January 21, 2026, 07:10 PM
I went through the same thing and it is the worst way to wake up. I also ride similar distances and thought it was hydration or electrolytes but that was not it for me. It turned out to be muscle fatigue and sleeping position. I used to sleep with my toes pointed down which holds the calf in a shortened position all night. That is a recipe for a cramp. Even though you sleep with bent legs check your ankle position. If your feet droop forward while you sleep that is likely the problem. What stopped it for me was stretching my calves for about a minute before bed. I also learned to flex my foot hard toward my shin the second I feel a cramp starting. That kills it instantly. Adding a magnesium supplement before bed helped cut down how often they happened too. I think it is just muscles working hard and not recovering as fast as they used to.
Since you mentioned riding an eBike I am curious if you notice any difference in muscle fatigue or cramping compared to when you rode regular bikes back in the day. I wonder if the assist changes which muscles get worked or if we still end up using the same ones just in a different way. Have you ever had this happen after a ride where you used more or less assist than usual?
Since you mentioned riding an eBike I am curious if you notice any difference in muscle fatigue or cramping compared to when you rode regular bikes back in the day. I wonder if the assist changes which muscles get worked or if we still end up using the same ones just in a different way. Have you ever had this happen after a ride where you used more or less assist than usual?