Stretching



S

Simon Harris

Guest
Hi All!

I cycle to work and back 5 days a week, the journey is down hill on the way.
I've been doing this for the past 8 months, and recently taken up kick
boxing. My instructor says I should stretch before and after cycling - Any
thoughts on this? I'm not doubting what he is saying, just wondered if
anyone else has an opinion on this? Do you stretch before/after a ride? What
stretches?

Cheers!
Simon.
 
Simon Harris wrote:
> Hi All!
>
> I cycle to work and back 5 days a week, the journey is down hill on the way.
> I've been doing this for the past 8 months, and recently taken up kick
> boxing. My instructor says I should stretch before and after cycling - Any
> thoughts on this? I'm not doubting what he is saying, just wondered if
> anyone else has an opinion on this? Do you stretch before/after a ride? What
> stretches?

After. Since cycling by itself doesn't require flexibility to speak of,
unless you fall, I take care of stretching afterward, when muscles and
joints are warm (more accurately, lots of blood flowing to them).
I find stretching before riding is more painful, slower, and less effective.
Oh, and I make a point of not crashing during the first 10 minutes of my
rides ;-)

Shawn
 
I do, especially after riding.

Stretching in general facilitates blood flow. So before
riding, stretching is a way to warm up the muscles. Since
excercise in a way "micro-tears up" your muscles, stretching
afterwards facilitates the healing. That's why one does not
feel as sore if one stretches after excercising.

....according to my physical therapist, and my doctor/internist.

--
- Zilla
Cary, NC USA
(Remove XSPAM)


"Simon Harris" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Hi All!
>
> I cycle to work and back 5 days a week, the journey is down hill on the
way.
> I've been doing this for the past 8 months, and recently taken up kick
> boxing. My instructor says I should stretch before and after cycling - Any
> thoughts on this? I'm not doubting what he is saying, just wondered if
> anyone else has an opinion on this? Do you stretch before/after a ride?
What
> stretches?
>
> Cheers!
> Simon.
>
>
 
Simon Harris wrote:
> Hi All!
>
> I cycle to work and back 5 days a week, the journey is down hill on
> the way. I've been doing this for the past 8 months, and recently
> taken up kick boxing. My instructor says I should stretch before and
> after cycling - Any thoughts on this? I'm not doubting what he is
> saying, just wondered if anyone else has an opinion on this? Do you
> stretch before/after a ride? What stretches?
>
> Cheers!
> Simon.

I do lots, after. I do a set that hits all the major muscle groups, upper
and lower body.
 
Simon Harris wrote:
> Hi All!
>
> I cycle to work and back 5 days a week, the journey is down hill on the way.
> I've been doing this for the past 8 months, and recently taken up kick
> boxing. My instructor says I should stretch before and after cycling - Any
> thoughts on this? I'm not doubting what he is saying, just wondered if
> anyone else has an opinion on this? Do you stretch before/after a ride? What
> stretches?
>
> Cheers!
> Simon.

Cheers. Stretching afterwards, for sure. Your back because it is in a
fairly static position during cycling, your shoulders and your legs
because they are in a limited range during cycling. If you don't
stretch your legs after cycling, especially, it will make your
stretches at your boxing club that much harder, due to your muscles
wanting to settle into a ROM based on the time spent cycling. Before
bed and upon waking wouldn't hurt either.

I've tried to alternate between the 2 worlds, and they are *really*
different in terms of what is required of your body to perform well in
either one.

CDB
 
"Simon Harris" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Hi All!
>
> I cycle to work and back 5 days a week, the journey is down hill on the
> way. I've been doing this for the past 8 months, and recently taken up
> kick boxing. My instructor says I should stretch before and after
> cycling - Any thoughts on this? I'm not doubting what he is saying, just
> wondered if anyone else has an opinion on this? Do you stretch
> before/after a ride? What stretches?
>
> Cheers!
> Simon.
>

Lifting my leg over the edge of the hot tub is about all the stretching I do
after a ride.

Marty
 
Hi Paladin,

Thanks for the reply - Interesting what you say about kick boxing and
cycling being so different, which explains the look on my boxing instructors
face when I told him how much cycling I do! :)

And...Whats a ROM?

Simon.


"Paladin" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> Simon Harris wrote:
>> Hi All!
>>
>> I cycle to work and back 5 days a week, the journey is down hill on the
>> way.
>> I've been doing this for the past 8 months, and recently taken up kick
>> boxing. My instructor says I should stretch before and after cycling -
>> Any
>> thoughts on this? I'm not doubting what he is saying, just wondered if
>> anyone else has an opinion on this? Do you stretch before/after a ride?
>> What
>> stretches?
>>
>> Cheers!
>> Simon.
>
> Cheers. Stretching afterwards, for sure. Your back because it is in a
> fairly static position during cycling, your shoulders and your legs
> because they are in a limited range during cycling. If you don't
> stretch your legs after cycling, especially, it will make your
> stretches at your boxing club that much harder, due to your muscles
> wanting to settle into a ROM based on the time spent cycling. Before
> bed and upon waking wouldn't hurt either.
>
> I've tried to alternate between the 2 worlds, and they are *really*
> different in terms of what is required of your body to perform well in
> either one.
>
> CDB
>
 
Simon Harris wrote (rest of text removed due to top-post):

> And...Whats a ROM?

Range Of Motion.

Read-Only Memory.

Really Old...Money?!? (Movie, Mama, Monkey, Mystery, Mimic, Mustang, etc.
etc. etc.)

Bill "FWA" S.

(fun w/acronyms)
 
Simon Harris wrote:
> Hi All!
>
> I cycle to work and back 5 days a week, the journey is down hill on the way.
> I've been doing this for the past 8 months, and recently taken up kick
> boxing. My instructor says I should stretch before and after cycling - Any
> thoughts on this? I'm not doubting what he is saying, just wondered if
> anyone else has an opinion on this? Do you stretch before/after a ride? What
> stretches?
>
> Cheers!
> Simon.

I'm an indoor cycling instructor and certified kickbox* instructor
(though not actively teaching). * = TurboKick, not real kickboxing.

Stretching is not necessary or even beneficial before exercise. What is
beneficial is an actual warm-up. Five minutes is generally the minimum
before you go hard. At 42, I don't feel fully warm until about 10-15
minutes. Just go through the motions, literally. You should feel full
and free range of motion in all the joints you're going to be using.

Stretching afterward is a very good idea and is considered to be
effective in minimizing soreness. Stretch at least the muscles you've
used during exercise, but when you're warm your whole body can use the
stretch.

--
--
Lynn Wallace http://www.xmission.com/~lawall

Conservative dictionary:
Judicial Activist: n. A judge who tends to rule against your wishes.
 
"Paladin" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Here's my version of the turbo-kick* cardio health club exercise
> routine:
>
> http://k43.pbase.com/u40/dougj/upload/26137412.IMG_5261CSB.jpg
>
> http://www.fairtex.com/_images/gallery/283_lg.jpg
>
> btw, "too much cycling" can be detrimental to martial arts performance
> if you're not working your rotating and stabilizing muscles a little
> extra to make up for how linear and supported cycling tends to be, even
> on a mtnbike.
>
> My 2c fwiw...
>
> CDB
>

One of the first things I learned from my instructors was that if I have to
use what they teach us then we're working from a flawed plan.

I always thought that had a certain humor to it and a bit of truth.

I haven't run into the "too much cycling" problem yet. Of course if you
ask my wife you might get a different point of view.

Marty
 
I used to ask every new group of wannbeez for them to give me their
best response to a question like this. "It's 3am, you're in the back
of a biker bar, unarmed, and two big bruisers are coming toward you
with murder in their eyes. What's the best defense in that
situation!?"

I'd hear all kinds of **** like break a beer bottle, and fight em, turn
over the table and run (not bad), and only one ever gave me the answer
I was looking for: Best defense is NOT to be there in the first place
you idiot! heheh

O well. Where's the couch, I think 24 is coming on...

CDB
 
Paladin wrote:
> Here's my version of the turbo-kick* cardio health club exercise
> routine:
>
> http://k43.pbase.com/u40/dougj/upload/26137412.IMG_5261CSB.jpg
>
> http://www.fairtex.com/_images/gallery/283_lg.jpg

That's not TurboKick. But the chicks are hotter in TurboKick.

> btw, "too much cycling" can be detrimental to martial arts performance
> if you're not working your rotating and stabilizing muscles a little
> extra to make up for how linear and supported cycling tends to be, even
> on a mtnbike.
>
> My 2c fwiw...

I agree wholeheartedly. If you get discomfort in your lower back on a
bike ride, you probably have weak core muscles. Or any of a wide variety
of chronic or acute back injuries, of course.

I also try to emphasize counter-stretching in my cycling classes. This
is focusing on the hip flexors and shoulders, which tend to be short in
cyclists and desk workers.

--
--
Lynn Wallace http://www.xmission.com/~lawall

Conservative dictionary:
Judicial Activist: n. A judge who tends to rule against your wishes.
 
I've thought about cardio kickboxing just for fun, no-contact exercise,
but deep down, I guess I prefer a gym full of sweaty guys sporting
tatoos and attitudes. ;) Looks like they're wearing grappling gloves!?
But maybe I'll try it. My teenaged daughter is interested, and that'd
be another fun activity we can do together....

CDB

my mountainbiking motto: Remember boys and girls, real men don't buy
upgrades, they ride up grades.

my other motto: Give Blood: Train Muay Thai
 
"Paladin" <[email protected]> wrote in message>
> my mountainbiking motto: Remember boys and girls, real men don't buy
> upgrades, they ride up grades.

Looks like I might just be a real man.....but what if I can't ride down
grades?

ouch, the thought

Gary
 
GeeDubb wrote:
>
> "Paladin" <[email protected]> wrote in message>
>
>> my mountainbiking motto: Remember boys and girls, real men don't buy
>> upgrades, they ride up grades.
>
>
> Looks like I might just be a real man.....but what if I can't ride down
> grades?
>
> ouch, the thought
>
> Gary

'round here, real men, real women, half-assed men and women, casual
riders, everyone ... just rides up grades, usually while kicking my butt.

I guess to be a descent motto, I'll have to shorten it.

--
Craig Brossman, Durango Colorado

Owner/Operator of the Pekingnese Ranch.
 
Most mottos, by definition don't hold up well to scrutiny, but may well
appeal to the baser, visceral natures, typical in redneck males likeme,
such as, "If you're gonna find us, you've gotta be good, if you're
gonna catch us, you've gotta be fast, if your'e gonna beat us, you've
gotta be kidding."

CDB
And I've just spent almost a grand upgrading my Switchblade. Such
hypocrisy!
 
By the time I get to work, I usually have just enough time to shower,
and make that first meeting. In a perfect world, I'd stretch
afterwards, and would also do some light weights for the upper body.

I used to pass my gym that was 1/2 way to work, and I'd stop, stretch
and do some light lifting, and maybe even get a couple sets of tennis
in. I miss that!
Jim Gagnepain
website: http://home.comcast.net/~oil_free_and_happy/
 
Simon Harris wrote:
> Hi All!
>
> I cycle to work and back 5 days a week, the journey is down hill on the way.
> I've been doing this for the past 8 months, and recently taken up kick
> boxing. My instructor says I should stretch before and after cycling - Any
> thoughts on this? I'm not doubting what he is saying, just wondered if
> anyone else has an opinion on this? Do you stretch before/after a ride? What
> stretches?
>
> Cheers!
> Simon.

Stretch them hip flexors. It's important.

/s
 
"Paladin" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>
> CDB
> And I've just spent almost a grand upgrading my Switchblade. Such
> hypocrisy!
>

but it still cost less than mine did when I bought it new, about $1500
less.....

ouch, now that hurts.

Gary
 
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