I'm 47 and also took about 30 years off from riding before getting back into four years ago. I also have never ridden a modern dirt bike (OK, except the pit bike my son-in-law stores in my shed). I say this with embarrassment, as I've worked on many for friends and I would love to buy a modern bike, but wife keeps telling me I can't afford it until we get another kid out of the house. Alas, I'm stuck on the bike I wanted as a 15-year-old but couldn't afford then.
So, the old bouncy, fades-after-30-minutes, seven-inches-of-travel-if-your-lucky suspension is all I've ever experienced.
I sometimes get to riding where I think I'm going pretty darned fast, but then I see some youngster (or even oldster) zipping along the same trail at barely subsonic speed and I just shake my head in amazement.
But I have a whole lot of fun and I absolutely love my old steed. Despite its shortcomings (and there are many), it has never let me down.
And I have finally given up trying to change my jumping technique which consists of keeping as little air as possible between my tires and the ground. I've actually gained ground a time or two on people in the air by doing that. But let's face it, I'd never win a race against someone jumping a double or triple anyway.
My injuries from riding consist solely of a few bruised ribs, severely sprained (but pretty much healed in six months) knee that was already messed up, and scraped and bruised elbows/forearms. I hope to not increase that list.
But the most important thing: I've had a lot more fun since I stopped trying to push myself beyond what I was comfortable doing!
