Does anyone stretch....

[Paulus]

I sometimes stretch the legs after a particually long ride ie 50 miles + otherwise I don't normally bother.

 

[Keith Oates]

I tried stretching after rides a few years back, after reading about it somewhere but to be honest I didn't find much difference from when I didn't do them. Needless to say I don't do stretches now after long or short rides!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Flyingfox]

..thanks for all your comments, I don't feel so bad now, in fact my legs feel great today. I think if I were doing more weight bearing exercises I would definitely do some stretches.

 

[Fnaar]

I might occasionally stretch BEFORE a ride...
afterwards I simply stretch for the food cupboard, then stretch out in a bath.

 

[yenrod]

..after a long ride?

I did a 34 mile ride today, with quite a few small hills and strong head wind on my way back. I can certainly feel it in my glutes and hamstrings, and am now wondering if I should have done stretches afterwards.

= Injured muscle - massage !

 

[Flying_Monkey]

Streatching after long rides is very useful in preventing injuries; stretching before is likely to cause them.

 

[yenrod]

Streatching after long rides is very useful in preventing injuries; stretching before is likely to cause them.

How can you say that Fly because after excercise: there are very small tears in the muscle fibres.

 

[Kirstie]

I keep reading this thread title as 'does anyone retch...'
Must get my eyes tested.

Back to the thread I guess it depends what you are stretching and how. Depending on what you are doing, certain muscles will be extended and certain muscles will be flexed. They will all have build ups of lactic acid and other chemicals which are residues of exercise, especially anaerobic exercise. So after cycling always stretch quads, hamstrings and bum. This is v important because tightness in these areas can lead to back injury. Cycling is also quite low impact though so stretching isn't completely necessary.

If I go running I always also stretch out my calves and ITBs because they can get very tight especially with all the impact.

 

[Sittingduck]

glad to have been of help.

Apologies Noodley - wasn't trying to be defensive
I did myself a bit of a mischief a couple of months back which I (in part) attributed to not stretching or being active enough for a couple of days, after a Sunday ride. So I've been trying to use the "prevention is better than cure strategy" of having a little stretch after my rides. Seems to have helped... For me anyway

 

[Flying_Monkey]

How can you say that Fly because after excercise: there are very small tears in the muscle fibres.

See Kirstie below - it very much depends what you are stretching and how much. Probably if you are only a cyclist, stretching doesn't matter so much. However if you need the flexibility because you do other things that require it, cycling can cause certain muscles to shorten and others to lengthen over time, and stretching is useful in maintaining that flexibility and not developing a physique that is totally specialised for cycling!

 

[Danny]

Back to the thread I guess it depends what you are stretching and how. Depending on what you are doing, certain muscles will be extended and certain muscles will be flexed. They will all have build ups of lactic acid and other chemicals which are residues of exercise, especially anaerobic exercise. So after cycling always stretch quads, hamstrings and bum. This is v important because tightness in these areas can lead to back injury. Cycling is also quite low impact though so stretching isn't completely necessary.

I agree that stretching is a good idea, particularly as you get a little older.

I know how to stretch my quads and hamstrings, but how do you stretch your bum?

 

[Mr Phoebus]

"Hmmmmmmmm, don't forget to stretch those creamy hamstrings."

 

[HLaB]

Since I suffered from a tight ITband last year, I've been stretching it and other areas repeatedly before and after rides.

 

[Flyingfox]

I know how to stretch my quads and hamstrings, but how do you stretch your bum?

Lie on your back bend one leg slightly so the knee is raised off the floor. Cross your other leg over resting the ankle just above the knee. Raise the bent leg so the foot comes off the floor and the knee is at (or as near to) right angles. You will feel the stretch in the glute of the crossed leg. Repeat reversing leg positions.

 

[Aperitif]

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