Haven't been out on any aggressive mountain biking for a month or so but yesterday was different. Took in a few steep hills but True MTB conditions of Mud and Lack of grip. I have beeen out on the road bike though so have been keeping my fitness up.

Now about yesterday- Muddy slippery conditions but the hills were the same as normal. Only thing was the legs. They actually started to hurt on the ride when I put in pressure on the hills. Not much but the burn came in with a bit of lactic build up. Soon went once the hill was over so the legs haven't lost much by spinning on the road bike. Till this morning. My kneecaps hurt. Not the joint or the quads- Just the knee cap. I feel as though I have upset the Diegos and they have taken it out with a base ball bat on the knees.

So it looks like a 10 mile ride tonight on the road to ease them back into civility.

I suspect that poor surface conditions can sucker you into a much lower cadence than you think you are doing. High torque/low cadence is death for older knees. I find that I have to shift a lot on the mountain bike in bad conditions, more even than on rolling roads on my road bike.

Yup. It hurts. That's why I roadified my MTB and became civilized. Cuts down on the washing machine wear-and-tear, too.

Yup! The mud this weekend combined with less riding due to less daylight really took a toll on my speed. I felt like an old man out there this weekend. Having the front wheel lock up in a mud hole and hitting my knee on the frame on the way down didn't help at all. But if the trails are open this week end I'll be out there again. It's better than riding a trainer and a heckuvalot more fun.

But it hurts so good!

No matter how old I get, I just never seem to outgrow playing in the mud.

I agree! I'm 50 and don't plan on quitting any time soon. Got a Ti Fat Chance in 99, and it's still going strong!