Posts
1471
Joined
7/19/2012
Location
Trussville, AL, USA
Edited Date/Time
4/21/2015 5:29pm
So little background I got into the sport late (was raised by single mom couldn't afford dirt bikes) about 2-3 years ago (had a deployment in there) and have only been racing doing the tracks for about a year now on my second year. Though my friends say I'm progressing I still find myself in the bottom of the 25+ C class and its really frustrating. I understand that I'm new to all this and shouldn't expect instant podiums it comes with time and hard work. My biggest issue is mentally. When approaching a new obstacle (big step up, etc.) I will always take the safe way and roll it or only jump it halfway slowing me down a lot then will finally 8-10 track days later finally clear it and realize how much faster and easier that is. I want more than nothing to clear the double double, etc. and know I can. But my fear of another torn knee injury (active duty military, older guy with bills and responsibilities) keeps me from trying. Just curious what your guys, hopefully the older more timid guys in similar situations think to help get over my mental block, or any advice. I keep telling myself time, time time, but I don't want to be 40 years old and finally can clear everything on the local tracks. I know this sport requires patience and due diligence but I also feel and have been told that my tepidness is holding me back and its not until I finish a race or watch gopro from a practice day how frustrated I am with where I'm at in my riding. Thanks in advance and safe riding. Zach
Hey, if you are 16 and might be the next big thing, going for it might make sense, if you are a working man racing for the love of the sport, rolling the bigger stuff is the smart move. Very few of us can afford to be laid up for weeks at a time with mouths waiting to be fed at the dinner table.
Btw... some guys get their "thrill" from huck'n some triple they don't know if they can make. I roll that triple and get my "thrill" from going harder down a bumpy downhill section, or going faster through a rutted section than I feel comfortable with, or from giving it some extra gas in a whoop section. I can easily get hurt in those sections if i go down, but feel they give me a thrill without an automatic trip in the heli that I would probably get by coming up 5 foot short on a triple.
It's a lot tougher for someone like you. You're going to have to start small and keep stepping up the size of the jumps. The hard thing is going out of your comfort zone as a bill paying adult.
Corner speed is most important to pro's, but they have no problem doing most of the jumps. An amateur can give away 20 seconds a lap just by not jumping 5 doubles that everyone else is.
Racing will probably make you progress the fastest because it will force you out of your comfort zone.
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Like JB 19 said I feel I'm as fast as when I was 15 (I'm 29 now). Even If I ride 2 times a week, do a lot of cycling and gym to get fitter the speed is not improving. Lately I've been feeling so slow on the corners, but don't know how to go faster.
How does one overcome this?
One thing I used to do if there was a jump or section I wanted to hit, I would allow myself two laps of rolling and sighting...third lap it's being done regardless. 99% of the time it worked out...I try to forget the 1%.
Don't forget while a pro can go to the track and maybe gain 0.5 sec you can go and gain 3 sec in a day....enjoy the progress, it's one thing that can grind as you feel you have reached your plateau.
Being relatively inexperienced, you will probably benefit huge from a 250f that is well set up for you (and well prepped), if that's not what you already have. Easy to ride, confidence inspiring and forgiving.
That, a few riding lessons to learn technique, and lots of seat time will all help.
If you're feeling uneasy about pulling the trigger on a new jump, listen to your gut. You'll know when it's time. Going home in one piece is a LOT better than an ER visit, it's just not worth it.
Long story short: if you have anxiety about hitting a particular and typical jump on a track, then you are not ready. Keep riding the track and it will come to you. I've seen my son ride tracks in practice as fast as seemiingly aggressive riders his own age, and not hit all the obstacles. Once he pieces all the obstacles on the track together, after several laps, he typically leaves the other guys behind, and he does it with out drama, stress and tension. It certainly helps my blood pressure. I have confidence that he will ride within himself and not attempt things he's not ready for. As a parent, that is the lesson of motocross for my boys. It's about maturity and making solid life decisions, not about the plastic trophies, though we have a few of them as well.
How old are you?
I'm 29. Got into the sport when I was about 20 or 21. To say mom was opposed to motorcycles is an understatement. I moved out and got my own bike and went through the learning curve.
I used to LOVE going to the MX track and getting over the bigger jumps but anything that required any kind of elevated skill or speed scared me a bit. But some buddies turned me on to harescramble racing. It's all of the adrenaline of racing MX without some of the "oh shit" moments you can have in MX. There is still danger and adrenaline, but at least that danger and adrenaline is while your tires are still on the ground. There are still jumps from time to time but they're generally more forgiving than MX jumps.
It took me about 2 of 3 years of racing harescrambles to start thoroughly enjoying that kind of riding so it took a time commitment for me to like it.
Good luck man, stay safe and HAVE FUN
when you want it bad enough you will get it. And hey we all take a few trips over the bars now and then so get dont worry about it those are some of the best stories.
Pit Row
At the end of the day I found myself jumping tabletops I would never have jumped by just going to the track on a typical practice day. I would advice you to join a riding school program for a day to get into the groove sooner and gain some confidence in your bike/riding
But,I also practiced crashing and not crashing. Purposely coming up short on survivable jumps to practice controlling the bounce you get and stopping the bike before the next jump.
Like in a case of double double ,if you case the first one and get out shape you want to stop before lauching the next..
Control of the bike when out of control is important for a long career or life.
And,when I could jumping off the track beside the obstacle to measure it was something i did. Can't always do that because of track furniture ,but when a clear path is there I'd do it.
But to say it again, seat time and more seat time.
I'm just (and I mean JUST) starting to feel a little comfortable and smooth. Still not fast, but just feeling like I belong and know what to do in most situations. Big jumps with F'd up faces are still my nemesis but I have enough skill to not do the biggest stuff and still place well enough for it to be fun.
This is not an easy sport. Starting late is 100X more difficult than to start as a kid.
Advice -
1. RIDE A LOT - as much as you can afford
2. Have fun - Don't be so hard on yourself. Progression in this sport is REALLY slow. Just roll with it.
3. There is no such thing as a "mental block" - That shit is fear! Fear is there to let you know when you don't have enough skill to do what you are about to do or just did. Never shut your brain off and just send it. It will work sometimes and works often for some people but will F you up good if not careful. Trust me, when the time is right for certain things, it will feel somewhat natural pulling the trigger and will be a relief after you've done it and classified as "no big deal".
Go enjoy yourself and be ready for a lot of work and frustration.
* also know that this sport isn't for everyone. You have to be a little off to be really involved and it's more like medicine for whatever our "offness" is rather than a run of the mill hobby. To be honest I hate this F'n sport. I hate it because I love it so much. It's so damn gnarly and can't be replaced by anything else. That and I'd never again do what I've done to get where I am in this sport for anything else. Knowing what I know now, if I was 25 and about to start trying to get good in MX I wouldn't do it again. lol
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