I agree, I'm not arguing for the sake of arguing either and I'm actually enjoying this
tête-à-tête, given you and me hold diametrically opposite positions. It's always good to see things from a completely different perspective. Excellent!
I believe you and me may hold very different opinions on what constitutes a stretch. As I mentioned before I am very flexible, due to my training background, so what you are calling a stretch may not even register in my radar. I can hold many static positions that make most grown men cry (splits, levers, planches, L-sits, V-ups...) and can do so for quite a long time before any strength loss becomes apparent. I agree, your flexibility has to be taken seriously and into account. To be clear, im referring to basic stretching before and during for the average cyclist. You notice that any of my comments or suggestions are for the average person since nor I or anyone else has intimate knowledge of anyone here, mostly.
I have to say, though, that I've never in my life come across someone who can statically stretch their ligaments to exhaustion, not to exhaustion, but only to the safe limits before any unnecessary damage occurs. this is typically at or near where you describe above without a subsequent loss of strength. Of course if you're just holding a position that is not pushing your limits at all for a few seconds, you'll notice no effect whatsoever on your strength. It'll also do nothing for your flexibility. Again, not referring to flexibility but simply enough to protect against injury.
I also think any claim stretching will help with muscle gain should be accompanied with extensive evidence backing it up. Most guys I know who push the limits of flexibility are quite skinny or athletic, none has remarkably big muscles. I doubt it's the case simply because when stretching it is the ligaments, not the muscles, what limits the range of motion so muscles are hardly ever pushed hard enough to elicit any adaptation. Agreed.
