Stretching and cycling

Stretching?

I hate stretching. Always, always. So that is my own problem and my bias. So....some years ago I read some research that said that stretching before riding robs you of high performance later in the ride. It recommended riding light for 15 minutes and then stretching. I have used this with my racers and it seems just fine. I get bored watching them stretch so I join a bit.

Along with the research was the suggestion that people who are traditionally stretchers will be the hardest to convince that delaying stretching works. It will be, they said, especially hard with runners, now riders, who have a deeply developed devotion to stretching. I see them in their genuflection at every trailhead; pushing, pulling, leaning. It is a whole lot easier for cyclists to perform without pre-stretching as pounding and weight-bearing can be mitigated in easy riding before stretching.

Related to that the hardest people to slow down and get to rest enough are highly motivated athletes or athletes heavily habituated to their sport. I throw that in for a reason. What these two thing reveal is that our own personal programs and our relative success are due to our own efforts and we hate to mess with that. Backing off is an anathema to success with that perspective. But you have dead legs, so, if I may steal from Dr. Phil, "how's that working for ya?"

In that context I doubt that stretching will do much except to feed your need to "do something." Yet that need deserves to be addressed. As such, it sounds harmless and gives you something to do but it doesn't sound like the problem, or the solution, to me. It sounds like your brain is driving your body too hard. Even at rest you are needing something to do and your solution seems to be to continue to work your body. I suggest you do a search on Dead Legs.

In the mean time I suggest that you find someone to give you a massage. I suggest preferably someone with a high babeage factor. Actually I'm not sure that this does any real good either but, dang, it sure feels good and the babeage thing is just good clean fun.

I'd be pleased to hear how things progress. Good luck.

You should ride for a while until warmed up. Then do stretches. I only do two, quads and hammies. Don't do stretches on cold muscles. Don't "bounce" and NO pain with your stretches. As for cramps, you have run out of salt and/or water. Take a few Tums, eat/drink something salty. Always carry a few Gu's, they're light and you'll always have one. If you ever quit sweating, you're in trouble. Quit exercising, drink, and rest in shade. I was riding Sunday, 28 June and the temp was 100 degrees. My HR was 25 beats high after I got warmed up. On climbs where I would normally run 150, it was 175. Damn that makes you tired. I drank 3 liters of water (camelback) in an hour and a half. I still lost 5 pounds. That's 5 pints. I still felt fuzzy hours later after drinking all I could get down. good luck