Rofl I was afraid you would say that ...Daf said:Hi Red,
Same deal here. As a kid I rode balls to the wall, now in my 2nd incarnation as a rider - with a similar 20+ year layoff - I find that the biggest difference is this.
At some age - between 20 - 50 I came to the realization that I'm, in fact, mortal! And with that realization came that nagging new voice in the my head - caution.
Daf
LOL "The Mortgage Roll"......better than the roll over my belt. I have no plans to give up riding I just was hoping that there would be a magic pill or something ..... Thanks again all for your responses.............................RedXRpredator said:I've heard of this phenomenon. I experience it myself. I was recently informed tha the way you roll the jumps nowadays instead of flying across the 40 foot chasm has been termed "The Mortgage Roll".
Don't feel bad. At least you're riding and not just sitting on the couch.
Great advice I have been planning to have the bike set up for me . It just wasn't on the front burner yet... LOL I don't really try to keep up with my nephew I know he is faster and a better rider. So I just try to take my own pace and leave him blow through the fast sections. Thanksdirt bike dave said:After a long lay off, I think you need to gradually rebuild your confidence.
IMO, riding with the 20 year old nephew could be hurting your confidence. Take the pressure off yourself and find some slower guys to ride with until you get comfortable again. Then it will be easier to keep up with the faster guys.
Also, proper set up of the bike FOR YOU is critical to feeling comfortable. Trusting the bike to to what you want it to is key.
Something as small as too much air pressure in the tires or the wrong tires for conditions can lead to not trusting the bike's handling. When the bike is not set up well for you, you will ride tense, make mistakes, etc....
Proper suspension set up is vital. If you have been out of action for 30 years, you have probably never set up a modern bike. I would highly recommend doing some research on suspension. Or maybe find an experienced riding partner that can really help you dial in your bike for the area you ride.
No I didn't get fast overnight before but it just came naturally. So when it hasn't come so easily this time I have became a bit worried that it wont. I don't expect to become the next big thing. I just want to feel as if I am improving and riding safer and smarter as well as faster..whenfoxforks-ruled said:You did not get fast overnight before did you? It has never been proven that old guys are fast. 2 biggest issues, blasting the whoops and jumps. It will come, to some degree.
autodoc345 said:to give you a little hope or despair depending on how you look at this, I have recently gone riding with "chainsaw bob" he took up riding 5 years ago at the age of 65 years young, our first ride he said he wasn't very fast but would go most places, well fast is different depending on your brain, everywhere we went he was waiting for us, making hills that I didn't with a "man that was fun" grin most of the day. He say's that he has had more fun in the last 5 years riding than the rest of his life combined.I would say just take time to become your bikes friend and learn what it will and won't do. most current bikes are far more capable than most riders can wring out of them.
Red 250 said:Ol'89r I do have most of the equipment I need. I do want to get elbow and knee protection. But I dont want to feel like a storm trooper or lose mobility while riding either. Have you noticed any issues with that with your gear??
Good to hear about the gear not being a problem. I live in a Northern California town near Clearlake.... I actually live in Lakeport.... There are a few large scale riding areas here so there are lots of people riding every weekend. Lots of trails and single track stuff..Ol'89r said:Red.
Quite the contrary. The gear gives you a feeling of confidence when you get used to it. The only thing that bothered me was the elbow and forearm guards. They kept sliding down on my wrists when I would land hard off of a jump or on a very rough track. If I tightened the straps enough to keep them on my arms, they gave me arm pump. I wound up attaching them to the shoulder flaps on my chest protector with nylon ties. Now I can leave the straps loose and they dont slide down.
When you look at the scrapes and gouges on the elbow and knee guards you will realize how good they do their jobs. I have a chest protector that I keep around just to show people how good they protect you. It was one that I landed on while coming onto a pavement section in a Grand Prix. Got pitched over the bars and landed on my back and slid about fifty feet into a corner on pavement. Got up and finished the race. If I hadn't had that chest protector on it would have messed me up pretty good.
It's all about having fun. Find your own pace and keep at it. You will eventually get your confidence back.
Where do you live? There are probably a bunch of old farts close by that you could ride with.
wussywhenfoxforks-ruled said:. . . I still hate chest protectors, but do not race against the thumpers without it!!
You have obviously never been pelted by a 450. The purple 4 inch welts are not worth it.XRpredator said:wussy
of course I have. By several. And by 426's, 525's, 400's, and 650's.whenfoxforks-ruled said:You have obviously never been pelted by a 450. The purple 4 inch welts are not worth it.
Red 250 said:I live in a Northern California town near Clearlake.... I actually live in Lakeport.... QUOTE]
DAYUM! :ohmy: Clearlake. :yikes: Now I'm jealous. :fft:
That's some of the best riding in all of California. Go to the 'Places to ride, good people to ride with' forum and click on the 'Western Forum'. There are a few members up in that area that you could hook up with.
Organize your own ride. Post a time and a place. They will come.
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