Do you stretch?

very rarely

jonowee said:

Do you stretch?

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When I'm having this feeling of being tight as a guitar string, I'll go outside, run a little, do some extreme stretching, enduring the pain for about 15 seconds and then slowly straightening out. It helps a bit but the best thing for really loosening me up are 2-3 burnouts on my bike preceded by about a good 20 minutes of some good, slow stretching...no knee pops when I sit down, all fluid joints...

bluronthetrails said:

When I'm having this feeling of being tight as a guitar string, I'll go outside, run a little, do some extreme stretching, enduring the pain for about 15 seconds and then slowly straightening out. It helps a bit but the best thing for really loosening me up are 2-3 burnouts on my bike preceded by about a good 20 minutes of some good, slow stretching...no knee pops when I sit down, all fluid joints...

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Forcing a stretch to the point of pain is not good.

I stretch after every workout, and before a race on the stratline.

Only after a ride

Boj said:

Forcing a stretch to the point of pain is not good.

I stretch after every workout, and before a race on the stratline.

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Stretching cold, tight muscles feels like too much of a strain on them, instead i start my ride slowly for the first 5 -10 minutes before dropping the hammer. I stretch after the ride while my muscle are still warm and loose, I find it aids my recovery immensely.

When I am disciplined I will stretch after rides but at the moment I am lazy and haven't really bothered to do so.

I feel better the day after if I stretch.

I always stretch after a 8/12/24 hour race otherwise I'll suffer.

jonowee said:

Do you stretch?

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Yes, religiously, but only after the ride while everything is gooey.

Yes after warming up completely

Speedüb Nate said:

Yes, religiously, but only after the ride while everything is gooey.

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Sometimes I feel tight when riding and will stop after heating up fully to streatch (usually my low back).

I've heard, and it sounds reasonable, that stretching is a method to get muscles and nerves to slide around amongst their tissues and it removes plaques that can build up (which turn into hardened spurs or tumors) and help move blood along after workouts.

Some people don't exercise so stretching without warming up for them becomes a form of exorcise, which is better than no physical activity.

- ray

what about only after as being an option?

stretching

Jm. said:

what about only after as being an option?

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After ride is the only time I stretch, sometimes not until the evening before bed. I agree with Ratt, ride leisurly pace for awhile to warm up, I don't stretch pre-ride. Never strech a cold muscle. I believe that only leads to potential of torn muscles and/or pulls, which you don't want...

Find a prgram that works and stick with it.

I suppose I should. At least I usually warm up a bit by riding to or around the trailhead.

Likewise, I suppose I should too. I usually forget, but I at least warm-up by taking it easy for the first little while.

Also, you should never stretch cold muscles, you should always warm-up easily before you stretch.


OT: Lighty_, I gotta say I love your avatar, I'm jealous lol

Stretching?

Research indicates that stretching prior to exercise events increases the probability of injury to the joint(s) that the stretched muscle crosses. Accordingly, the best time to stretch is post-exercise, if at all. Most say that a good, slow warm-up is best. Damn-most of the best rides in my area have climbs right from the start!

jonowee said:

Do you stretch?

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Only when I take the bike off the roof rack
Last time I did some stretching before the ride I got tried out early into the ride ( prob from the stretching! )
I dont even warm up for racing. Just jump on the bike and go! Well after waiting at the starting line.

jonowee said:

Do you stretch?

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My wife and I were mid-post-ride stretch at the car yesterday. She was stretching out her quad with the ankle behind the back trick when this guy rides on his bike to the car parked next to ours. As he's breaking it down and putting it away in his trunk, he asks my wife, "Doesn't that hurt your back?" "Noooo...?" "Well *I* usually stretch that by putting my leg on a three-foot ledge and then leaning back," as he hopped into his car to drive away.

moun10bike said:

Research indicates that stretching prior to exercise events increases the probability of injury to the joint(s) that the stretched muscle crosses.

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Yup, I've read that research. According to the findings, stretching is "out" as a pre-excersise activity can be bad for you. There's nothing wrong with "warming up" by getting your heartrate up and getting your blood vessles dialated, but just trying to stretch muscles and ligaments has recently been proven to be absolutely not beneficial. Stretching afterwards on the other hand is good, anything you can do to keep the muscles from tightening up and the lactic acid from pooling is a good idea.

I find it beneficial to warm up, stretch gently for about one minute each on the hamstrings and quads, then stretch more thoroughly after the ride. I find my quads don't burn out nearly as fast on the climbs with a some mild pre-stretching, so long as I warm up first. I've read the research as well, but this seems to work for me.

DaFireMedic said:

I find it beneficial to warm up, stretch gently for about one minute each on the hamstrings and quads, then stretch more thoroughly after the ride. I find my quads don't burn out nearly as fast on the climbs with a some mild pre-stretching, so long as I warm up first. I've read the research as well, but this seems to work for me.

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same here

sstaurus said:

OT: Lighty_, I gotta say I love your avatar, I'm jealous lol

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Thank you. I stole it.

A lot of people don't realize it's animated.

Research indicates that stretching prior to exercise events increases the probability of injury to the joint(s) that the stretched muscle crosses. Accordingly, the best time to stretch is post-exercise, if at all. Most say that a good, slow warm-up is best. Damn-most of the best rides in my area have climbs right from the start!

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How weird. Where was this published?

?????????

moun10bike said:

Research indicates that stretching prior to exercise events increases the probability of injury to the joint(s) that the stretched muscle crosses. Accordingly, the best time to stretch is post-exercise, if at all. Most say that a good, slow warm-up is best. Damn-most of the best rides in my area have climbs right from the start!

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tell that to every high school, college, and pro sports team!!!
That's a joke!

When I was playing softball, the only time I ever pulled muscles to the point it took me out of the game were the two times I forgot to stretch before the game. Both times sprinting to first base.