Training & Nutrition - Stretching?

Ok, I stretch before I ski, before each run that is, nothing big, just a coupple of stretchesl, legs neck and arms. I am not flexible by any standards, its humourous as a matter of fact.

Question is, as far as cycling goes, what kinds of stretching should be done, are there any opinions? Decent Books on the topic?

Thanks in advance,

Scoob

I don't stretch right away. I warm up first. I'll ride for about 5 miles to get warmed up and then stop and stretch.

I don't stretch right away. I warm up first. I'll ride for about 5 miles to get warmed up and then stop and stretch.


What you do is what I heard you should do.That is warm up a little before you stretch.Your more apt to pull a cold muscle .It makes sence. ;)

i stretch every day.. ride or not.. it's good for the joints and muscles.

Here's a link to help you get started: http://www.cobr.co.uk/e-cobr_information/t_and_r_section/sections/cycle_training/stretching/for_cycling.htm

ALWAYS warm-up before you stretch. Try to stretch after you ride, also, to prepare you for another day of riding.

Here's a link to help you get started: http://www.cobr.co.uk/e-cobr_information/t_and_r_section/sections/cycle_training/stretching/for_cycling.htm

ALWAYS warm-up before you stretch. Try to stretch after you ride, also, to prepare you for another day of riding.
Great link... thanks! :)

Here's a link to help you get started: http://www.cobr.co.uk/e-cobr_information/t_and_r_section/sections/cycle_training/stretching/for_cycling.htm

ALWAYS warm-up before you stretch. Try to stretch after you ride, also, to prepare you for another day of riding.

Thanks Velo, Just what I was looking for!
Now all I need is to do it, oh boy!!

No problem.

Get this book: Bob Anderson's "Stretching". It is an excellent book, with illustrations, and at the end, it breaks down different stretching exercises by sport too.

Koffee

Yoga stretches work for me.

stretching before exercising is scientifically proven to decrease your peformance. nobody knows it, but its true. its best to stretch after because that when your flexibility will improve. as said above, its a good idea to ride lightly for a few miles then stretch. get blood flowing to your muscles then stretch.

Ask yourself, of those whom eercise for flexibilty, who are the most flexible? The answer is people that do yoga and/or pilates. Add these to your exercise regimine and reep the rewards. Most people approach stretching wrong. These forms of exercise approach it correctly.

I follow the routine in the Serious Cycling by
Edmund Burke. Pretty simple set of stretches that
takes about 10 minutes a day.
One caveat tho, be careful stretching hamstrings,
a pulled hamstring is not fun (don't ask).
Marty

I quit stretching several years ago when I was primarily a runner. It seems that everytime I would incorporate stretching, I would be injured within weeks. Coincidence? Dunno, but when I stopped stretching, the injuries stopped. So now, I just ride easily for a few miles at the beginning and end of a ride. I have avg over 9000 miles a year for the last 6 years, and no injuries. I think I will stick with what Im doing, or not doing.

It seems to be different for everyone. I used to stretch frequently, even without exercise. That seemed to help a lot. However, if you guys tell us to stretch frequently, do we need to warm-up before we stretch? Can't we just stretch lightly for fun? I don't think we have so much time to warm-up and stretch throughout the day.

How about yoga? We don't do warm-ups for that right? I believe that while doing stretching, you are warming yourself up as well. Any idea?