Originally Posted by
Lemond1985
Once you've experienced the benefits of improving flexibility, circulation, and range of motion in muscles, tendons, and joints, it's really tough to go back to a state of ignorance on the subject, though I'm sure it's possible.
My body naturally conforms to whatever activity I'm doing for more than a minute or two. Be that driving a car, riding a bike, sitting in front of a computer, bending over working on a bike, sitting in a recliner, posting on the internet, whatever. So I stretch to return back to a neutral position. I guess this doesn't happen to everyone, but it works for me, and there's no way I would ever go back to being stiff and contorted again. For me that would lead to almost-certain injury, like for example, the many injuries I read about here on an almost daily basis that require medical intervention.
+1 This is my pretty much my exact feeling. Flexibility and range of motion become more important as one ages(at least for me, 72yrs), especially regarding motion injuries. I strongly believe a stretching routine has allowed me to continue my chosen active life style. I stretch in the morning after I have been up and moving around for awhile. To the OP question, I do not stretch just before riding, but warm up slowly and easily; I do stretch after riding but a shorter routine than in the mornings. Different strokes...whatever floats your......etc., etc......
regards, Brian