Well, here's what happened today:

Lots o'pain starting out as I got warmed up. Then not too bad (800 mg of Ibuprofen before I even started, but that was mostly for menstrual cramps that would have left me otherwise on the floor).

More pain when I spin (on my "giant" 24!) than when I'm cranking a little more slowly on the hills.

No pain at all when standing while riding (I did this a lot today, contrary to what SK recommends ).

I think it is overuse...using my simple logic, it would hurt more with more rpms cuz everything is getting used more.

If anything my quads and other muscles around the knee are overdeveloped and perhaps I work things a little harder than I should because of my thunder quads (chalk that up to telemark skiing and skate skiing and lots of weight training to support those two activities). I have been through gait analysis, etc, etc and my previous knee problems are due to a shorter IT band on the rt than on the left and general hip deterioration (from years of running).

So I'm still at a loss about what to do in the next two weeks. I don't have the $$ to get any work done on the bike before the ride. I guess I'll save for that after I finish paying for this round of dental work.