Originally Posted by
ColinL
you get flexible by riding in the drops and by riding more, and especially by having a good stretch after your ride.
doing this and nothing else, I went from being unable to touch my toes-- probably 1.5" from it-- to easily touching the floor. can't quite get my palms flat on the ground yet but I'd give it a year.
you can also do yoga. I did for a little bit, because my wife is very into yoga. I quickly concluded it wasn't my strong suit.
I did not stick with it long enough to gain any benefits, so as I said, I gained a lot of flexibility from riding and normal stretching. stretch after a ride, not before unless you keep it real easy and short. warm up by riding slowly instead.
on the bike I went from 30mm of spacers (yes) on a 90mm +6deg stem to no spacers on a 110mm -6deg stem. I did not do this for vanity. I started to feel cramped on the bike, and I went longer and lower quite naturally.
do not move your seat to adjust your reach. that will seriously screw up your knees, sooner or later.
this is sort of what I was getting it. I figured it had to do a bit with flexibility as well.
here is my bike
The spacers don't bug me at all. What bugs me is I go to the gym regularly and while i'm in shape with regards to cardiovascular strength and even fitness, my flexibility is the worst out of everyone i know. I just can't bend and flex. i'm TERRIBLE at it.
So i was thinking maybe it might help if i ride in the drops more as I currently do most of my riding on the hoods and really only go into the drops descending. I thought also if i did it more and more, i can slowly remove the spacers and it would help my flexibility.