really tight inner thighs

[mimitabby]

I have been noticing that my inner thighs are really tight. (This didn't used to happen when i didn't ride)
i am doing the frog exercise, some twists, and the pillow between the knees
thing that Knot has me doing because of my back (which is healing very nicely, no tweaks at all this week)
but my inner thighs absolutely burn, and putting my leg over the bike to get on is quite a chore sometimes!

thoughts, suggestions would be appreciated.

[Nokomis]

Are your inner thighs engaging while you're riding? (Squeezing the nose of the saddle, or similar?)

Are you able to strech out that region post ride while muscles are warm?

[mimitabby]

i can squeeze the saddle nose, but does that mean my thighs are engaged when i'm riding?
haven't done any stretching after a ride no.

[Nokomis]

by that - you can, or do squeeze consistently?

I'm sooooo not an expert, but the only time I am actively engaging the inner thigh muscles is when I'm controling my turns on very quick descents. If you're constantly using those muscles while riding, I'd be exploring things like stability / confidence, saddle nose too short, saddle too slippery, other muscles not engaging appropriately... basically go for a ride, listen to your muscles & ask them why they're so active?

Do stretch ~ I need to put up a reminder for myself on that topic too.

[mimitabby]

oh, no i do not squeeze consistently.
I feel pretty comfy sitting on my saddle.
but it's quite likely the wrong muscles are doing the job.
will stretch when i get home tonight.

[JanB]

I'm dealing with something similar and was just given this website for IT band stretches and hip/inner thighs. Maybe there's a stretch here that you haven't done and would help. Good luck.
http://www.howtostretch.com/iliotibi.htm

[mimitabby]

too bad they don't have exercises there for the INSIDE muscles!

[rapid cycler]

My physical therapist tells me that stretching after a ride is more important than stretching before. Of course, that doesn't make it any easier for me to resist a couch ride immediately upon returning home.

[mimitabby]

after i got out of all my wet clothing from the freezing downpour on my way home i snuggled under the blankets and took a short nap.
i forgot to stretch too.

[rapid cycler]

Ah, Seattle!

[mimitabby]

yep, May's over. The bad weather is back (with breaks) until late July.

[rapid cycler]

Do you really commute to work there, brave girl?

[mimitabby]

of course! I commuted 19 times in May, a record for me.
normally twice a week is plenty because i have so many chores to do.

[rapid cycler]

I'm not worthy.

One day I'll woman up and do so myself. Is it cheating if I quit my job to find one that's more commuter-friendly (i.e., not on the other side of a rather intimidating canyon road—scary for both its elevation and its road-rage worthy traffic)? Heh, last week I was driving home from work and a dude on a CAAD 9, who entered the canyon around the same time I did, kept pace with us poor stiffs in stop-and-go traffic all the way to the other side. I really wanted to give a shout-out to his studliness, but I didn't want to frighten the fellow.

[mimitabby]

oh, sure you are worthy.
But my DH just did that. he quit a job of 12 years in Lynnwood to take a job downtown, so instead of a 30 mile commute which was rather hard to do daily;
he now has a commute of 9 miles.

other people drive a little and ride or take a bus and ride.

but my inner thighs are STILL too tight and the PT ladies aren't reading my post!