talk about drinking lots of water, but a little squirt of juice in there now & then is supposed to make a big difference.

Reactions: 3

Wee van Cleef

· #17 · 9 mo ago

I get cramps bad due to my medical condition. One time it was so bad in my calves I was thinking ER. Felt like I was going to tear a muscle. The pain was excruciating. My calf balled/swelled up and you could watch it pulse all by itself. They are caused by an electrolyte deficiency as already said. My medications deplete electrolytes, but staying alive trumps cramping.

Get more potassium, zinc, calcium and magnesium, B vitamins. Most people get more than enough sodium in the 'normal' diet. My doctor recommended pickle juice, but I hate it. Last resort, Theraworx. I carry a can of the foam in rack bag and it works quickly.

griz1953

· #18 · 9 mo ago

DesPeresMark said:
Road about 125 miles on my V Strom, did some fishing and then rode back. Bad cramps in my left hand on the way down bad cramps in my left hand right biceps and left foot on the way back. They come and go. They’ll last for maybe 10 minutes and then they’ll just disappear as quickly as they start it.

I guess I’ve always been a kind of person to get cramps easily but this is just happening more and more frequently. 61 years old. In OK health, I can walk 18 holes with my own golf bag. Has anybody else experienced it and what did you do? I’ve heard about pickle juice and that has worked a little bit. I’ve tried to eat bananas various other minerals things like that but when those cramps hit your left hand, it’s debilitating and potentially dangerous.

any comments?

Simple-----quit playing golf ! LOL

Improperly Torqued

· #19 · 9 mo ago

Spec said:
Idaho fishing trip

Favorite pic of the week, hands down. Relaxing just to look at.

Reactions: 1

Improperly Torqued

· #20 · 9 mo ago

@DesPeresMark: Lots of good suggestions here (drink water!!), but I just wanted to add that if you think grip tension is part of the reason for your ails, I would suggest trying what I do: a "Crampbuster" on both grips. Lots of people use them for the throttle side, but I find that being able to relax the heel of my left hand as well is a game-changer on long interstate rides.

Reactions: 3

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