How's your flexibility?
07-25-02 | 08:16 PM
#1
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 6,956
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How's your flexibility?
I've never had what I'd call great flexibility, and at the moment, if I lock my knees and try to touch my toes, I can juuuust touch them... with a ruler to extend my reach 4"/100mm, that is 
How about you?
Sorry if this belongs in Training & Nutrition, I hope it's not too out-of-place here.
How about you?Sorry if this belongs in Training & Nutrition, I hope it's not too out-of-place here.
07-25-02 | 09:02 PM
#3
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 17,687
Likes: 12
From: n.w. superdrome
Bikes: 1 trek, serotta, rih, de Reus, Pogliaghi and finally a Zieleman! and got a DeRosa
probably my best measurement at the moment.
I measured off the scale for a 30 year old at last
ride4roses expo, not bad for a 49 year old fart, huh?
Marty
I measured off the scale for a 30 year old at last
ride4roses expo, not bad for a 49 year old fart, huh?
Marty
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07-25-02 | 11:55 PM
#4
Wood Licker
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 16,966
Likes: 2
From: Whistler,BC
Bikes: Trek Fuel EX 8 27.5 +, 2002 Transition Dirtbag, Kona Roast 2002
I can palm the floor bending over. But really I don't work on this aspect of my workout. I should, but even when I worked out a lot I nver stretched.
07-26-02 | 12:05 AM
#5
Marathon Cyclist
Joined: Nov 1999
Posts: 1,779
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From: Perth - Western Australia
Bikes: Road Bike / Mountain Bike
I can get all fingers onto the ground but not palms. Mind you, that's without any warming up. I'll have to do a bit of stretching later and give it another go. I'll let you know the results.
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07-26-02 | 05:27 AM
#6
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,688
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From: Northern Neck Tidewater Va.
Originally posted by lotek
probably my best measurement at the moment.
I measured off the scale for a 30 year old at last
ride4roses expo, not bad for a 49 year old fart, huh?
Marty
probably my best measurement at the moment.
I measured off the scale for a 30 year old at last
ride4roses expo, not bad for a 49 year old fart, huh?
Marty
Joe
07-26-02 | 06:51 AM
#7
It's the fight in the man
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 1,208
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From: Churton Park, Wellington, NZ
Bikes: Pace RC200 F2 (British Built!)
I used to be able to do the full splits, but now I can just about hold a 5 second count touching the ground with my finger tips...progress eh!
Rich
Rich
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Making New Zealand a safer place :)
Making New Zealand a safer place :)
07-26-02 | 07:05 AM
#8
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Joined: Jun 2002
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From: Pennsylvania
Bikes: Too many to list!
Originally posted by MediaCreations
I can get all fingers onto the ground but not palms. Mind you, that's without any warming up. I'll have to do a bit of stretching later and give it another go. I'll let you know the results.
I can get all fingers onto the ground but not palms. Mind you, that's without any warming up. I'll have to do a bit of stretching later and give it another go. I'll let you know the results.
Sorry, please take no offense. I just couldn't resist.
07-26-02 | 07:40 AM
#9
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 17,687
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From: n.w. superdrome
Bikes: 1 trek, serotta, rih, de Reus, Pogliaghi and finally a Zieleman! and got a DeRosa
Originally posted by joeprim
Was that before or after you drank the 4 Roses?
Joe
Was that before or after you drank the 4 Roses?
Joe
Of course I NEEDED the 4roses afterwards. . . Marty
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07-26-02 | 08:05 AM
#10
Bambo
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 501
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From: Oklahoma
Bikes: 2002 Specialized Allez; STILL drooling over Specialized Epic from afar.
Mine's very good. But then I've been doing it all my life. Palms to floor, elbows bent. I'm going to do my one annoying preach and hopefully that'll be it! Everyone should stretch! If you have alot of strength and not alot of flexibility, or vice-versa, you set yourself up for injury. It's best to balance them. Stretching to warm up is good, but the best time to actually improve your flexibility is after your workout/ride when you're muscles are really hot (before you walk into that muscle-freezing air conditioned room!). Okay, that's all 
Nat
Nat
07-26-02 | 04:19 PM
#11
Don't Believe the Hype
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 2,668
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From: chicagoland area
Bikes: 1999 Steelman SR525, 2002 Lightspeed Ultimate, 1988 Trek 830, 2008 Scott Addict
late last season i took some yoga classes with my wife and my flexibility improved exponentially. it remains wonderful in the tuck position and for the lower back on longer rides.
07-26-02 | 06:10 PM
#12
feros ferio
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 22,397
Likes: 1,864
From: www.ci.encinitas.ca.us
Bikes: 1959 Capo Modell Campagnolo; 1960 Capo Sieger (2); 1962 Carlton Franco Suisse; 1970 Peugeot UO-8; 1982 Bianchi Campione d'Italia; 1988 Schwinn Project KOM-10;
I have never been particularly flexible and can barely touch my toes after weeks of preparation and stretching exercises. I need to take up yoga again ... you people put me to shame!
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"Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing." --Theodore Roosevelt
Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
Carlton: 1962 Franco Suisse, S/N K7911
Peugeot: 1970 UO-8, S/N 0010468
Bianchi: 1982 Campione d'Italia, S/N 1.M9914
Schwinn: 1988 Project KOM-10, S/N F804069
"Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing." --Theodore Roosevelt
Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
Carlton: 1962 Franco Suisse, S/N K7911
Peugeot: 1970 UO-8, S/N 0010468
Bianchi: 1982 Campione d'Italia, S/N 1.M9914
Schwinn: 1988 Project KOM-10, S/N F804069
07-26-02 | 09:46 PM
#13
Just tried it.
Got my fingertips to touch the floor, felt a slight tug in my...whatevers.
Did I pass? I really need to pass, I want to be a bicyclist...
Got my fingertips to touch the floor, felt a slight tug in my...whatevers.
Did I pass? I really need to pass, I want to be a bicyclist...
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No worries
No worries
Last edited by LittleBigMan; 07-26-02 at 10:20 PM.
07-27-02 | 07:56 AM
#15
Clipless Crash Clutz
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 154
Likes: 0
From: Wisconsin
Hey...since I've been riding more, I've gotten stiffer.
Any great stretches you guys do???
I'm particularly stiff in the hams and hip flexors.
It may be old age creeping in...but I refuse to stop riding due to some pain and stiffness.
Any great stretches you guys do???
I'm particularly stiff in the hams and hip flexors.
It may be old age creeping in...but I refuse to stop riding due to some pain and stiffness.
07-28-02 | 04:22 PM
#18
Bambo
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 501
Likes: 0
From: Oklahoma
Bikes: 2002 Specialized Allez; STILL drooling over Specialized Epic from afar.
You guys make me smile Well, I do some pretty wierd stretches..I don't know if I can describe them for the person who asked what he/she should do. Hamstrings are just a b!tch no matter what you do. The most obvious one would be to sit on the floor and reach for your toes. But here's the catch...try to keep from rounding your back. Think of pushing forward with your hip bones and everything else follows from that. Otherwise, you're doing a really inefficient stretch, wasting alot of energy stretching back muscles. Even if you're sitting straight up but you still feel a stretch, that's fine. As for hip flexors... That one's hard to explain. I hate to not explain it correctly and have someone hurt something!! Maybe I can find a pic to post.
Nat
Well, I do some pretty wierd stretches..I don't know if I can describe them for the person who asked what he/she should do. Hamstrings are just a b!tch no matter what you do. The most obvious one would be to sit on the floor and reach for your toes. But here's the catch...try to keep from rounding your back. Think of pushing forward with your hip bones and everything else follows from that. Otherwise, you're doing a really inefficient stretch, wasting alot of energy stretching back muscles. Even if you're sitting straight up but you still feel a stretch, that's fine. As for hip flexors... That one's hard to explain. I hate to not explain it correctly and have someone hurt something!! Maybe I can find a pic to post. Nat
Last edited by Natophelia; 07-28-02 at 04:24 PM.
07-29-02 | 02:44 AM
#19
Fingertips to the floor unless I bend my knees - hey that's just flexing another joint isn't it
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Currently riding an MTB with a split personality - commuting, touring, riding for the sake of riding, on or off road :)
Currently riding an MTB with a split personality - commuting, touring, riding for the sake of riding, on or off road :)
07-29-02 | 03:03 AM
#20
Dazed and confused
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 319
Likes: 0
From: Cambridge UK
Bikes: Trek 1000, Kona Caldera, Raleigh Record ("Rusty"), Tiger Foldaway ("Cub")
I have hyper-mobile joints. Whilst that may sound like they keep moving on their own, it apparently means that I have a bit more space around them than I ought, so they move a lot more easily. Without warming up at all I can get my palms on the floor. With warmup I can get my forehead against my knees. That's just for starters!!
I'm kinda flexible!
Ellie
I'm kinda flexible!
Ellie
07-29-02 | 07:27 AM
#21
Bambo
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 501
Likes: 0
From: Oklahoma
Bikes: 2002 Specialized Allez; STILL drooling over Specialized Epic from afar.
I just remembered this.... I have a friend- Emily- who has perfect center splits. Probably over-splits. Can comfortably lay completely flat on her stomach in center splits. But she can't bend over and touch her toes. Funny huh? I can sit in the splits and lay flat forward on my front leg, but I can't do that standing up. It's all relative. Oh wait...I realized as I was typing that that's wierd. Who the hell DOES that??? Ah well...
