I normally use Speedplays on the road but I borrowed some Shimano SPD for off road and was pleasantly suprised. Thought the lack of float would annoy me.

Veronica - I think you could be right about the gearing. It was pretty rough terrain, nice and muddy and chalky so I was in the tiny weeny granny ring for a lot of the time.

Sadie-Kate - that's an interesting thought too. Unlike on the road I was much less bothered about speed. Just staying up right was major achievement. Even though I was off the back I wasn't tempeted to switch into a big gear and grind it to catch up with the others like I might have done on the road.

Think I might need to tinker with my road bike to stop the knee pain.