Stretching for cyclists

[Nigel-YZ1]

I will. Please accept my sincerest and most humble apologies for my terribly offensive comments on stretching for cyclists.

Don't worry, there's much worse things in life than saying the wrong thing on an internet forum

...That is unless you tried to say something meaningful in a helmet debate. Now that's really serious

 

[Sara_H]

Not offensive, just not good advice which hopefully we are here to provide.

My original comment was just a humorous attempt to make Fnaar snort really.

Stretching is marvelous , I do pilates in my living room.

 

[Sara_H]

Why was Davina thread closed anyway?

 

[Nigel-YZ1]

I never did any stretching until I got injured. A few months in physio convinced me of the error of my ways

 

[Accy cyclist]

No you do not, if anything it shortens a lot of muscles.

Please do some research, I have and know that stretching is good for you.

Some days it takes a lot of self determination just to go out on the bike,never mind spending half an hour stretching. I've been a non stretching cyclist for 40 years and i haven't pulled a muscle yet while cycling.

 

[Fnaar]

Why was Davina thread closed anyway?

It wasn't stretching enough.

 

[vernon]

My original comment was just a humorous attempt to make Fnaar snort really.

Stretching is marvelous , I do pilates in my living room.

I knew someone who'd do Pontious Pilate in the living room and anyone else for that matter.

 

[pauldavid]

My original comment was just a humorous attempt to make Fnaar snort really.

Stretching is marvelous , I do pilates in my living room.

Pilates is so old hat, you should try pirates

Easy to get involved, just stand on one leg and coverthe opposite eye with your hand, AAARGH ME EARTIES vocals optional

 

[screenman]

Some days it takes a lot of self determination just to go out on the bike,never mind spending half an hour stretching. I've been a non stretching cyclist for 40 years and i haven't pulled a muscle yet while cycling.

You are unlikely to pull a muscle on a bike, however stretching may help you in many others parts of life both on and off a bike. Personally I do not lack self discipline, so do not find it hard to go out on the bike or do a few stretches, some days half an hour some days far less.

 

[RedRider]

I'm another convert to stretching.

last year was a tale of stiff lower back, sciatica, thigh strain and pulled back muscle which had a massive impact on cycling. for the last four months I've been stretching and strengthening using elements of Pilates and yoga and have not only noticed far less pain but also greater ease in climbing whilst sitting at this stage of the 'season' for example.

I have an experienced Pilates/yoga instructor who's a qualified physio and she reckons the root of my problem is extremely short/tight hamstrings due to never travelling anywhere except by bike for several years.

I've also worked on the piriformis muscle, something else which cycling unbalances, using a couple of excercises.

@Fnaar , you can also work this by sitting on a tennis ball and massaging it into your backside. it's a bit painful at first but gives so much relief you'll wonder why you never tried it years ago.

cycling home from an hour-long class my legs feel as light as feathers as tho I could climb ventoux on my single speed. it's quite exhilarating.

 

[MarkF]

Never bothered before cycling. I've always stretched for 5 minutes before my 5 a-side games, achilles injuries regularly affect players my age. I always get laughed at.

 

[Dogtrousers]

I have a stretching routine that dates back to when I used to go running. I don't know if it does a lot of good, but it feels better afterwards. The problem is that after a long ride, when I need it most, I'm least likely to do it and more likely to slump down with a cup of coffee and a cake and make sure I'm properly stiffened up before hobbling off to the bath.

I do warm up properly though. For the first few minutes of each ride I take it easy and don't exert myself too much. And then the next few minutes ... and the next ... and the next ...

 

[Crackle]

Ive never bothered to stretch......it's a sure fire way of getting injured.

Ahhhctualllyyyy....... I thought the received wisdom these days was not to do static stretching pre-excercise but dynamic stretching before, in keeping with what you are about to do and static after.

 

[MarkF]

Ive never bothered to stretch......it's a sure fire way of getting injured.

I stretched all my leg muscles prior to football game 2 years ago, as usual I wouldn't start until I'd gone through my whole repertoire of moves and was sure everything felt tickety boo. My bicep ruptured.