Ai-yi-YOWCH! None of us wants to have muscle cramps fit to make us do like this poor fellow here. But suppose a nasty cramp strikes during a ride?

We could try these tips to prevent cramps from occurring in the first place. Preventing cramps ought to be easier in the long run than dealing with them when they happen.

I, for one, am a long way from being sufficiently skilled to try a quad stretch while actually riding. It would be better for me to stop and rest for a while if I get a quad cramp that bad during a ride.

At least one source I\’ve seen suggests this remedy when a cramp hits while riding: grab your upper lip and pinch it. I believe the theory is that the pinched lip does something to distract your brain from the kinking leg muscle.

Of course, if you begin to get cramps, try to figure out why. Are you riding much faster than usual? You might need to slow it down for a few miles. Are you increasing your mileage too quickly? Dial back the distance for a day or two. Are you using a gear that\’s too hard for you? Shift to an easier gear. Is the day hot? Maybe your body is telling you to replenish the electrolytes; and especially sodium. Or, maybe it\’s simply time to pull off the road and take a break. 

Let\’s do what we can to keep our muscles happy, because we sure don\’t want them to cramp our style! Let\’s keep the ai-yi-YOWCH away.