Does flexibility even matter much to the average 50+ cyclist?
Sure see a lot of riser stems.

I can.

I prefer a slightly shorter stem than in my younger days, but otherwise I'm still riding pretty much the same position as always.

Relative flexibility can matter a lot. For those of us with chondromalacia patellae knees, keeping our hamstrings loose is a key part of being able to ride without doing permanent damage. Now, what "loose" is varies a lot. I have to do a lot of stretching and push the limits of tearing stuff to occasionally be able to just barely touch a toe. The risk of injury is so high I simply don't. If I can get withing a few inches, I'm happy and so are my knees. My sis, on the other hand, used to be able to put her palms down flat on the floor.

Edit: Stems - I like them long and low. My body is like a leaf. Lightweight, long and with lots of wind resistance. The lower profile I can keep the easier going fast or upwind is. I also have arms that go on forever (and well past most of my shirtsleeves).

Yep. At (almost) 72, I prefer to have my (drop) handle bar level with my saddle. FWIW, I've been riding for ~50 years, raced USCF (road & track) for ~15 yrs and rando'ed for 5+ yrs.

Nope, about 5 inches too far.

Push-ups and pull-ups are bad for crepitus in my shoulders - but flexibility helps me ride in an aero position, which I value.

Get low for efficient flow.

No. And even BITD when we all had to do the Presidential Physical Fitness Test in P.E gym class during grade school I still couldn't touch my toes. <grin>

note: toe touches weren't part of the test AFAIK. But we still did a lot of them in P.E. during those days!

Yes. I can still put my first two knuckles on the floor, used to be able to put them all there. Just checked. I have the serious advantage (in some ways) of being short-legged. My stem's about 3" below my saddle, same as it's always been, so maybe it's not just that I'm short-legged.

Yes, I can. Hands flat to the ground. Strength and flexibility are important as we get older, so I’m told.

To each their own. I ride in the same relatively upright position as I have for the last 73 years, as I value a riding position that is most comfortable for me.
The 50+ male cyclist might consider Tamsulosin (Flowmax) more important for efficient flow.

Not since I ruptured a disc, around 30.

Mobility and healthy movement pattern with full range of motion is extremely important especially for the 50 plus. Strength without mobility is useless and dysfunctional.

Yep. At 57yo, I can put my palms flat on the floor.

Last year, I bought my first all-new, complete road bike in 30 years. When they were doing the initial fit for me, I requested they slam the stem and trim the steerer tube. Understandably, they were very hesitant to do that for a new bike and a not-young rider. After demonstrating my spinal flexibility with the above maneuver, they proceeded with setting up the bike with the stem slammed, but insisted on leaving 10mm of spacers above the stem. I took care of that stack on my own, at home.

All of my bikes are set up with a more upright position, not because I lack flexibility but because that's what I prefer. More comfortable and it allows me to see better what's in front of me and around me. Also better control over rough terrain. I also find an upright position much better for riding in traffic.. Aerodynamics isn't my priority.

If this were in the 65-85 forum the question would be "can you see your toes while standing ?".

Start your own thread. Code named 'Bigfoot thread'.

I probably tried stretching two or three times at most sometime in my twenties. Then I thought, what's the point, and stopped.

So at 74, it's been about 50 years since I stretched those few times. Other than stretching the way one does sometimes while yawning, of course.

The idea that being able to touch my toes while standing is important in some way is bizarre to me. Unless I'm wrong and our legs lengthened as we evolved expressly to provide precisely the necessary benchmark for stretching.

Regarding one common objection to objections to stretching: yes, animals stretch sometimes. For a few seconds at most. And almost certainly not to the point of pain.

Only humans do that, thanks to our tendency to overthink things. ("If stretching painlessly is good, stretching until it hurts must be even better!")

Cycling has supplied all the stretching I seem to need. All my bikes have aero bars, and I spend probably an average of 50% of my rides in a flat-backed aero position. Perfectly comfy.

Unlike many people I know, I experience little or no muscle stiffness. Certainly no stiffness of the kind that some friends of mine who are life-long yoga practitioners complain of. ("I have to do yoga, or I stiffen up!" I think, better still, go back in time and don't start doing yoga in the first place.)

There are almost certainly people who benefit from stretching because it helps with various non-stretching-related injuries. But I suspect many people without such injuries might be better off not stretching.

Maybe I'm lucky. Would like to hear from others who've avoided stretching because they never saw the point of it and lived to tell the tale.

Agreed. I don't follow any stretching routines. never have. I maintain good mobility due to active lifestyle. My daily job which involves moving all day, my weekly workouts and cycling and my overall lifestyle is keeping me very mobile. I believe that stretching can do more harm than good.

Sure can - palms to the floor. Yes, flexibility matters. No riser stems around here. Not yet

But man I crushed my L4 disc at 25, ripped both ends of my right hamstring the same year, and have broken my back in maybe 8 places, so that kind of flexibility’s been important to me for a very long time. A large part of my workouts off the bike are built around not having a lower back pain episode

My focus rather than stretching has been maintaining supporting musculature, whether retraining trigger muscles or working on abs to support my so called back. My unrelated last stint with PT included a side plank routine I’d never done but now include because it’s bound to be good for my back

Any real stretching I’ve done has been injury specific. From time to time I’ll add the toe touching thing or twisting or side stretches for good measure and to reassure myself I still can

I definitely believe there’s lotion in the motion. I have arthritis and move way better than anyone I know, and I’d say better than I deserve but that’s just not true

79 today. Never did any voluntary stretching for "fitness" or as a means to boost bicycling "performance." Last did any calisthenics and/or push-ups or pull ups just before finishing my 2 year Army service in 1970. Haven't missed the unpleasant chore since, nor has such alleged neglect of my requirement to maximize "flexibility" kept me from enjoying my bicycling for the last umpteen years.

IN the 70s now, Toe Touchers, yep, sure can, even with my Back Brace on. Not too many though.

Slammed Stem... Ha. I have a hard time getting into the drops and have converted to Bull Horn bars. I even have Stem Shifters on 3 of my bikes. Slowly over the years my stem and bars have gotten a little higher and my saddle a little lower. I am even 4cm shorter then 12 years ago. Not all of that is from injury. This getting old ship is hard.

And yet I have seen guys older then me down in the drops and ridding hard. Bravo for them. They are an inspiration...

Same for me.
I got this flexibility and back strength from doing decades of yoga.

It really helps with road cycling and having and keeping a more aero position.

The common phrase, often attributed to Joseph Pilates, is "You are only as young as your spine is flexible". A related variation often used in yoga contexts is, "You are as young and healthy as your spine is strong and supple". These quotes emphasize that spinal health directly correlates with vitality and overall, youthful physical function

I could put my palms on the floor while standing w/ knees straight last summer.

Closing too fast on turning 77 now I haven't been riding as much as I'd like (outside since mid-October, trainer since winter blew in) so I find now I can touch my fingertips to the floor, flex my fingers to get a little closer, but any further I feel it in the backs of my knees.

When I've worked at it in the past I could touch my toes but not now. I used to set the top of the bar 4 inches below the saddle, now it's an inch or 1.5 inches. Had a couple back injuries but the main issue is my neck. Still doing club rides and I'm usually the slowest so I need to get in the drops which isn't a problem except for the neck.
Lower back hurts sometimes on extended climbs but it doesn't hurt if I have been climbing a lot.

yes