Sorry if I seemed contentious ... I recognize the value of your approach ... I am sort of more in this school ("Just Enjoying The Ride" AKA "Moderation"(something to consider)) but the knee thing .... I strained it doing other things, then forgot about it and tried to push a little .... and it let me know (It has been an on-and-off issue for quite a few years, and if I don't keep my legs strong (support from the surrounding muscles) I can make ti angry.

Comically enough, it felt a little better this morning, but I was pretty sure i couldn't ride this evening ... but i did a half-hour meditation, did some work, and took the bike out anyway---and the crunchy, overcompressed feeling went away. I am not sure if it si good luck or a miracle or positive thought ... add who cares? I got a few slow miles in before sundown ....

So anyway ... I am actually quite jealous of people like yourself and Carbonfiber boy .... which is stupid, but I am honest .... We all have our own paths, and for me athletics was never in the cards ... but if I hadn't thrown away decades of fitness training in my early forties, I might be able to do the kind of riding you describe .... so it is sort of my childish "Sour grapes" attitude .... along with the comedic aspect that I just happened to tweak my knee a couple days ago, just in time to make some smart-mouthed remarks in this thread ....