Do you think it's time to call it quits?

Aftermath · Dec 18, 2004

I love riding offroad and the whole sport in general including tinkering with my bike etc, but I've run into some bad luck lately. I'm pretty new to the sport, rode a mates bike here and there, but nothing ongoing. About four months ago I finally got a CR250R1. Came off it a couple of times, but nothing serious.

Now to present, 4 weeks ago I came off on a tricky section on a trail (out of the blue in about third gear) and hit my upper leg muscle pretty hard on a rock. Like a huge fist ramming into the side of your leg. Could hardly walk for about two weeks.

Last weekend came off in 5th gear going around a long sweeping corner. I hit quite a big rock and the next minute I was flying. Hurt myself pretty badly, but nothing broken, just roasties and stitches on elbows and bruised right hip.

Had a quick ride yesterday, came over a jump with my mate coming across directly in front of me (Didn't see me), braked hard, came off and broke my ankle with FLY 805 boots on.

My question is, is it a sign?, should I call it quits? (I don't want to, but I can't keep banging myself up, as I run my own business and have a family that depends on me), or is this pretty normal for a beginner and must just push through. I mean, the last two falls were pure bad luck, a rock on my line and a mate in my way....

PS - I traded the CR for a CRF450R5, big mistake, going to get something smaller like a KTM 200EXC if I carry on......

Dirtbike'n man · Dec 18, 2004

no you should not quit.... you are just having a string of bad luck, we all have them even pro riders have them. some times i can't even stay ON a bike at any speed. Don't feel bad once your ankles at 100% i would get a bike like you said that is more for riding ability and that you feel comfortable on

gwcrim · Dec 18, 2004

Like Dirty Harry said: "A man's got to know his limitations."

It's not really a good idea for a beginner to learn on a race bike. Sure, lots of folks do, but still.....

Try turning down the testosterone a notch or two, get a bike that's not such a handful to ride, and try it again. But don't give up.

HiG4s · Dec 18, 2004

Aftermath said:
, going to get something smaller like a KTM 200EXC if I carry on......

great choice,, doesn't have the hit, handles woods type riding better, still goes plenty fast but you have to have more skills to get it there.

Bbut even with that,, you can hurt yourself.. I dropped back to a 125 a few years ago and still managed to bounce myself off the ground pretty hard. Riding any race quality dirt bike takes good decision making, no matter the skill level.. Just look at Travis Pastrana. Just throttle it back a little,,,

James · Dec 18, 2004

I have been having bad luck for two years now. I ask myself the same question every time I break/tear something. Just went riding today, and it was one of the best days ever. When it's good its good and when it is bad it can bring you down....but there are few things that are as much fun as riding for me.

I'd say hang in there for a while.

YZ165 · Dec 18, 2004

Don't quit, You'll get better with time, and the luck will change. YZ165

mxmatthew · Dec 18, 2004

and if possible I'd try to pick up some better boots to help prevent foot/ankle injuries in the future.

JTT · Dec 19, 2004

Hang in there Aftermath. Many of us have been down this road before. Your plan to go to a 200 is probably a wise one. That and the "throttle back" a little idea will get you through this little rough spot. Stick it out, you won't regret it ;)

yz250-effer · Dec 20, 2004

I think every beginner experiences some injuries, you just have to think of how to minimize them.
I started on an RT180 ( yamaha ) which a big chunk of underpowered brazilian steel. After a year I got a used 89 cr250 and broke my foot within a month.
That Eastwood line is definitley true, but with MX or off road riding, it still comes down to minimizing injuries by being as aware as you can be at all times and not riding over your head ? Of course, I can only say this based on hindsight. :)

smahala1286 · Dec 20, 2004

I would say dont quit man, just tone it down a little and stay away from rocky sections like you were describing, instead of getting a ktm why dont you get a used kdx200-220 they are great bikes and they are way cheap so if you do decide to quit you didnt blow all kinds of money, check out the forum that is specifically for kdx's you will find alot of helpful info there.

buck_y_lee · Dec 20, 2004

Hate to say it, but it sounds like bad judgement rather than bad luck. There is no such thing as an accident - incidents occur because people screw up. Learn from it and continue is my humble advice.

smahala1286 · Dec 21, 2004

buck_y_lee said:
Hate to say it, but it sounds like bad judgement rather than bad luck. There is no such thing as an accident - incidents occur because people screw up. Learn from it and continue is my humble advice.

thats what an accident is, when you do something you dont mean too

buck_y_lee · Dec 21, 2004

How can you do something that you don't mean to? Your body is at the mercy of your brain, so unless you are asleep while riding, every decision and movement is deliberate. Some decisions and movements are good, some are bad. Some are brave, some are foolhardy. But all have consequences, some being the fault of others', but they are still not accidents. Someone could have made a safer decision.

Peace.

killerbeez 75 · Dec 21, 2004

Crashing is just part of riding.It's going to happen weather you like it or not.We all no the consequeces of our actions on dirt bikes and we learn from our mistakes.I bet next time you will view things a little different when your out riding to prevent what happened to you before.It's all part of learning so don't give up. :cool:

Rooster · Dec 21, 2004

If I would have quit after having a sting of bad luck, I would have only had my bike for one day. Hang in there, slow down and enjoy the learning curve.

Shig · Dec 21, 2004

I wouldn't quit anything just because of a few setbacks during the steepest part of the learning curve. Maybe tone it down a notch, though. As you get better you will crash much less frequently.

Motohead6 · Dec 21, 2004

I say stick with it, too. I'm going through the same thing right now and after thinking about it for a couple days I'm going to concentrate on riding smarter as opposed to hanging it up. Since 2001 I've had an ACL tendon graft in each knee (not due to wrecks) last April ('03) just before tearing my left ACL I went over the bars pretty hard in a race after getting wadded up with another rider. Last Sunday was my first day back since my ACL surgery in January. I took off on the track like I had been riding the whole time and you can guess the result: wadded it on a triple step-up. I dislocated my right hip and bruised my spine. It's nasty, but it's my fault and it could have been avoided. I should have taken it slow and gotten back up to speed gradually getting used to the new bike, suspension, etc. before riding at my prior intermediate level. I think we're both guilty of trying to go too fast too soon. Get the KTM, throttle it back, don't hurry yourself and most of all don't quit. Ride smart, know your limits and you'll be fine.

smahala1286 · Dec 21, 2004

buck_y_lee said:
How can you do something that you don't mean to? Your body is at the mercy of your brain, so unless you are asleep while riding, every decision and movement is deliberate. Some decisions and movements are good, some are bad. Some are brave, some are foolhardy. But all have consequences, some being the fault of others', but they are still not accidents. Someone could have made a safer decision.

Peace.

yea but you are only human accidents do happen, its kind of hard to believe that you have never done anything that you didnt mean too, like tripping walking up the steps, oh unless you deliberately do that. No hard feeelings man but everyone is human and everyone has accidents, as for Aftermath i still think you should continue riding but not until for ankle is fully healed and you are ready.

Aftermath · Dec 22, 2004

Thanks for all the replies and support guys. I'm now home from the clinic after having a plate and a couple of screws put in. Not as sore today as it was yesterday. Got to keep my leg elevated. Orthopod advised against smoking, as it slows down bone healing. Going to go off my head with 6 weeks ahead of me plus only able to have about 5 smokes a day.

dom · Dec 22, 2004

smahala1286 said:
yea but you are only human accidents do happen, its kind of hard to believe that you have never done anything that you didnt mean too, like tripping walking up the steps, oh unless you deliberately do that. No hard feeelings man but everyone is human and everyone has accidents, as for Aftermath i still think you should continue riding but not until for ankle is fully healed and you are ready.

Even something like tripping or dropping a glass isn't really an accident. Sure, you didn't mean for it to happen but the end result is still the product of your prior actions. In your example it may be walking to fast, choosing not to use the hand rail or just getting distracted.

In Aftermath's case two of his accidents were caused by traveling too fast where he couldn't see. Riding is a risky activity and if you want to go fast you are going to have to take risks but beginners often get over confident and get hurt. It is unlikely that a pro rider on the same line at the same speed would have hit the rock Aftermath hit and if they did they would have a better chance of recovering.

BigSwole · Dec 23, 2004

never give in bro.It does not matter if your riding slow or fast.....you will wreck again.count on it.like someone said above.learn from it and keep going.

Tony Eeds · Jan 5, 2005

Aftermath said:
I traded the CR for a CRF450R5, big mistake, going to get something smaller like a KTM 200EXC if I carry on......

Good call, I did the same. I broke three metatarsal bones in my right foot 20 minutes into day one at DW '02. An ooperation, two pins and unbelievable pain later, I thought I should quit.

Instead, I got a 200 and have enjoyed myself since. Like others have said, don't try and ride over your head. I am, by far, the slowest of my group I ride with. I smile and take the razzing. It is all in fun.

As far as being the breadwinner, I understand because I am self employed as well.

Slow down, enjoy the forest and stop hitting the trees! ;)

KC10Chief · Jan 5, 2005

Life doesn't come without risk. If you avoided risk in everything you did, you may as well just curl up and die. You're going to get hurt a little. A broken ankle is no big deal really. I agree with the ride smarter stuff. Don't ride beyond your limits. Don't haul ass when you can't see what's coming around the next bend. Kind of like not overdriving your headlights on your car. I have found that the only time I get hurt is when I'm going faster than I am able to. When I'm within my personal limits, I never get hurt. Matt

shnalln · Jan 5, 2005

KC10Chief said:
... A broken ankle is no big deal really....

It sure hurts like crazy though. I broke my ankle in April of last year and was thinking of hanging it up...The problem with that though, is that it was already in my blood. It's difficult to give up on that kind of thing, even though there are responsibilities that have priority.
Once your ankle heals up and your back on your feet, you won't think too much of it...except for when you ride that is...Here in a few weeks you'll find yourself getting a pair of boots that have extra ankle support, you'll go out and ride (smarter than you ever have before), and you'll be glad that you stuck with it...I was :cool:

ToddHawaii · Jan 5, 2005

I agree with Tony Eeds - enjoy the sport and try to avoid the need to push the limits before you are ready. The only times I've been seriously hurt was when I was either on a bike - not mine, unfamiliar and too hot - or I was in over my head. I'm 37, and have been riding since 4 - an Indian 50! Don't lose heart, and get something that will give a little - like the KDX or KTM 200s - as mentioned before and great ideas.

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Do you think it's time to call it quits?

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