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You could ride trails and not tracks. Like peelout said, you can find some bitchin riding out in the hills.
I would ride trails and woods stuff in the winter, and get a mountain bike and ride trails any other time.
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In your mind if something is telling you to stop ie. fear, wisdom, whatever?... and you don't, and then you get seriously hurt will you be mad at yourself for not listening to your instincts, or convictions or whatever that voice is? And will that injury seal the deal for you and you stop for ever with no regrets? Then it is probably time to hang it up.
Or if you do not have a serious conflict and your thoughts are, "Well I could quit riding today and fall off a curb and get run over by a car tomorrow". Then it is probably not time to quit riding yet.
Which one are you? That is the real question.
The truth is that there is no clear answer that fits everyone, each person is different. What is different for me is that I worry about getting hurt right up until the 30 second board goes sideways and then all those thoughts leave my brain and I ride with focus and smiles. The day those thoughts leave the gate with me is the day I am done.
Still ride here and there, go to tons of local and Pro races and events and have a sweet gig in the industry.
Nobody ever gives me crap or questions my riding or racing.
When I actually do ride and don't hit any of the jumps, I rarely get crap, but if someone does, I easily blow it off.
I know I suck and I'm not trying to prove anything anymore.
Do what you feel is best.
Assess the risk. I do a lot more trail riding at 29 than I did at 18. I won't do a new jump if I second guess myself. I'll roll that fucker all day long. I'm not there to win practice, I just want to get a work out and work on my technique. I will also not jump anything that requires me to be hard on the gas in 4th or 5th gear on a 250 2 stroke. 3rd or below unless I'm just maintaining speed in 4th, keeping the RPM's down. Any jump that is bigger is not worth the risk of crashing or bailing for me. Through my experience, I don't get hurt if I have to ditch the bike mid air going that speed. The risk vs. reward is not enticing enough to go faster or jump farther.
In 96 had my 1st daughter,in 2000 the 2nd daughter. That same year things came together to ride husqvarna again and i went at racing like never before.
I got a million dollar insurance policy that paid if I died racing,good for peace of mind pulling on the gate.
In fall of 01 shattered my ankle,got back on and made it to LLs just barely but had fun.
In December of 03 broke my c3 c4 and was paralyzed neck down for a few days,doctor said 99 percent die the other 1 percent wither away. Took about 3 months to get back to normal.
In 05 i started sneaking my 02 husky out to a local Saturday nite track under the guise of working on bikes and selling parts because the family was dead set agin racing or riding. It worked till a goon i was lapping collided over a big double with my leg going in his rear wheel as i tried to push him away. Ate it hard and about a week later the wife sees the bruising when I get out the shower. Kept racing though.
In 08 a new owner of the local honda shop set me up with a 450 for 10 cents to promote his shop. Back to the megaseries and racing all those rounds. Had one of the hardest licks i ever took at muddycreek when a rock wedged the rear brake lever on takeoff and I slammed ,knocked out and thought my pelvis was shattered along with ever organ in my gut.
C scan revealed all ok but I'd broken my lower back years and years earlier that I never knew ,just rode thru it apparently.
In 09 I shattered my tibia plateau and had dr. Homer simpson screw it together ruining my leg. Cant ride anymore but would if possible, possible at the lever I'm used to.
Racing,riding is dangerous but some aren't happy sitting on the couch watching others live,I'm not. I never felt more alive than when I had a chance at loosing my life.
I see death at work everyday. And agony families endure....it something I wish I had no experience with.
I get anxiety about injury and death. But that's probably because I'm getting older and realize I'm not invincible like I was at 19. The more you accomplish for yourself the more you realize what you can lose...
I still ride but if I get a tank slapper I shut it down. I have no shame in backing it off. And I get sick hearing about all the injuries. Two personal friends lives are changed forever. And another rider who wasn't a real good friend but were great people and helped me out one time is living life altered.
All in your personal choice. I just pray that I stay in one piece and on two wheels.
And to those that argue about you can die at work, you can die in a wreck; I can walk up & down the pits & it would be very hard to find 5 guys that have been in the hospital due to car wrecks out other injuries not involving dirt bikes. But I can find 5 guys to my left & 5 guys to my right without walking far that have all had serious injury due to riding dirt bikes. This is a pay to play sport & you just gotta decide how much you're willing to pay.
Pit Row
Too many opinions and biases. Terrible consequences, addictive urges. Good/bad with everything. No one has it all.
I always had fun riding trails, though. But I also had a time where I rode tracks a lot. Of course, my main bike was a 125 or and xr250. i had other bikes in between, but mainly a 125. The kind of bike and the power plays a role. Accidents will happen, but having a bike that you can handle is half the battle.
It's lame if you let anyone influence your decision.
Live to ride, Ride to live
my 2cents
Sorry about your buddy. RIP.
With that being said you may want to try an approach that I have adopted.
After loosing some of my best friends to this sport, and also having a stay at home wife and a daughter to provide for, I have certainly contemplated retirement many times.
It's easy to say "just don't go as fast" but that's easier said than done...we are racers whom go fast. It's in our DNA.
Over the last year and a half (since the day my daughter was born), I mainly stick to the vet/amateur tracks if one is available. There are usually far less people, safer obstacles, and less 16 Y.O kids jumping over your head and almost killing you....you can still hold it wide open, but your chance of an accident is reduced (in my opinion substantially). I can honestly say I don't know if I have enjoyed riding more than I have since I began to do so. Your not worried about hitting the huge jumps, your worried about keeping up your corner speed.
Yes I get grief from my buddies, but I could care less. I'm having fun, and am coming home to the family I provide for in one peace.
Best of luck to you bud.
corporate job = no time for anything except commuting it seems and to be honest, my health insurance is nothing to write home about considering it gets more expensive every year and being out of work would devastate me financially and hurt my career
its really not worth it, IMO but to each their own
Post a reply to: Another rider lost, and decision to hang it up