Bike Forums - Flexibility

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Quote:

Originally Posted by EURO

After the length of your legs, this is the most important factor in bicycle fit.

It really is amazing that so few people know this. I think it's also probably the reason so many road cyclists complain of upper-body discomfort (hands, wrists, neck, shoulders, back etc).

Here's someone with average flexibility for a pro cyclist.

http://www.irishcycling.com/2004/upl...o-_col-si_.jpg

If you can do that, then you can have a seat tip to bar drop around 3 inches. If not, you're asking for some serious discomfort.

My computer for some reason won't download this picture--If it's not too hard, can somebody please describe the position for me?
Now, cold, and out of season, I can get about 15 inches past my toes. I can kiss my kneecap easily.
See, I have to know what this guy is doing in the picture, and see if I can do it.
I season after a ride, I can just about touch my elbow to my toes. It hurts, though. :eek:

Shouldn't the title be "How far can you reach down your left leg with your left hand?

I can move this to training , if ya'll like.

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrt10x

I posted this on another thread once, but here goes. I broke my back, well three vertebrate, about 15 years ago in a rock-climbing fall (45 feet). Being in the Marines I had access to some decent medical help and within 6 months I was back running and doing most of the things I loved. Except beach volleyball, too much unexpected foot slippage, and road cycling, too much time locked in one position. No biggie, I was getting into Mt Biking anyway. Well the pain came and went for about 6 years until finally it got so bad, and the MRI's showed a couple of bulging disks, the docs said time for surgery. Before the Navy would cut me open they made me go through 6 months of physical therapy again. Part of that therapy was base on this book Stretching . Basically 15-20 minutes of stretching, three times a day, 1st thing in the morning, lunch, and right before bed. Well miracle of miracles, back pain went away, despite the disks, and has stayed away for 7 years. I got back on the road bike a year ago and I love it. Whole point of the above diatribe? Buy the book, it has cycling specific stretches in it, stretch before you sleep and right when you wake up.. You will be AMAZED at the difference it makes.

+1 I just stretch after (sometimes during) every ride. I also do some yoga every once in a great while. I went from barely reaching my shins, to palms on the floor in about a year. DOn't know that particular book, but the more you stretch, the more flexible you become.

also - when I am feeling pain or fatigue during a ride, I will often stop, stretch and feel like a new man.

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrt10x

Part of that therapy was base on this book Stretching . Basically 15-20 minutes of stretching, three times a day, 1st thing in the morning, lunch, and right before bed. Well miracle of miracles, back pain went away, despite the disks, and has stayed away for 7 years. I got back on the road bike a year ago and I love it. Whole point of the above diatribe? Buy the book, it has cycling specific stretches in it, stretch before you sleep and right when you wake up.. You will be AMAZED at the difference it makes.

Hmmmmm ... I might have to do that!! I'm also planning to sign up for a yoga class this coming January which might help matters too.

Well, as promised, I made a personal commitment to begin stretching. I decided to videotape my first after-ride stretching session. I know I look pretty feminine for a male, but I'd be interested in comments as to whether my stretching program will yield results. As I said, I'm pretty inflexible. Here's the LINK. :D

Quote:

Originally Posted by BeeTL

The "yeah" was sarcasm, it's not EURO in the first pic...it's Joe Redner.

Joe looks far older. Plus he would have two hotties on either side.

Didn't he come out of the closet? To win a lawsuit against the county?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Red is Faster!

Joe looks far older. Plus he would have two hotties on either side.

Didn't he come out of the closet? To win a lawsuit against the county?

Yup. The City tried to throw out his complaint against barring Gay Pride events on the grounds that he had no interest in the ban because he was not gay. Redner promptly 'outed' himself. Since there is no legal or falsifiable definition of gay, Redner's suit will go forward.

Quote:

Fair do's. But if your bike's a custom job, and you're not going to drop the bars at any stage in the future then why didn't you spec a longer head tube? Looks nicer IMO.

1. It's not custom - it's a relatively inexpensive alloy crit frame, which I expect to scratch up at some point.
2. I'll be time trialing on this bike, and I'd like to drop the bars for that.

One of my goals this year is to increase flexibility- so I will begin taking yoga classes again at my fitness clubs where I work. I have big plans with regards to fitness this year, and flexibility is one of those fitness components I plan to make major strides with in the coming months.

Koffee

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrt10x

I so highly recommend Bob Anderson's "Stretching". I love that book- it's one of the staples of my fitness library, and I love how they have the drawings so you can see exactly what muscle groups are being stretched, plus emphasizes progression and gives lots of examples, and has stretches for each sport. It just doesn't get much better than this. Bob Anderson's book is as important to people who exercise as Joe Friel's book is to people who cycle.

Koffee

I tore my ham string two years ago in the gym doing leg presses (off season). The physical therapist placed the blame squarely on not stretching.

The PT said you need to stretch AFTER exercise moreso than before; exercise causes muscles to remain slightly contracted (tight) and stretching causes them to relax again. Now I stretch after every ride. In the gym I warm up, do a light stretch, lift weights, then do a full stretch.

Rob