ZHVelo

Had a difficult weekend, went on Tuesday for a light ride and Wednesday for intervals and my legs were still real heavy. Foam rolled a lot at night, went out Thursday and legs were a lot better already, probably not super fresh but considering they were tired, I did intervals, they might have even been worse, but no, a lot better. Foam rolled again last night, and while I will rest today, just from walking the legs feel great again.

canklecat

I find foam rollers awkward. I prefer a rolling pin for my legs.

Seriously. Several years ago I got a heavy marble rolling pin as a gift, since I like to bake. Mostly it's a kitchen decoration. But a couple of years ago I decided to try it on my sore legs after a hard workout ride or physical therapy session with squats and lunges. It worked great. The cool marble felt good, and the weight meant I didn't need to work my arms much to apply the right pressure. My legs felt fresher the next day.

I only use the foam roller for my back and even then it's still really awkward compared with the rolling pin. For my back and neck I prefer a double headed percussion massager with a long handle. I'll use it on my legs too some days.

jpescatore

Glad it works for you - I've tried it a few times, couldn't feel any difference. But, I carry around a thick layer of relaxed muscle (some call it fat...) that might be absorbing the beneficial impact before it reaches its target...

wolfchild

Active recovery and movement is more effective.

OldTryGuy

I found "The Stick" superior to a foam roller. Light touch -- DEEP IN or in between.

https://www.thestick.net/

ZHVelo

Hard to do in the evening while watching TV with the wife. Potentially if one has rollers and it isn't too loud.

Even then, you don't feel that nice pain when you find a spot...

rubiksoval

Effective at improving recovery? I don't think so, personally.

Effective at improving the pain associated with foam rolling? Yes.

clasher

I bought a foam roller and found it hard and awkward, gave it away. Someone told me about rolling pins I find it feels awesome, it's easy to do and they're easy to find if you're travelling.

Hikebikerun

I think the foam roller and “the stick” are equally effective but I find the stick (or a roller) to be easier to use for the legs and easier to modulate pressure.

It’s also easier if you have child slave labor (pic taken 1min ago lol):

surak

Foam rolling didn't do much for me. I have much better results with a percussive massager (expensive but much easier to use than a roller) and recovery rides (free except I'm often too lazy to do them).

Clyde1820

I find them roughly equivalent to the concept of massage. In the "out with the bad blood / in with the good" sense.

Of course, everyone's musculature and location of aches differs, so people will often have different results with similar use.

I've had fairly good results, given my current musculature and build. Back in the day during years of very hard training for running and moderate training with cycling, I found motion to be the best and massage to be a close second. A good kettle bell in a puny size also worked for me then, and does equally well now, as it has a small enough outer shape with sufficient weight to "dig in" where it can help (much the same as "deep tissue" massage seems to work.

If you find it helps, great. Many don't ... yet, many do. I do, generally speaking. On rear of shoulders, back, glutes/hips, hamstrings and quads. Motion works better for me, usually, but then old injuries preclude "too much" motion recovery. And so, I do the motion I can even when I'm achy, but find massage, foam and kettle bell "rolling" along with soaking (in very hot water) aids recovery.