I cramp up daily - toes, calves, hamstrings - and got sick of the tired advice "drink water, eat a banana" because it wasn't helping. I drink 1-2 gallons of water a day and my potassium was fine. Drinking one of those about 20-30 minutes before rolling eliminates the vast majority of cramps. It's not bro science either - just a ton of salt and some other electrolytes. Add in a dash of the placebo effect and you're good to go. Let me know how it goes for you.
You get pure pickle juice alone. I buy the box of 12 from amazon and have one at a time
This is the one I get
All of the charity/organised rides that I take part in have pickle juice at rest stops and it’s not stuff that they have drained from jars of Vlasic. It’s stuff like this.
Many cyclists carry this pickle juice. It's supposed to instantly make cramps go away. I haven't tried it, but many say it really works!
Also, I've heard others mention mustard. Go into 7-11 and get a mustard pack from the hot dog stand.
You'll be okay. Just don't skip any of the rest stops, and take your time at each rest stop. Pickle juice (either real pickle juice or the little jugs) will be a help if you start feeling cramps after 60 or 65 miles.
I only started riding about 2 years ago, and my 1st century was a ride from Houston to La Grange. It was supposed to be 160+ miles over two days but they cancelled day two, due to dangerous storms. So I got 100 miles in, and it was very easy because we had tail winds the whole way, and it was a one-way ride.
My 2nd century was torturous in comparison. The Katy Flatlands Century, west of Houston. Some hills and a head wind after 60 miles made it really devoid of fun for me. I thought about catching an Uber, but stuck it out. I was glad I'd been riding training rides of 40 to 50 miles in the weekends before that, but even so, my legs were shot afterwards.
Nice documentation of the ride! Is that Google Glass?
Regarding the cramping, that's one I'd not heard before! Gonna try it. I invested in a case of the Pickle Juice stuff and take a couple with me on long rides. I down a bottle around 40 miles in, BEFORE my legs start complaining. Today, despite the pickle juice, at about 43 miles in, I had to get off and walk for about 5 minutes. I didn't actually cramp, but my legs were right on the edge of cramping. Happened again at about 47 miles, and another short walk got me past it. I was home at 50 miles.
I signed up for a 75 mile ride next Saturday on a new section of toll road that hasn't opened to cars yet, only to be reminded by my buddy that Sunday is the 70 mile Tour de Houston we both signed up for. Argggh.
I'll probably just do 25 of the Saturday ride (it's a 25 mile loop that the 75 milers just repeat 3 times) so I won't blow my chances of a good ride on Sunday.
I'm training up for the MS 150 ride from Houston to Austin next month, which is actually 160 to 180 miles (depending on which start-point you select). This will be my 1st one. My twin brother has done 3. It's time for me to step up.
Hey, OP, thanks for the video! The work you did making it is appreciated.
Amazon, my friend. Be wary though - there are two types of pickle juice shots out there. These are small but they’re the real deal and pack a punch. You’ll see a slightly larger version around the same price point, but it’s super diluted in my opinion and gross.
Pickle Juice Extra Strength... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B015TJGG9U?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
Van Holten's Pickle-Ice 24 count https://www.amazon.com/dp/B082YG6VHS?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
Keto Chow Electrolyte Drops -... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07S44C1W1?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
You can but that shit sand pickles: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B015TJGG9U/
I've had a swig, once, not terrible but not something I can get into.
Google 'Pickle Juice Shots'. Seen them at bike races. Small 2 ounce containers of pickle juice.
Found 'em - https://www.amazon.com/Pickle-Juice-Strength-Shots-12/dp/B015TJGG9U?th=1
Love pickle juice for this.