Does anyone stretch....

[Stan]

As previous posts, my hamstings, glutes, quads and also my lower back. I asked my personal trainer specifically for some after biking stretches (he used to race xc), and since using them find my recovery is so much quicker. He also provided my with a series of exercises for strengthening the specific muscles I would be using on a two week MTB trip including lower arms and back. I found that I enjoyed the biking better and did not get any injuries or get fatigued. I have since incorporated the exercises into my gym routine and find they also have improved my road biking.

 

[Randochap]

Pain in the arse?

Not as much as I should.

Gotta be careful though. Cyclists are renowned for their tight hamstrings (Check out the tight hamstrings on that one, will ya! Yep, a real tighty, to be sure.) but stretching from a standing pos. -- the old, "touch your toes" routine -- can injure the lower back. Always stretch hamstrings sitting down.

I suffer from chronic piriformis syndrome, which impinges on the big 'ole sciatic nerve, causing acute pain and "electric shocks" down the leg. This severely curtailed long-distance cycling for 8 years, until I got a proper diagnosis from an excellent physio.

Without regularly stretching my arse, I wouldn't be on the bike, doing the kind of distances I crave.

Cycling stretches

Anyone else with "sciatica?"

 

[yenrod]

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!

I dont know Fly - but I personally would rather not stretch already tired muscles !

Stiil, each to their own.