Lately over the last several months everytime I go out to the track I just wanna shred and have a great time like I used to but ever since I had a really severe crash in September and I was out of work for a little and my wife and I just recently had a baby boy it seems I can't shake the cobwebs enough to go out and shred. Im constantly in paranoia asking myself am I riding over my head? How far should I push it? I want to progress and ride really well but how do you do it without riding over your head.  I dunno I always used to be the type to try anything and pin it and find out. And I wanna start racing this season but I guess I wanna know is has anyone else been there I really love riding just dont know when to push the envelope or just be content and come home safe to my family.

Prob not the answer you're looking for, but that's one of the reason's I ride trails/singletrack.  I am 37 now, and have had a history of injuries.  I don't enjoy riding MX unless I'm doing it well and the "price of failure" of MX vs. trail is much higher.  I find that when I push it in the woods, I'm still no where even close to the danger levels of pushing it in MX.  Also, if needed I can slow it down considerably and still find ways to really enjoy myself by hitting more technical secitons.

Edited by dhdrider, 06 March 2012 - 09:58 AM.

Congrats man you my friend are getting older!! You realize your bones aren't made of rubber anymore and there are responsibilities in life you have to take care of that's more important than riding and having fun. It's your brains way of telling you to "think again idiot". As you ride more and more you will feel more confident, comfortable and ambitious. Don't worry it will come back. You might not be doing back flips and break world speed records but you'll get better. Consider yourself strong!! Majority of people would hang up their boots after a major wreck like yours.

Haha yeah I am getting older I guess...my wife is 100% supportive and yeah I think your right some of the confidence will come back with more seat time. And I do enjoy woods riding but all my buddies ride mx and the thrill of railing ruts and flying over triples hip jumps dragon backs and all other goodies mx has to offer is so addicting

I'm in a similar situation, except the injury.  Married & 6 mo. old son.  This is something that I've thought about a lot in the last year or so. I get a lot of abuse from my younger riding buddies on how hard I push it.  Personally, I've come to terms w/ two things; 1) I love riding! and 2) I feel almost the same amount of love for my family. Lol.  

You can still go out at push your limits, but just enjoy your time on the track w/o trying to go pro.  These days I much more enjoy laughing w/ my wife on how big of a p#ssy I am, rather than of showing off my scars to her.

No need to be banished to the woods.  I'll always prefer the track.  That's why there's 25+, 30+, 40+ & Vet classes, etc.

Fact of the matter is you're not going to turn pro, so its not worth the risk.  Its the little things in your technique that make you faster anyways, not riding balls to the wall.  More riding time with the right technique will make you safer and faster.

I'm a new member who is probably as old as anyone here. When I was young, I was much more into going for it that technique. I ended up crashing bad, in a high side, and the was the end of MX for me. 2 years later, I still had the fire and was healed enough so I started racing enduros. That was actually a great move and I have very fond memories. It was fun and far lower keyed.
To this day, I still suffer from that mx crash. Last year I had an operation to fix my foot, that was smashed so long ago, because it came back to haunt me, 37 years later.

i took up martial arts in the winter just for the purpose of avoiding this, keeps the coordination and reaction time sharp, calcify some bones, you'll feel better and be a bit tougher, oh and the older you get the more you need to stretch to avoid serious injury

Getting old sucks. Back in high school I rode with my right wrist. Which put me in the hospital more than once. Now That I have a house and kids, I ride with my head. I just don't do any of that "hucking it" kind of stuff. I am able to push it a little but I mostly just spend my time at the track working on technique and trying to ride smoother and more comfortably. I also want to get into some racing, and I imagine I'll just go about it the same. Stay within my abilities and not kill myself trying to catch some 15 year old kid.

I went through this, 6 years ago i was a mad man in the quad MX world. Loved big jumps, hairpin turns and bshing around with other guys who thought they were fast cause they spent big money and bought the best equipment money could buy. Had a bad injury when my 4 wheeled friend didnt quite clear a 105 foot step-up and was laid up long after. It scared me, and while i was laid up i met someone, got married and now expecting our first child. When it come time i was ready to get back into it i bought a stock CRF450 due to the capability vs cost factor of a quad. I find myself telling myself i cant ride like i used to. I still hit the MX track and have fun doing it but im not out to prove a point and i mainly enjoy flying in and out of trees more than anything now. I tell myself that if i keep myself in decent enough shape to ride all my life that its something i can enjoy with my boy when he gets older, and that excites me as much as being the first quad to jump stuff use to excite me.

Well sounds like I might have a few years on most of you 45, rode as a kid not competitive but getting into racing with my son now.  By no means am I competitive but I do have fun.  Yes have wife mortgage, and putting two kids through college but I by no means take the risks these younger ones do.  I get out there and do my best to stay out of their way during practice, race with the old fat guys and more importantly my son and enjoy every minute of it.  I have broken a couple insignificant bones last year, rib, thumb ect but manage to get back to work the next day.  Just bought a newer bike capable of much more than I am but I know my limits.  So I guess I am going to continue to do this until I cant anymore and have fun at it.

Just run this through your head "If I don't go big then Im officially old"  that will make you go big!

Too many people think 'if you are not crashing, you are not trying'. Not true, if you are crashing all the time, you are an idiot. No one wins by crashing. Being a better rider is all about control and managing what is going on. Though even with the best of plans, accidents happen. But crashing should not be a acceptable occurence.

William1, on 10 March 2012 - 07:45 AM, said:

If your first priority while riding is not crashing then you are not trying.  my priorities go like this
1-go fast
2-dont crash (almost crashing is fine)
3-look cool
4-shift gears

Edited by dirtjumpordie, 10 March 2012 - 08:03 AM.

My priority is winning.
Never crash, use skill instead of luck
No need to 'look cool' because I am

You'll realize this once (and if) you make it into you 20's.

William1, on 10 March 2012 - 09:05 AM, said:

lol I also am cool but I think I should have typed "focus on form"  good form looks cool and makes you go faster.  I kinda think that Form, going fast, and not crashing all work together to make eachother more possible.  when im hauling ass I generally use good form and vice versa. which makes me not crash And look pretty fly for a white guy

Priorities

1. Dont get hurt ( remember im the old fat guy)
2. Go fast ( got a 450 EFI so I know it gors fast but can I handle ti)
3. Look cool (the old fat guy thing im always cool like Sean Connery)
4. Repeat number 1

Hahaha looking cool is the least of my priorities I just want to become a really skilled and wise rider that can determine when to back off and know im riding over my head.

MX450R, on 08 March 2012 - 08:41 AM, said:

i have heard many say that trails is safer than mx ... u say u fly in and out of trees ? If u hit a tree at any speed above 20 mph u will be laid up for awhile . I never have understood why racing by a tree at 30 mph is safer than riding a mx track ?? One little tire slip , mech failure or hand comes off bars and u hit a tree !! In my opinion its way MORE dangerous than a mx track .. at least where i ride . I dont take any 100 ft jumps ... 50 ft tables etc . NO TREES

luckycr125, on 12 March 2012 - 10:39 AM, said:

I said I enjoy flying in and out of trees now, I never once said it was safer lol. Riding is dangerous no matter where your riding. I was hitting a 90ft downhill yesterday that i probably shouldnt have been hittin cause my back feels it today but i enjoyed that feeling of going fairly big again.