In the end, it sounds like the real point of the article, intended by the author or not, is don't overdo it. I've had days when I've gone to stretch and realized that I needed to back off a little bit because my muscles were cold.

When I was a somewhat gravitationally challenged runner, I had to stretch before and did so after to lessen next day pain. I was in the army and got out on medical. I had shin splints that were so bad I couldn't walk on even the slightest hill, up or down. That presented a huge problem since I was living in Monterey, CA. I took up running two years after I got out. I still had a battle with shin splints. I bought good shoes, learned how to run correctly (yes, the foot should fall a certain way, and no, it is not on the heel). The slow, meticulous stretching routine I did before my run determined whether I was going to be able to run at all. I had to stretch.

Now, as a cyclist, I'm discovering problems I've had for years, but never knew what they were. I finally started seeing a holistic chiropractor. I say holistic because he addresses the whole body and is a wonderful adviser to me, unlike my previous chiropractor who just adjusted me and sent me on my way. I also see a massage therapist - two, actually. They have completely different techniques, both of which I find useful.

My problem? My right side is tight. My right lumbar region muscles are tight. I get sciatica on the right. My right IT band is tight, and there are other little problems that have resulted from all this tightness. My knee pain is usually right-sided, and we've finally discovered it's because it isn't tracking straight. Solution: stretching. I am . . . off kilter. I use certain yoga poses geared towards keeping my lower back and upper legs, mostly hamstrings and IT bands, flexible. I still have a lot of work to do, but I've come a long way this year.

I don't stretch before riding, but I allow myself to settle into my ride before I really ride hard. The only time I stretch after is if something feels tight, so I stretch just that. The yoga - it doesn't take very long to go through my poses, so I do it while watching tv or before going to bed. It's easy, and it feels sooooo good.