Okay, so I finally got around to doing my motorcycle stretches today. It’s something I’ve learned the hard way needs to be part of the routine, not just an afterthought.
Getting Started
First thing, I just cleared a bit of space in the living room. Didn’t need much. Rolled out that old yoga mat I have. It’s seen better days, but does the job. I started slow, just getting the blood flowing a bit. Didn’t jump right into yanking on muscles.
The Actual Stretching
I focused on the main culprits that get tight from riding. Here’s basically what I ran through:
- Hamstrings and Calves: Sat down, legs out straight, and just leaned forward gently. Held it for a bit, felt that pull down the back of the legs. Then I did the standing kind, reaching down towards my toes. Also did some calf stretches against the wall. Gotta keep those ankles flexible for the foot controls.
- Hips and Groin: This is a big one for me. Did some lunges, nice and slow, pushing the hips forward to stretch the front of the hip. Then I sat with the soles of my feet together, gently pushing my knees down. Helps with swinging a leg over the bike without pulling something.
- Lower Back: Laid on my back, pulled knees to chest. Then did some gentle twists, letting the knees fall to one side while looking the other way. My back always complains after a few hours hunched over, even slightly.
- Shoulders and Neck: Just some simple shoulder rolls, backward and forward. Then gentle neck tilts, ear towards shoulder, chin towards chest. Holding the bars can really tense things up there.
Why Bother? The Real Talk
Honestly, I used to skip this stuff all the time. Thought it was for gym rats or old folks. Then came that ride up the coast a couple of years back. Beautiful day, long ride, felt great. Pulled into a viewpoint, went to get off the bike, and my right leg just… cramped. Like, seized up completely. I nearly toppled the whole thing over trying to swing my leg off. Stood there looking like an idiot, trying to walk it off, feeling about 90 years old.
That was the moment. Realized my body wasn’t just going to keep up with my riding ambitions without some basic maintenance. It wasn’t about being super flexible; it was about not being painfully stiff and risking a dumb injury or drop. It’s like checking tire pressure or oil – just part of keeping things running right.
Wrapping Up
So yeah, spent maybe 15-20 minutes on it today. Didn’t push too hard, just worked through the tight spots. Feel a lot looser now. It’s simple stuff, nothing fancy, but doing it consistently makes getting on and off the bike, and the ride itself, way more comfortable. Definitely better than cramping up at a scenic overlook.
