Coach Brady told the team. “Most of you already know that, but since we have a new rider with us today, let’s go over a couple of the basics. Who can tell me why it’s so important to stretch before and after you ride?” Dylan raised his hand. “Go ahead, Dylan,” Coach Brady said. “Because cycling is so repetitive,” Dylan said. “You have to stretch so you have flexibility and balance in the muscle groups you use over and over, like your hamstrings, hip flexors, and chest. If you don’t stretch, those muscles tighten up, and then you can’t ride as well.” “Very good,” the coach said. “Let’s go through some basic stretches before we get on our bikes.” Coach Brady walked the team through a standing quad stretch, a standing calf stretch, a hamstring stretch, and a hip flexor stretch. Then he had them do a couple of basic shoulder stretches. “Why do we have to stretch our shoulders?” Austin whispered to Dylan. “Our legs are doing all the work.” “Yeah, but think about how much time cyclists spend hunched over the handlebars,”
