cycling

amos · Post by **amos** » Jan 19, 2004 13:31

I have read your books on stretching and training and they have recommended against cycling as a cross training sport since it hurts flexability. My main sport is cycling and I am very tight in the hamstings. How would I counteract the negative aspects of cycling to maintain flexability in my hamstrings?

ucrhai007 · Post by **ucrhai007** » Jan 20, 2004 16:53

I not a real expert on this, but I think Thomas Kurz has mentioned something as having some form of alternate workout. For example, u can really do a lot of running. My idea comes from the fact that power walkers have to run for their training. I think Kurz meant that using cycling as a constant method of training will shorten your muscles, and thus make u less flexible. I hope I don't sound like an idiot who's trying to help, but I think your solution lies upon these lines.

amos · Post by **amos** » Jan 20, 2004 17:45

Thanks for the reply. I do run sometimes but normally spend most of my time training for cycling. I do also lift weights to cross train/strengthen areas not helped by cycling. I saw that there was a short program listed for the progression of running to strengthen hamstrings in the books but am concerned with figuring out how much is needed to get the job done.

Post by **Thomas Kurz** » Jan 21, 2004 12:12

ucrhai007 wrote:For example, u can really do a lot of running. My idea comes from the fact that power walkers have to run for their training. I think Kurz meant that using cycling as a constant method of training will shorten your muscles, and thus make u less flexible. [...] I think your solution lies upon these lines.

You got it right. Excellent advice.

scfishy · Post by **scfishy** » Apr 18, 2006 00:34

Not to beat a (seeminly) dead horse here, but you guys are saying it is very hard to increase flexibility while cycling? I needed to ask this because I'm a racer and I just started Tae Kwon Do, and want to increase my flexibility. I will not quit racing, so I need to train on the bike probably between 3 and 5 days a week. I can't stop riding, or I'll get killed in races. Is it still possible to maximize my flexibility while cycling, even if it takes longer?

dragon · Post by **dragon** » Apr 18, 2006 05:48

scfishy wrote: Is it still possible to maximize my flexibility while cycling, even if it takes longer?

I would say yes,but your training is going to have to be well thought out and you may have to concentrate more on one side of your training than the other(if that's possible).
The main thing is include stretches for the hip flexors,especially after cycling.

Dragon.

notsoflex · Post by **notsoflex** » Jun 25, 2007 16:52

really intrested in this as i currently do not feel fit enough to use running as my main traiing method. i like tocycle around 45mins each day. will this have a really huge impact on my muscles or would it be manageable?

thanks.

bison · Post by **bison** » Aug 28, 2007 16:31

I would really enjoy a flexibilty strategy for cyclists. I am a recreational cyclist and use a recumbent but the issues remain the same......partial motion for an extended period. I don't need the flexibility that other athletes need but I need enough so that health issues don't give me problems later on. I want to be mobile and agile enough to feel good and flexible enough to keep structural integrity. I also don't want to give up cycling, as I love it.

I have Science of Sports Training and Stretching Scientifically. Both great books and while SST has a section on sport-specific endurance neither has a strategy for flexibility in cycling....just a warning in SS about the hazards of cycling in relation to cycling. Which program should one follow if you wish to cycle and MINIMIZE the loss of flexibility associated with cycling. I would like to thank anyone in advance who can give me a "heads up".