I just stumbled across this area of the forum (I'm still new here)... hitting 31 in February and I am just starting a DH build from scratch as a kind of hobby project.
All while thinking, "Maybe I'm getting a bit old" after coming off my Trance the other week when some plastic fencing blew up in the wind and caught my handlebar, slamming into the ground right on my elbow and knee and being really sore and unable to move as normal for about a week and a half... on top of the usual aches and pains I started getting a couple years ago in my lower back and knees.
I love riding down hills/downward trails on my Trance, even if it's not really built for it and has pretty steep geo... hence the beginning of the DH build.
Good to see I won't be too old by the time it's complete to have some fun... haha.
As mjs mentioned above... same mindset as my younger years, only when you come off... it hurts more, and you have a longer recovery.
Back when I was riding BMX in my teens it was crash, roll, get up, laugh, dust off... get back on and go.
Not anymore.