Road Cycling - Poll: How is your flexibility

Im just wondering what is everyone's flexibility. The furthest i ever went was my fingers touching my toes. I can never touch the ground with my palms. Now I can barely touch my shin without my lower back and hamstring hurting. I should probably stretch more again.

According to this picture from wrenchscience.com, im probably a 3 or 4.

http://www.wrenchscience.com/WS1//Images/Guest/Fflex.jpg

there is only 2 people here (with me included) that is a 6? well, i'm almost a 7... hehe

about an 8.

Check out Colby...

im an 8, years of martial arts has paid off in some ways. trouble is its harder to get a good stretch on somtimes!!

I'm a 6. I used to be an 8. I guess I need to do more stretching too.

Why no 10 on the poll? i'm sure i'm not the only one who can put their palms on the ground. Actually i can palms flat an inch or two past my feet, my grandpa could stand on a curb and touch his knuckles to the gutter

Hmmm... since my above post, I just tried another test and was able to get to 7 by doing a little bit more stretching. Maybe I was just too tight the first time? I doubt I'll be able to go much further though.

I just woke up, feel pretty stiff after not stretching at all after my ride last night, and i can still get my fingers flat on the ground. I took martial arts for a year back in grade school and could do some scary stuff with my legs back then (flexibility-wise). But I've always been a bit more flexible than the average person (played soccer for many years so I got to see how inflexible some people are).

10, since I've started doing yoga.

I voted 8 as it was the highest choice but I am actually a 10. Ever since karate as a child I have been very flexable.

I am a six, but I wouldn't be that good if I hadn't started streaching after every ride. (about six months ago)

8 here - also from yoga.

Like the others I chose 8 but I'm really a 10. No karate though. Was just always interested in flexibility since I was much younger. A few years back I was able to wrap my feet over my head and walk on my hands :eek:

hmm i thought i had a 10 in there, i guess not :\

any tips on lower back stretching? i can stretch my legs pretty good, but my back is always holding me back from touching the ground

take yoga.

it's like cycling in that it makes everything better.

i have a really magical massage therapist, and when i can't afford to make my monthly appointment yoga is the closest i get to that ballanced rejuvinated feeling.

you know that expression, "so i've had to start [doing something] religiously!" well, yoga is like stretching religiously - and i'm an athiest even!

actually, i should just say "do yoga"

i almost never take proper classes - but once you know the basics you can get good yoga done at home and it's more satisfying than regular stretching imo.

the only funny thing is takes a long time - about 1.5hrs to get the ballanced relaxed feeling. not easy to schedule it - but like lots of things that are just great if you just start you'll end up wanting to go longer.

I'm a decent 6. Years of martial arts training as an adult has made me more flexible than I would ordinarily, although I'd be more flexible had my parents let me take martial arts when I wanted to as a kid.

There are other stretches though -- I regularly work on what I think are called side-splits, basically spreading your legs outward while sitting like in the lower pic.
http://www.bikeforums.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=15293&stc=1

THAT has been a challenge to maintain since I started riding; I think riding tightens certain muscles that hinder that stretch. And it's also hard to get a good stretch after a ride, when your muscles are still warm, because there is no place to sit.

7 from different sex position.

whoo-hoo!...I'm not the only one that's a 3...

I've never been that flexible and my little belly (one of the reasons why I'm cycling) prevents a little too... :o

I am a 7, but I have not stretched today, I exercise after work, and I have tight jeans on. I probably am a 9 or 10, since I have been doing Pilates type stretching. I love stretching, it feels so gooood.... :p

I'm a 10 easily. I can put my hands 4 or 5 inches below my feet. Splits are no problem too. Most of it was natural but I'm sure that Karate helped a bit.

I'm usually a 9 but can hit 10 once warmed up. I do stretch a lot because of my bad back.

Corsaire

I must be a -9. I can bend all the way backwards and put my palms flat on the ground... right before I stick my head up my butt. At least, that's what my wife must think sometimes :D

I must be a -9. I can bend all the way backwards and put my palms flat on the ground... right before I stick my head up my butt. At least, that's what my wife must think sometimes :D

That's not bad....for a beginner. I am actually a +22 (forget what I said above). With my legs completely straight, I can bend forward until my head touches the ground, and my arms are flat against the ground all the way up to the shoulder! :eek:

I learned streching in high school football, as the years progressed with a growing family, my exercise level fell off. I remember reading somewhere that if you don't do any other physical activity, do streches. I did, I'm 41 and can put my palms flat to the ground! That makes me a 10. :D
I was streching at work one morning and "freeked out" one of the 20 somethings I worked with. He made the comment that an "old man" wasn't susposed to be able to do all that stuff! :eek:

I'll have to vote 8.

I'm 42 and I can flat hand no sweat. I can flat hand standing with my legs crossed with just a little effort. I've been thinking of taking some yoga to loosen up my back though as it is not as flexi as I'd like it to be.

Having a vertabrae fusion in my lower back has relegated me to a 6. Still the best I've been able to do in years.

My dad, who is a young 55, refuses to stretch before doing physical activity. It really gets on my nerves. He walks about 10 miles a day, does yard work, rides his bike, but thinks stretching is for wussies. Then he complains about pulling a muscle. :mad: I keep telling him, but it is like talking to a wall. I told him he better be nice, I will be the one who is taking care of him when he gets really old. ;)

Ok, did this again today after my ride and streaching. I am an 8 or 9. Can't quite get my palms on the ground, but very close.

So which number do i use? The cold 6 or the warmed up 8~9?

I think you are suppose to select which ever your max is.

Anyways, back to the lower back exercise. Can anyone recommend a good stretch routine?

6 now. A few years ago I would have been a -2!

The muscles in my lowerback and in the backs of my legs are shorter than they are supposed to be. It is very difficult for me to even get near my knees, but after a good ride and some stretches the PT showed me, I can easily be a 3.

-J

I am NOT going to answer this poll - your USER NAME appears with your answer. No way, Jose! I like anonymous polls.

lol its alright, the anonymously is that you're on a internet message board with a alias. that should be anonymous enough :)

I had to respond with an 8. I can put my hands flat on the floor and have my elbows bent so actualy I am a 10+

I am unfortunately only a 6, gotta take that extra time to stretch before my bike rides.

i dated a girl who was a 10 once :O

I can do better than 8, but the poll only goes up to 8.

6. ...and my flexability sucks.

I'm about a 4. I can come within an inch or so of touching my toes, but no dice. Stupid hamstrings...

I thought I was a 0, then I saw the photo..I'm a 5 at a pinch.
I am 50, have a dodgy back, and do yoga, which is marvellous. Without that I'd still be a 0.
I used to think also stretching is for wimps and girls..very dumb.

A girl who is a 10..that would be fun

Single too, eh? I certainly hope you meant "woman", not that it would do much to make that comment any less pathetic...