Tight muscles

[Boyfrom64]

Currently I am riding a hybrid / early mountain bike that was sitting in the garage until I finally decide on which road bike to buy.

On the last two rides both 12 miles, when I get to about the 9 / 10 mile mark, the calf muscle in my left leg starts to get tight, not enough to call it cramp but certainly enough to notice.

The reason I have got in to cycling recently is because I have had a tendon problem with my left knee and I was advised by my doctor to stop running and take up an exercise such as cycling because of its low impact nature.

Has anyone else experienced a similar problem?

Do you think it is simply a matter of building up the strength in my legs and that the issue will go away in time.

Currently I am wearing my running shoes which are designed to provide the support I need as I over pronate, the pedels on the bike are simply flat ones with no straps.

 

[Globalti]

Tell us about your saddle height and position. How are they set up?

 

[Angelfishsolo]

+1. Also which part of your foot do you place on the pedal? Sometimes a foot too far forwards or backwards can cause issues.

Tell us about your saddle height and position. How are they set up?

 

[ramses]

I had a similar issue last year, which was nothing to do with saddle position etc.... (as was all set up correctly), not to say your isn't, just another point of view.

I went for a sports massage and mine turned out to be some trapped lactic acid, so every time I went cycling my left calf felt like it was going to cramp, but never quite did, and it felt like I had a solid lump of something in my calf, whilst cycling along.

A very nice lady gave me a sports massage, and it was just a sports massage!

Ever since then I have never had the problem again.

Hope you get it sorted soon.

 

[Boyfrom64]

User9609 and Ramses thanks for your suggestions. I am going back to see my doctor next week about my knee, because I have not run now for over a month, I took the Ibuprofen and subscribed but I am still getting some pain from the knee when I drive. Therefore a specialist / sports physiotherapist is where I believe I will be going next.

Globalti and Angelfishsolo, my seat height is set at 30" from the top of the seat to the middle of the crank spindle, my inside leg measurement is 31". The seat position is something I have not changed and this is set in the middle of the guide markings.

Even being a complete newbie / novice I have come to realise how important it is to get your bike set up properly and I have to say that my lbs has been very good at explaining exactly what he will do to set up any bike I buy from him. However, until I am able to buy a new bike anything I can learn from the members of Cycle Chat will be greatly received.

 

[cyberknight]

This is not a bad place to start ...

clicky

 

[overgeared]

i have in the past experienced exactly the symptoms you describe and found it to be due to a slightly over-high saddle which seemed to put extra tension down the back of my leg at the bottom of the pedal stoke.

in your case as a relatively new rider it could simply be due to your body adapting to cycling. i also wonder what sort of cadence you tend to use? most people beleive that higher cadence saves the legs at bit in the long run and may just delay the onset of this sort of issue.

 

[cyberknight]

I used to get calf cramps after a week, i moved the cleats further back so the foot was further forward ( maybe 1 cm )over the pedal and that seemed to help.

 

[Boyfrom64]

Overgeared, that's an interesting point you make. Just recently I have been reading about cadence and the fact that you should not put too much pressure on your knees. To make sure I did not do this due to a knee problem, I have started to change down gears quicker and therefore pedaling faster.