Stretching can increase the functional range of muscles. By lengthening the hamstrings the body can adopt a lower position (more aeros etc). Many people do put themselves near the limits of their physiology (slam that stem etc). Spinning pedals does not use the full range of movement of muscles/bones but poor positioning can put someone closer to their actual limits. A lot of people after working on flexibility can raise their saddle a bit.
Flexibility with out strength to support it can lead to instability, whereas strength without flexibility will lead to a very limited range of motion. As with many of these things people should be looking for a comfortable compromise, that is relevant for their discipline.
Ideally your bike fit won't be set up for you at the limit of your functional range. Your flexibility will vary from day to day, and how much exercise you have been doing that day. If your position is near your limit the muscles and tendons are more likely to become sore (the body's signal to stop using them). This is why you may feel stiffer at the end of a long or hard day in the saddle, your body is asking for you to back off a bit.
When you say "less flexible" are you just talking about the drawbacks of stretching before exercise? Because that is generally thought to be true - ie. pre-exercise stretching is actually worse for performance.
Stretching can increase the functional range of muscles. By lengthening the hamstrings the body can adopt a lower position (more aeros etc). Many people do put themselves near the limits of their physiology (slam that stem etc). Spinning pedals does not use the full range of movement of muscles/bones but poor positioning can put someone closer to their actual limits. A lot of people after working on flexibility can raise their saddle a bit.
Flexibility with out strength to support it can lead to instability, whereas strength without flexibility will lead to a very limited range of motion. As with many of these things people should be looking for a comfortable compromise, that is relevant for their discipline.
Ideally your bike fit won't be set up for you at the limit of your functional range. Your flexibility will vary from day to day, and how much exercise you have been doing that day. If your position is near your limit the muscles and tendons are more likely to become sore (the body's signal to stop using them). This is why you may feel stiffer at the end of a long or hard day in the saddle, your body is asking for you to back off a bit.