Quote Originally Posted by indysteel View Post
And have you thought about taking a week off altogether? I know it sucks to do so, but at this point, I'm not so sure just easing back is doing the trick. ...

To me, all of this just reinforces the fact that I think you could stand to add some yoga or pilates into the mix. Cycling involves such a limited and repetitive range of motion. It helps to do something to counter the long hours on the bike. In reading your 2011 cycling goals thread, I see that your winter workouts largely revolve aroung cycling or spinning. I, personally, use the winter to broaden things a bit and give my body a chance to move in different ways. I find that I'm less injury prone when I do that.
Just my random thoughts....FWIW.
I also do strength training 3 times a week, and my trainer does focus some of our time on exercises that works on my full range of motion. We do have free mat pilates at my club, I will give it a shot to see what I think about it - I pretty much am limited to what I can do at my club right now. I have not heard much good about the yoga classes there...

Several things happened at the same time - I paid someone to stretch me (which I think was at least partially responsible) and I moved to clipless pedals and did several quite long rides on them right off the bat.

Jonathan isn't surprised over the hamstring issue, especially with the mileage I tend to ride - though frankly I am still unsure if it is just sore or has an actual mild strain. The localized warmth I felt the other day leads me to assume a light strain. The only reason the saddle was raised was because my shoes have a higher sole than the Keens I used on the BMX pedals which had the effect of lowering my saddle. My saddle is still almost an inch too low though...

It actually feels better on the bike than when doing climbs on the spinning bike - so will stop doing those for a week or so. I have backed off on the intensity on the spinning bike, I generally hit it quite hard.

The reason I haven't taken a full week off the bike yet is that every time I ride it feels better than the time before. Yesterday was the closest I've come to really feeling like myself on the bike for two weeks I stuck to flat roads with only 3 moderate hills, and they were pretty short. It was only 23 miles, but that's the furthest I've ridden since the Hope Ride...

Thanks for your comments Indy, they are always helpful. I haven't tried compression tights...