It Worked: Pickle juice stopped my leg cramps

[tbowren]

I'm sure everyone read the thread awhile back about the vinegar in Pickle juice and Mustard stopping cramps.

Last year in the 6 Hrs of OC and then more recently in the VQ I had horrible, drop to the ground screaming, leg cramps. It usually happens after 3 hours of riding, I feel the burning in my inner thighs, and within 10 or 15 minutes it starts. First my inner thighs, then my quads, then the calves. Keep it up and my entire leg locks up and I fall off the bike.

I was able to keep it just at bay for the Traverse by stopping and stretching and taking some Tums but it was always there, waiting for that one extra effort to strike.

This Saturday I was able to ride a loop of Blackstar - Motorway. This time I didn't walk to the ball or the steep hills. This time I purposely went into granny, buried my nose into the stem, and grinded way past what I thought I was capable of. Finally at the 2 hour mark it started, that burning, throbbing precursor that I know so well. This time I had a flask with 1/2 pickle juice, 1/2 water with me. Drinking it was like drinking hot urine, not a pleasant initial taste with an even worse aftertaste kick.

Anyways, I made my way to the top of motorway, met with my friends, blasted (for me) down that horrible loose accident-waiting-to-happen trail called Motorway, and raced my friend as HARD AS I COULD back down Silverado to our cars. That entire time not a single hint of a cramp.

Bottom line, I really think it works.

[jcampbell]

could it be just the added salt?

[Geronimo]

Originally Posted by tbowren

Drinking it was like drinking hot urine, not a pleasant initial taste with an even worse aftertaste kick.

Thanks for posting your results, I was curious about this. BTW grape gatorade makes urine much more palatable.

[mp3]

Nice! What size of flask?

[maxwell]

You know, I tried it at the second Rim Nordic XC race.

Took a Hammer Gel flask, filled it with straight up pickle juice, and stuck it in the freezer overnight.

On my second lap, when I started getting the "twitch", I drank about half the flask.

No more twitching! I finished it on the next climb, and except for the pickle after taste, it seemed to be the ticket.

[OMR]

Was it sweet or sour pickle juice??

OMR

[Innes]

Originally Posted by jcampbell

could it be just the added salt?

It's the salt for sure. You could just pick up some salt tabs instead of drinking pickle juice. That sounds disgusting.

[tbowren]

Originally Posted by jcampbell

could it be just the added salt?

It was a standard hammer gel flask.

It was regular pickles (not sweet) but they were precut and the juice didn't have those floaty pieces in it.

I don't think it was just the salt. I use HEED, Sustained Energy, Cytomax, Endurolytes, off and on all the time. I'm always very systematic and analytical with my fueling. I love researching trying different products and fueling strategies. The cramps have been a regular occurrence on extra long rides for me since I started biking 2 years ago no matter what I did. Tums have worked "OK" but this seemed much better.

I think it works for me, if cramping is an issue for you, give it a try. I will continue taking my electrolyte tablets and gels every 45-60 min, but for those long rides I will always have a secret weapon stashed in my camelbak

[maxwell]

Originally Posted by jcampbell

could it be just the added salt?

This is from a recent post, provided by OMR;

Further research:

They have been using pickle juice to prevent and treat muscle cramps at the University of Northern Iowa for the past three years. Primarily, the athletic training staff has used it as a last resort in treating or preventing exercise-associated muscle cramps. When all of the previously mentioned preventive techniques—proper conditioning, nutrition and hydration, and stretching—have been tried and have failed, they add pickle juice to the athlete’s pregame regimen. They have found that by giving two ounces of pickle juice to the athlete 10 minutes before exercise, even the most chronic cramper can remain cramp-free during high-intensity exercise.

Pickle juice also seems to effectively treat acute muscle cramps. They first found this out when an athlete who was on a pickle-juice regimen forgot to take his dose before a game. When he suffered severe bilateral cramps in his gastrocnemius, he was taken out of the game and given two ounces of pickle juice. The cramps were completely gone within 30 seconds. They have tried this technique with other athletes and found it to be universally effective, with the great majority of cramps not recurring.

Usually, two ounces of pickle juice will treat and prevent any cramp. There have been a few situations where the athlete was suffering from muscle cramps in more than one area, or the cramp was in a large muscle group, like the abdomen, and he or she was then given additional pickle juice. It is imperative that the athletic trainer advise the athlete to continue hydrating, keep a balanced diet, and to take pickle juice in moderation.

Additionally, they have treated muscle cramps by giving two ounces of straight vinegar to athletes who were experiencing an exercise-associated muscle cramp. It was found that the involuntary contraction went away in 15 to 30 seconds and did not recur. Although the straight vinegar has worked, it is very difficult for athletes to consume straight vinegar. Pickle juice is more palatable and has been accepted better by the athletes.

Vinegar is the obvious common ingredient in both mustard (which is used by some athletic trainers) and pickle juice. But, as yet, there is no experimental research that has explained the mechanism of how these treatments work.

Please pass the Vlasiks!

OMR
__________________

[genusmtbkr5]

I will have a flask of pickle juice with me on long rides from now on.

[BrewMaster]

Anaerobic respiration in muscles and the build up of lactic acid is one cause of cramps. I suspect that the vinegar (acetic acid) improves the solubility of lactic acid and allows the muscles to loosen. Nothing to prove this, just a theory.

[allison]

Originally Posted by BrewMaster

Anaerobic respiration in muscles and the build up of lactic acid is one cause of cramps. I suspect that the vinegar (acetic acid) improves the solubility of lactic acid and allows the muscles to loosen. Nothing to prove this, just a theory.

*rt* on MTBR has been racing awhile, and recently started using pickle juice to ward off, or stop cramps. It's the latest and greatest thing. Also probably cheaper than a lifetime supply of some new pill

I believe mustard is supposed to have similar effects, and people have mentioned it may have to do with the vinegar.

[DeeZee]

[FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3]I have seen it many many times………Not enough water….not enough salt…….not enough potassium. On the VQ / CC really fit riders lying on the trail all cramped up. Me?...230lbs and never cramp (knock knock on wood).[/SIZE][/FONT]

[FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3]The pickle juice sounds interesting. However me be think’in that you want to avoid them all together (not just a trail side cure). Drink that water! Put some salt on that Pasta pre ride dinner etc. Eat a banana etc everyday.[/SIZE][/FONT]

[FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3]My buddy used to get cramps all the time. Then he increased his salt intake and chokes down banana’s (he hates them I love them). [/SIZE][/FONT]

[FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3]Good luck[/SIZE][/FONT]

[Winston]

Old video of a certain STR member warding off cramps at a very young age:

[tbowren]

Originally Posted by 29wheels

[FONT=Times New Roman][/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3]However me be think’in that you want to avoid them all together (not just a trail side cure).[/SIZE][/FONT]

You do make a good argument there that an ounce of prevention is better than a pound of pickle juice.

Its tough because I hammer all week long on hour long lunch rides in the heat or after work, and the cramps never come. Its hard to always know if something is working due to fueling or maybe I'm just not cramping on that day. I wish I could do 3+ hour mtb rides every weekend but thats not going to happen in the next 15 years.

But I do hear what you are saying.

[DeeZee]

Originally Posted by tbowren

You do make a good argument there that an ounce of prevention is better than a pound of pickle juice.

Its tough because I hammer all week long on hour long lunch rides in the heat or after work, and the cramps never come. Its hard to always know if something is working due to fueling or maybe I'm just not cramping on that day. I wish I could do 3+ hour mtb rides every weekend but thats not going to happen in the next 15 years.

But I do hear what you are saying.

[FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3]Just comes down to what works for each individual. For example…….Pasta is a old time favorite for a day before the ride meal. Mine fav is Chinese food. The rice and Chow Mein is what I like. Plus all of the sauces have a ton of salt in them.[/SIZE][/FONT]

[dubjay]

Sorry for reviving an old thread, but someone linked to this one.

Anyways..looks like you can buy pickle juice without the pickle now.

http://www.goldenpicklejuice.com/

I don't know if it's sold locally though, but I'd be willing to carry one just in case..

[Pho'dUp]

Thanks for the link Dubjay.

I believe in pickle juice too. Worked for me at Temecula in Jan. Just don't chase it with fruit punch gatorade. Bleeh!