A nasty, almost bone-on-bone pain in my left knee started up about a month ago. I suspect that it was a consequence of using the smart trainer over the winter while ignoring a slightly misaligned cleat on one of my shoes.

Honestly, it never occurred to me to ice it or stretch or see a doctor. Now, after a few 12-to-18-hour weeks of road riding, mostly on my track bike, grinding through the hills of Baltimore County, the pain is pretty much gone.

At 70, I don't know how much longer I'll be able to depend on my natural capacity for healing, but so far, so good. I suspect that many people around my age who are comparably physically active would heal just as fast without stretching. Guess we'll never know, since if stretching has been working, it makes sense to keep doing so.