For sportives, long rides and multi-day tours
Stop the quad lock halfway up the climb.
A small shot, taken on the move, that eases cycling cramp in 60 to 90 seconds. Fits a top tube bag or jersey pocket. Drinkable in the drops. Built for sportive saturdays, century rides and the moments when a climb starts biting.
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The Protocol
When to take it on a ride.
Three windows: before you clip in, mid-ride before the climbs hit, and on the bike if a quad starts to lock. Take it alongside your normal bidons and gels. The 50ml fits a jersey pocket, top tube bag, or empty gel sleeve.
Window 01 — Before
1 shot
15 mins before
you clip in
you clip in
Why
Switches the cramp reflex on before the first pedal stroke. Take it in the car park or at the cafe stop while filling bidons.
Window 02 — On the bike
1 shot
before
the big climb
the big climb
Why
Most cycling cramp lands on a climb when the quads are already deep in. Take this 5 to 10 minutes before the climb starts, not when you're already grinding.
Window 03 — If it hits
1 shot
first sign of
a quad lock
a quad lock
Why
Goes through your nervous system, not your stomach, so you can take it on the bike and keep pedalling. 60 to 90 seconds and you're back.
Protocols by ride
Pick the line that matches your day. Add a shot if you're riding in heat, on a hilly route, or you tend to cramp.
Sportive
50 to 100km
1 pre-ride
1 mid-ride
1 spare
Take one before the start. Take a second around the halfway feed station, ideally before the route's biggest climb. Carry one in a jersey pocket as a spare. Most riders don't need the third, but it's the difference between finishing strong and crawling the last 20km.
Long ride
100km+
1 pre-ride
1 every 2-3 hrs
+ 1 before each major climb
Once you're past the 100km mark, cumulative neural fatigue is the real enemy. Take a shot every 2 to 3 hours, not just when something tightens. Add an extra one before any climb you're worried about. For a hilly century, plan on 4 shots. For 200km+, 5 to 6.
Multi-day
Tours, training camps, audax
1 pre-ride
2-3 on the bike
1 post-ride
Day-on-day rides stack neural fatigue faster than people expect. The post-ride shot is the one most riders skip and shouldn't. It calms residual cramp signals before bed and you wake up with fresher legs. Pack 4 to 5 shots per riding day, plus extras for the toughest stages.
The Science
Cycling cramp isn't just about dehydration. It's neurological.
Cramp on the bike comes from your nervous system, not the muscle. After hours of repeated pedalling and big efforts on climbs, the signals between brain and quad start to misfire. That's why fully-fuelled, fully-hydrated cyclists still cramp at the four-hour mark.
PickleUp uses a vinegar hit to trigger sensory receptors in your mouth and throat. That sends a signal to your brainstem that resets the cramp reflex across the body. Usually within 60 to 90 seconds. No digestion required, which is why you can take it on the bike and keep pedalling.
The science was pioneered by researchers including Prof. Kevin Miller, whose work has changed how elite endurance sport handles cramp.
Read the full science →60-90s
Onset of relief
The climb
Where most cramp lands
21g
Fast carbs per shot
50ml
Fits a jersey pocket
I used a shot in a race and had zero cramps. And I cramp a lot. Even if I drink loads of electrolytes.
— Josh Meyland, Gravel Racer
FAQ
Questions from cyclists.
What we get asked at sportive sign-ons, in club WhatsApps, and at the cafe stop.
How fast does it actually work?
Usually 60 to 90 seconds. The shot triggers a reflex through your nervous system rather than going through your stomach, so you can take it mid-ride and keep pedalling.
Where do I carry it on a ride?
The 50ml bottle fits a jersey pocket, a top tube bag, or a bento box. Some riders decant into an empty gel sleeve to save space. For long rides, a saddlebag works for the spares.
Can I drink it in the drops?
Yes. Small bottle, opens easily, goes down in one. Plenty of riders take it without sitting up. If you're riding in a group, ease back to the rear, take it, then drop back into the wheel.
How does it fit with my bidons and gels?
It doesn't replace anything. Bidons handle hydration, gels handle fuel, PickleUp handles cramp through your nervous system. The 21g of fast carbs in the shot adds to your fuelling but doesn't change your gel cadence — slot it into the windows in the protocol above.
Does it work for indoor rides and Zwift?
Yes, and indoor riding is actually a high cramp risk because of the heat, lack of breeze, and fixed position. Take a shot 15 minutes before any indoor session over 90 minutes. For race-pace efforts on Zwift, treat it like a real race and take a shot before and during.
Why does cramp hit on climbs specifically?
Climbs put sustained load through your quads and adductors at a higher cadence and torque than steady riding. After hours of effort, the nervous system can't keep up with the signal demand and starts to misfire. Pre-loading the shot before a climb gets ahead of that.
Will it upset my stomach mid-ride?
The formula is built for use during hard effort. 50ml goes down fast and doesn't sit heavy. Standard rule: trial it on a couple of long rides before using it in a sportive or race. Never debut on event day.
Is it banned by any cycling governing bodies?
No. All ingredients are natural and widely used in sports nutrition. Safe for British Cycling, UCI events, sportives, audax and gravel races. We are Informed Sport Certified.
What does it taste like?
Tangy and sharp, with a pineapple finish. Pickle juice, made drinkable. The bite is part of how it works — the sharp taste is what triggers the reflex. After a couple you stop noticing.
Get over the climb.
One before you clip in. One before the big climb. One in the jersey pocket if your quads start talking.
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