Hamstrings

[HONDO]

I read a lot about knee concerns during a long tour but I never read about people having hamstring issues. I was wondering if anyone has had this problem   and did it hamper or even stop the tour. thanks.

[FredHiltz]

That is not likely, as cycling puts little load on the hamstrings. We use the muscles on the front of the leg: quadriceps femoris and vastus medialis, and in your butt: gluteus maximus much more. You will feel your quads and vastus after a hard ride, but touring involves more long distance and less sprinting, so actual tears of the muscle are rare.

Fred

[whittierider]

I pull the pedals a lot.  I use my hamstring muscles a lot, and they tend to cramp before my quads when I'm getting back in shape in the spring and doing the 100-milers in the mountains.  I think the reason the knee injuries are a bigger deal is because cartilage heals very, very slowly, unlike muscles.

[Westinghouse]

I have a stretching routine I go through. If I do all stretches, one after the other without breaks in between, it takes roughly two hours to do. There are stretches that target the hamstrings. Now that I am getting older, I am beginning to have some discomfort with muscular tension. The stretching exercises are very effective in relieving tension, tightening, and stress. There is a book named "Sports Stretching." It will let you know how to get at the hamstrings. The muscles definitely change as you age. When I was in my thirties I worked out with weights quite a lot. I got very strong and toned. Now, no matter how much I work out, the muscles just cannot do it anymore; they just do not pump up the way they did when I was younger.
If the hamstrings tighten too much, it can cause problems with your range of motion. Try some serious stretching for a while. You might just be surprised at how much difference it can make. There are also stretching routines targeting the particular muscles used in certain types of sports activities, including cycling.

[HONDO]

I agree, the body doesnt respond like it used to. I did the weight thing for years and now at 52 the tone just isnt there like it once was.Time to accept father time.I had noticed after 30 minutes on the stationary this winter my left hammy is tightening up and i kind of felt it last summer in the right. Once biking season starts Im hoping being in my normal riding position on the bike I will feel ok. In the meantime I will give the stretching a try.

[Westinghouse]

I agree, the body doesnt respond like it used to. I did the weight thing for years and now at 52 the tone just isnt there like it once was.Time to accept father time.I had noticed after 30 minutes on the stationary this winter my left hammy is tightening up and i kind of felt it last summer in the right. Once biking season starts Im hoping being in my normal riding position on the bike I will feel ok. In the meantime I will give the stretching a try.

Be sure to get a good book on stretching that gives detailed instructions. With stretching, there are small and seemingly unimportant little details that are in fact crucial, and if you do not do those seemingly insignificant little things, you might not get the full benefit of the stretch, or you could really injure yourself. You have to attend to details. Once you have it down right it becomes a routine.