leg cramps and mindgames...

Yup.

I worry about getting cramps when I know I pushed the bike hard.  There are times where I'm going "Okay, when are they gonna hit?"  I know they are coming but I try to slow down some and stay within my limitations of that moment.  Sometimes I get lucky, other times the damage is already done.

Luckily in shorter stuff I can fudge my way through it and get to the finish before they hit.  But you can't fake your fitness through a HIM or IM.

Not at all!

Anytime I feel a twinge in my legs, whether its a calf, hammy or thigh I prep to bounce on it.  Then I tell myself to stop thinking about it and relax and I'm good, until the next twinge, repeat!

You are not the only one.  My right calf cramps regularly.  I know it is because I ruptured that achilles tendon two summers ago and it is just not as strong as my other leg.  I don't know if it is something that I can continue to work on and it will eventually stop or it is just a challenge I will always have to manage.

^^^
I started way too hard in 1st Oly last mo & had bad leg cramps right off the bike.  Worst 10k run of my life in both time & pain.  No way could I have "fudged" a HIM run. 

BTW- main causes of muscles cramps generally given as fatigue (main one), heat, dehydration, electrolytes, & possibly following blunt trauma (e.g. bike crash).

yes (well I am anyway)

Yes, exercise induced cramps almost always are a fitness problem .......... or lack of for the effort put out!

So you are saying that its not necessarilly that the person lacks fitness, but rather that no matter how fit you are, if you over-extend yourself, (in this case on the bike), you are exposing yourself to a greater chance of cramps?   I ask because I'm having the same problem this year (calf cramps off the bike), and my fitness has never been better. 

I always have leg cramps when i swim, but i know what the problem is. In 2007 i had back surgery and since i get them. I try to stretch before and after. I guess i will live with it.

Bingo.

If you push the bike too hard, you can extend yourself beyond your limits.  Or even if you ride on the edge of too hard and then try to hammer the run you can do that.

The most telling (and what should be apparent to many) is that people get cramps in events as short as sprints and olympics.  Unless you came into the race already close to dehydration and without having eaten anything in days (to cover your electrolytes which people always seem to blame - when it is not the cause), there is no way in 2 - 3 hours someone will have fully depleted their reserves of anything to cause the body to lock up.  Also, if you were fully depleted, then why does just ONE muscle cramp?  Do all these little molecules go, "Hey, watch this, I'm gonna give him a calf cramp!!" and completely ignore every other muscle in the body??

anoter thing to think about, if you are only getting them in your calf, there is a good chance you are pedaliing with you toes pointed down a good bit/seat too high, this can put a lot more stress than needed on your calves.

as rick said though, almost always due to pacing/fitness.

when its nutrition/hydration, it tends to happen more widespread, and almost never in shorter races and really till near the end of anything but a hot HIM.

pacing on the bike is very nearly everytime the issue. and cramps starting near the begining of the run lead me to think that even more.