Hello,

What stretches would you guys recommend to do before and after cycling? I usually bike around 10km a day on a route with some moderate hills and trails.

Thanks,

Peter

I don't stretch before or after. If I want to stretch to ride in the drops more comfortably I just ride for a few hours in the drops. What problem are you trying to address?

Before, nuttin'. I think medical consensus is swinging around to the view that stretching cold muscles is asking for trouble.

After, if I need them, I'll do some hamstring stretches, perhaps some quad, and rarely calf, back, or shoulder. Bob Anderson's "Stretching" book is the gold standard, and he calls out good stretches for cycling and other activities.

Oh there's no problem muscle-wise; it's more trying to prevent one.

Yeah I heard this also pdlamb. As of now, I've just been stretching after the ride, mostly the legs.

People who recommend against stretching are always the same people who can't touch their toes to save their lives. Don't think of how stretching will improve your cycling. Rather, think about how stretching and being flexible enhances your life as a whole, especially as you age..

Stretching should be done not as prelude to exercise, but as an exercise in and of itself.

I see. Thanks for the advice idoru and badbradblark.

Peter

Simply said but extremely sensible. This is now my new philosophy about stretching.