Cyclists, Unlock Your Muscles With This Simple Resource
Boost your speed, strength, and endurance!
Do cyclists really need to stretch?
The most important thing for cyclists, and human beings in general, is to have a healthy range of motion and flexibility to move freely and efficiently. Everything in the body is connected, and as cyclists we demand a lot from our muscles, joints and ligaments. Yes, cycling is great for your health, but there are also some drawback that can begin to cause issues over time.
- Cycling is sitting, and sitting too long anywhere, in any position, can cause problems. Sitting is the main cause of muscle imbalance, tight hips, and a rounded posture.
- Although it is easy on the joints, the cycling motion is repetitive and can cause knee or joint pain from overuse.
- Improper posture on the bike (and inadequate core strength) can lead to significant lower back pain.
- The hunched over, forward leaning position on the bike is known for causing the hip flexors to tighten over time.
THE SOLUTION: The focus should be on maintaining, or most likely regaining, a healthy range of motion in the joints as well as developing muscle balance. From there, you’ll find you ride more comfortably, efficiently and with better technique. It is important to both stretch AND strengthen opposing muscles to restore muscle balance and:
- Improve Posture - By correcting muscle imbalance in the upper and lower body you can correct pelvic tilt and rounded shoulders.
- Reduce risk of injury – Stretching can reduce the risk of muscle and joint injury and help speed up recovery by supplying nutrients to the muscles through blood flow.
-
More Power – Your cycling performance is largely based on your mechanical efficiency (range of motion) and power output. Regular mobility work with a focus on muscle balance will improve your endurance and power on the bike.