I ride trails in the local area and when i become familiar with them i get more and more aggressive each time i ride them. Used to be a day, when riding atv's and motorcycle, that i just went balls to the walls whether i new the riding area or not. However, as i have become older, reflexes slower, and injuries taking longer to heal, i attack new riding areas rather conservatively and once familiar i start getting more and more aggressive. This has kept me out of the cast and the hospital.

Take some of these peoples input with a grain of salt. They dont understand that some people do it to get outdoors, others exercise, and some, even though they do not throw total abandon to the wind, the excitement and challenge. Anyone that goes up on the hill and thinks that getting hurt is part of the game more than likely rides above their ability and is a pain not only to themselves but other riders as well. Now, does that mean its a totally safe sport, mishap can always happen, but if you know your limits and the trial then you can minimize injury and have a pretty fun and aggressive ride.

If you talking muscle pulls and aches and pains...well, that is part of aging and only thing that helps there is stretching, warm-ups and advil or moltrin...oh yea, keep hydrated. Have fun riding and as a couple of poster above reference you do it smartly and you still have several years of riding ahead of ya.