Do you stretch first?

[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...

[latelatebloomer]

I do some yoga almost every morning, so I'm not getting ever getting on the bike with stiff back or legs. For a while I got sloppy about after-ride stretching, mostly because when I get back there's always at least nine things I neglected to ride in the first place that gang up on me as soon as I hop off the bike. But I really felt I was paying a price for that in my mobility, plus the stretching is so deep and lovely after a ride. Since I quickly face inclines in any direction I ride, if the weather is chilly, I warm up with a short walk around the churchyard next door. Both my legs and lungs appreciate it.

The trainer I work with is a DEMON about stretching post-ride, which is probably one of the reasons he's in England now for the Masters' World Championships. At 55 he moves with more grace than most 20somethings.

[GLC1968]

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...

Ditto.

There are studies that have shown that stretching actually decreases total strength output. The studies were weight-lifting based, but I would think a similar theory would apply here. You absolutely do need to warm up...easy spinning to get the blood flowing to the muscles in your legs AND in your heart. And stretching at rests is probably helpful...especially if the rest ends up being longer than anticipated (like wating in line for a toilet!). Stretching afterward is VERY important...cool down with easy spinning again, get the HR back to normal, and then stretch the muscles slowly.

[HillSlugger]

I even stretch before riding on the trainer stand.

[Tater]

Nope, I don't stretch before a ride. I would rather spin in an easy gear for awhile then stretch. Things don't seem to hurt as much then.