MikeyBoyAz

I personally enjoy all the conversation about people, saddles and the numbness... only because I finally found a saddle that is very comfortable... on with the conversation.

Recently I have been lowering my stem to reduce my wind profile (bla bla aero), mainly because I often found myself bending my elbows frequently while riding hard. So I decided to raise my stem from it's partially dropped position and flip it, dropping the bar a total of approximately 7mm; which seemed like a humble distance to start, as to not upset my back or neck in the transition.

The first ride was strangely uncomfortable (junk area), it was only about 33 mi, but by the end it was much better, so before my next ride I tried a stretching exercise for my Hams (laying down in a doorway with one leg down parallel with your body and the other vertical with the door frame against the sit bone stretching gently for 30 sec. intervals with 3 reps on each side). So I go out for a ride and ABSOLUTELY no discomfort from the second I planted on the saddle all the way to the end of the ride... what bliss. So now I realize that much of my discomfort must have been a symptom of tight hamstrings! (yes, that was the only thing I changed)

Feedback?

Commodus

Is it possible to relieve tight hammies with one bout of stretching?

Maybe you unconsciously shifted your seating position a bit.

MikeyBoyAz

well no.. I had been doing it morning and night for two days before hand but it did make a difference from one ride to the next without modification to the bike...

Commodus

Ah. Well, just another reason to get to the yoga place then.

Perhaps your tight hammies were giving you the effect of having your saddle too high. If they were fighting you on the downstroke, maybe your body was rocking a bit on the saddle to compensate. That would certainly cause discomfort in the area.

MikeyBoyAz

no rocking, but definitely a similar sensation to riding with a seat that is too high... I have also been trying to ride with my feet a little flatter to keep from smashing my toes into the nose of my shoes (yes properly sized)... they are specialized with boa, but they riding toe down for long rides put my feet to sleep... since riding with flatter foot angle, it has been much better.

kf9yr

I stretch after every ride. I have heard that stretching afterwards is better for your muscles than before for cycling.

I also use a foam roller after stretching and it really seems to help.

I've been stretching hams, quads, calves and groin every day for the last 3 months and it reallys seems to help me recover from a hard ride faster as well.

thehammerdog

are you talking about the Taint?......cannot help with that but you need to strtch those hammies and check seat angle....

MikeyBoyAz

yup... it is usually because I would get out of the saddle and once I return I might not land right where I belong and then after a while I go numb... figure it out and then properly position... then it is fine... I tried the whole stretch after the ride too, it's very nice (thanks kf9yr)