CrampFix / Pickle Juice

Do They Actually Work In Hard Enduro?

Pickle juice, CrampFix, and similar “anti-cramp shots” have become common in endurance sport. Riders swear by them. Bottles get pulled out mid-race. Cramps disappear — sometimes almost instantly. So what’s really going on?

Do these products actually fix cramps — or are they masking a bigger problem?

What These Products Claim to Do

CrampFix and pickle juice products are marketed as:

• Rapid cramp relief

• A fix for muscle spasms

• Effective within seconds

Most contain:

• Acetic acid (vinegar)

• Strong flavour compounds

• Small amounts of sodium

Importantly, they do not contain enough electrolytes or fluid to correct dehydration or electrolyte loss in the moment.

How They Actually Work

Current evidence suggests these products do not stop cramps by fixing hydration or electrolytes. Instead, they appear to work via a neural reflex.

The strong taste (acidic, bitter, spicy) activates receptors in the mouth and throat. This sensory input sends signals through the nervous system that can temporarily inhibit the motor neuron activity responsible for cramping.

In simple terms:

• They distract the nervous system

• They interrupt the cramp signal

• They may provide short-term relief

  
  

This explains why relief can occur within seconds — far faster than any electrolyte absorption could occur.

What They Do Not Do

CrampFix and pickle juice:

• Do not rehydrate you

• Do not replace sodium losses

• Do not restore depleted glycogen

• Do not fix fatigue-related cramping

They are not solving the underlying cause.

Why Cramps Happen in Hard Enduro

Muscle cramps during hard enduro are usually driven by a combination of:

• Neuromuscular fatigue

• High-intensity, repetitive muscle use

• Heat stress

• Inadequate carbohydrate intake

• Insufficient sodium replacement

In other words, cramps are often a late-stage warning sign, not a random event.

Why These Products Feel Like They Work

If a cramp is already occurring, interrupting the nerve signal can:

• Reduce pain

• Allow movement to resume

• Buy time

That relief is real — but it’s temporary. Without correcting fuel and hydration intake, cramps are likely to return.

The Risk of Relying on Cramp Shots

The danger isn’t using these products occasionally — it’s using them as a strategy.

Relying on cramp shots can:

• Mask under-fueling

• Delay proper hydration

• Encourage riders to ignore early warning signs

By the time cramps appear, performance has already been compromised.

A Smarter Way to Prevent Cramps

Cramp prevention in hard enduro starts long before symptoms appear:

• Adequate carbohydrate intake throughout the ride

• Consistent sodium replacement

• Steady hydration, not reactive drinking

• Training fatigue resistance, not just peak power

If these foundations are solid, cramp incidents drop dramatically.

When CrampFix or Pickle Juice Might Be Useful

They may have a place as:

• Emergency, last-resort relief

• Temporary interruption of severe cramping

• A backup tool, not a primary solution

They should not replace proper fueling and hydration.

The Takeaway

CrampFix and pickle juice don’t work the way most riders think they do.

They don’t fix hydration. They don’t replace electrolytes. They don’t solve fatigue.

They may interrupt cramps — briefly — by acting on the nervous system.

In hard enduro, the real solution isn’t in a shot bottle.

It’s in fueling early, hydrating consistently, and staying relentless.