I read this article in the New York Times magazine this past Sunday. It states: "In a recent study conducted at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, athletes generated less force from their leg muscles after static stretching than they did after not stretching at all." It goes on to describe the current thinking about warm up as "a technique known as dynamic stretching or dynamic warm-ups." It also has a few pictures.

I used to run and if I didn't stretch my calves before running, they would tighten up and hurt. I neither run any more nor have the calf problems when I bike. But, I've always done static stretching before riding. After reading the article, I skipped the stretching today and I did a minute or so on an aerobic trainer before getting on my bike. I can't say it made any difference.

Do you have any special warm-ups you do before getting on your bike?

Ray