Rocket Richard

I guess what I am trying to say is, The more flexible a person is, the more potential the muscle have? Example, I believe I am in above average condition, and I recently took a flexibility test, and I scored below average for my age. If I work on flexibility, would this possibly increase my potential for muscle capability and / or growth? I don't understand, I stretch 5 minutes before and 10 minutes after rides and runs? someone shed some intellegent light about body kinetics for me.

Phantoj

Sorry; can't answer your question because I don't know. But, on a bike, more flexibility will make you faster because you can get into and sustain a more aero riding position.

So I hear.

Michigan

I've never heard of flexibility related to muscle growth. I agree it will allow a better aerodynamic position for cycling though, and of course it's a huge benefit in preventing injuries in sports and day to day life.

puddin' legs

no.

Chucklehead

i've never felt any benefit from stretching before riding, because it's very low impact compared to other sports. but i almost always stretch before i play tennis. 4 nights ago, i didn't stretch before playing and earned myself what i think was a pulled groin. it hurt like hell and couldn't walk without a limp when it happened, but after i stretched it out, i was able to keep playing. so i definitely think there are benefits to stretching the muscle you build from riding.

unless of course all you plan to do is ride your bike.

TheKillerPenguin

The day I see the world's greatest powerlifter put his legs behind his head, I'll agree with Merton.

Mr. Clean

When I started weight training last year I lost some flexibility. I'm still pretty limber, but more muscle mass definitely equalled less range of motion for me.

cs1

It becomes very important to include stretching in your workout when weightlifting. Weight training by nature contracts the muscles under super stress. Stretching is good though for cycling but it doesn't make you stronger.

Tim

jwbnyc

Flexibility does not translate into more potential strength, but there is a correlation between muscle strength and a particular muscle's ability to contract.

A muscle that is tight is inherently weak because that is how muscles work: they contract. If a muscle is not stretched out it will not contract to it's full potential. So, stretching your muscles out does allow them to contract more, which basically means more work being done by that muscle.

Weight training works through gaining a mechanical advantage by changing the angle at which each individual muscle fiber contracts, by stressing the muscle and developing more connective (scar) tissue between each individual muscle fiber, as well as which type of muscle fiber you use:

Fast twitch (darkmeat) muscle fiber is the type of muscle best at short duration, high load, anaerobic, strength movement. A person with lots of this stuff may be able to lift a car for about Thirty Seconds.

Slow twitch (white meat) muscle fiber is the endurance muscle. Slow twitch does less work, but over a longer duration, aerobically. A person with this type of muscle fiber may be able to continue along forever doing something, but may not be able to lift their own body weight.

Basically, if you can breathe you are training slow twitch muscle; if you can't: fast twitch.

Cyclists tend to train slow twitch. Any endurance activity tends to train slow twitch.

You do not grow any additional muscle fiber of either type through training. You only have as many muscle fibers as you were born with ever; you merely optimize what you already have.

Your muscle can however atrophy through disuse.

Anyway, a well stretched out muscle is stronger, everything else being equal, than one that isn't, because it is better able to do what it is meant to do.

While your current flexibility may be influenced by your muscles; your ultimate potential flexibility is more related to the length of your ligaments and tightness of your joints both of which are, more or less, hereditary.

Having allot of flexibility is not always a good thing. Without the muscle to provide support for joints allot of natural flexibility can leave you open to joint injuries. Tight ligaments and joints tend to protect an individual from dislocation injuries, particularly when muscles have been exhausted and can no longer hold things together through active contraction.

EURO

No, but it will make you faster on the bike. If you are flexible, you can get into a more aero position and pedal more efficiently.

I once went to a bike fitting, and the guy didn't change my bike setup, he just said 'do stretches'. It worked.