Some of these replys got me smiling this morning.
Especially the response to yoga poses
Not that there is anything wrong with yoga if one is into that.
ric, nailed it on the head and it is purely highlighting the obvious to what 2zanzibar may be looking at in the reverse viewpoint based on the post.
2zanzibar, as you stated that we average folk do not have ample amount of time in our day. We try to balance a career and perhaps family life with training. So if a one has the time like a pro pehaps one can fit in a good stretching program into their day without having a negative impact on training, but the question is how does the average make their day the most efficient?
Scientist, researchers, trainers/coaches and such are trying to help not just the elite, but the average athlete become more efficient. On this topic researchers are trying to state that stretching is not necessary and from their findings do not reduce the risk of injury as once thought regarding pre training stretching.
Why spend 30 minutes to an hour warming up just to stretch when, in this case, it could be spent on the bike?
Because you run a risk of injury that can result in weeks of rehab from a microtear/strain if you just start stretching cold. Yes, the majority of people do this, but do it long enough and you will get the injury eventually. I say this from experience and I hope I have finally learned my lesson to break away from pre exercise stretching. Especially "ballistic" stretching.
We are not saying that stretching should be avoided.
There is a time and place for stretching, but if you want to make your training day more efficient there are other things that need greater focus and attention.
IMO - stretching can be essential in later stages of recovery, such as, a micro tear. Calcium deposits can form in these small tears or scar tissue is formed from these type of injuries. Light passive stretching (later in rehab) may help prevent this scar tissue allowing the muscle to stay flexible. Scar tissue can hinder flexibility. There are other conditions that may be helped by stretching, but in summary we are just trying to state that if one is limited by time than stretching does not have to be an essential part of the typical training day.