Do you stretch first?

[liberty]

It depends on where I am biking. If I want to do rides around my house, I tend to warm up on the trainer because once I leave here it is nothing but hills and more hills. Those absolutely kill me if I don't warm up first. So after warming up for about 10 minutes I will stretch out. But if I drive someplace for a ride I usually just get on and go. Then if there is a bathroom break or people need to stop I will stretch out a little bit. I definitely stretch afterwards. My back and shoulders would "talk" to me if I didn't...

[mimitabby]

i used to stretch before each ride because if i did not i got cramps.

as i got stronger, that went away. Now I stretch on breaks during rides.

[Bad JuJu]

I've just gone through a course of PT for my knee, and the therapist told me the best way to stretch is to ride for 5 minutes or so first, warming up your muscles that way, and THEN stop and stretch a little. Then of course stretch afterwards.

This makes sense to me, but honestly I don't know whether I'll keep it up. I don't know about the rest of you, but five minutes into a ride, I'm just getting into it and the last thing I want to do is stop and stretch.

[chickwhorips]

i definatly stretch afterwards. occationally i'll do some weights before i ride and then i stretch, but mostly not. i do some stretching while i'm riding though, just to help loosen up some muscles.

[Denise223]

No, I don't stretch first, but I do afterwards - not always.

I'll have to search TE & check out appropriate post-cycling stretches.

[donnambr]

I must always stretch shoulders, neck, upper back before and after a ride or there will be chiropractor visits in my future. Only takes a couple of minutes.

[Grog]

Stretching cold muscles is supposed to be a bad idea.

Spinning your legs will be a good warmup, use an easy gear. You can always stretch during a break, but afterwards will bring the most rewards.

I wish I could explain why, but I can't. My coaches have always insisted on that though...