Do you feel sore after a long motorcycle ride? Do your muscles feel tight and uncomfortable? Do you feel like your body is tense when riding? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then you are not alone. Many riders experience the same discomfort after prolonged periods in the saddle. These aches and pains are a natural consequence of prolonged, repeated movements that put stress on our bodies in unique ways. It’s also one of the primary reasons why so many riders give up on their love of motorcycles quickly. The pain and discomfort associated with riding set in so fast that they can’t bear it. Fortunately, this article will help ease some of those aches and pains while also explaining what causes them and how we can prevent them from occurring again. By following these simple stretching exercises before and after your next ride, you won’t just be able to continue enjoying motorcycling but actually improve your comfort while doing so…
Why do we feel sore after a ride?
We’ve already established that prolonged and repeated movements cause our muscles to become strained and sore. However, these movements are somewhat repetitive and consistent. We can predict them, so our bodies are ready for them. But what about sudden, sporadic movements? A motorcycle is a giant wheeled machine that we are seated on top of. We are literally strapped to this machine as we move around on it so that we don’t fall off. This means that our bodies are not only being controlled by us and our movements but also by the machine itself. By the nature of how motorcycles are designed and operated, our bodies are being moved in ways that we don’t necessarily expect or prepare for. Our muscles are being stretched and contracted in ways that are entirely different from what we are used to and that they might not be ready or able to handle.
How to stretch properly?
Now that we understand why our muscles might be feeling sore after a ride, the next logical step is to know how to properly stretch those muscles so that we can feel better and reduce our risk of injury. When it comes to stretching, there are certain rules to follow if you want to make sure that you’re getting the most out of the exercise and not actually causing more harm. First, you should stretch every muscle group at least two times per week if you want to see results while minimizing your risk of injury. You should also stretch each muscle group for at least 10 seconds and hold it in that stretch for at least 30 seconds. Stretching regularly will help improve blood flow to your muscles, which can reduce the amount of aches and pains you experience while also increasing your ability to remain flexible and agile as you get older.
Ankle rotation and calf stretches
Ankle rotation and calf stretches are a great way to target the muscles on the backside of your lower leg and ankle. These muscles are responsible for rotating your foot outward and flexing your foot inward at the ankle. You can perform this stretch simply by pivoting your foot back and forth about 30 degrees each way. You should feel the stretch in the back of your lower leg, especially in the muscles located on the outside of your leg. If you want to increase the intensity of this stretch, you can place your foot on a stair with the ball of your foot on the edge of the stair.
Knee rotation and hamstring stretches
Knee rotation and hamstring stretches are primarily focused on the muscles on the front side of your lower leg and the backside of your upper leg. These muscles are responsible for rotating your foot inward at the ankle and flexing your foot outward. You can perform this stretch by rotating your knee and ankle outward until you feel a stretch along the backside of your upper leg. When performing this stretch, make sure that you don’t rotate your foot too far outward because you could tear the tissues connecting your foot to your ankle.
Torso rotations and shoulder stretches
The last stretches that we’re going to be covering in this article are torso rotations and shoulder stretches. Both of these stretches target the muscles along the sides of your torso and the muscles in your upper back and shoulders. You can perform torso rotations by placing your hands on your hips and rotating your torso in one direction and then rotating it in the opposite direction. While this stretch primarily targets your obliques, it can also stretch your lower back and upper back depending on how far you rotate. You can also perform a shoulder stretch with this same technique.
Conclusion
When it comes to riding, feeling comfortable is key. The more comfortable and relaxed you are, the easier it will be for you to ride and operate your motorcycle. This is why it’s so important to regularly stretch your muscles. Regular stretching not only helps reduce your risk of injury but also keeps your muscles relaxed. This makes it easier to operate your motorcycle and reduces the amount of effort required by your body to do so. By properly stretching your muscles, you can significantly reduce the amount of aches and pains you experience while riding and make your riding experience a lot more enjoyable.
