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Enjoy every minute on them sir.
Sounds like you got a bike and all the gear, tools etc. that is paid for and not costing you money unless you'er using it. If it were me I'd do my best to keep that stuff and get out a couple times a year at an ORV or public land riding area at least.
That would let you scratch the itch to ride, not have to pay $100 in track fees just for your son and you to hit the track, and do some play riding with your son which is obviously a huge positive. It's also safer than hitting the track when your a little "rusty".
But to the original question, I've taken a year or 2 off completely from riding a couple times. Not the end of the world. Always kept following the sport religiously anyway. You'll be fine. If your boy stays riding and racing your still gonna be super connected to it anyway.
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The way I see it, I put on the whole show for the family so if I want 6 hours of my own life to myself, I'll take it and nobody will stop me. Maybe i'm wrong.
Additionally, I had kind of a shitty relationship with it. Only did it because I was a kid and wanted to be the next RC, and when that dream died, I kinda looked around and wasn't even sure if I actually enjoyed it. Drums were an escape for me in a lot of ways and had more of a weird magnetism that pulled me in. Oddly enough it was through studying a heavily technique centered discipline that made me come full circle and fall in love with the artform of the sport in a big way. Can thank AJ Catanzaro for that. Now I not only enjoy the races themselves, but also can appreciate the skills and technical mastery of the guys on TV.
Maybe I'll pick it up again someday. I generally like to push my speed relative to my comfort zone and the technique fundamentals needed to do that safely really only fall into place for me if I'm riding regularly, so it'd have to be at some point when I'm past my "traveling around the country in a fart filled band van" phase of my life.
Not sure why dads quit when their kids race? Whats the odds of kids going pro. Remember its just fun for us mere mortals
We’ve all gone some amount of time without riding or racing, it’s called life. What’s the purpose of turning into some significant life decision?
Throughout my life I’ve ridden more and ridden less, or not ridden at all for some period of time, but it didn’t need to be treated as some major life decision.
We have 7 yr old twins- after they were born I didn’t ride much, now I ride more because my son rides.
In the meantime, there are a couple of active FB groups dedicated to Yamaha Mini Enduros and YZ80's that you should check out. I see complete YZ80C's show up from time to time. And like everything else vintage, they bring stupid money too.
Picked up golf and did that for a few years, but it sucks to suck. Got a bike again in 2015 and just rode for fun for a few years. Decided to do a local vet race and remembered why local races sucked – was at the track by 7:00 a.m. but didn’t even get to race my first moto (four laps) till 4:30 p.m.! Knowing I had to wake up early for work the next morning, I loaded up and left.
To this day, I still wrestle with the notion of getting back into riding. Especially around Loretta Lynn’s….I think about all the great times my family and I had there.
But then again, I don’t even have children and still feel pressed for time…after obligations to the wife, pets, other hobbies, some days I think, “Would I really feel like pressure washing a dirt bike or changing a tire right now?” I just feel like if I cannot commit 100%, it’s not worth half-assing it.
The first time was in college. Girls and parties were more important than practice, so I hurt myself a lot. I finally realized I needed a break.
The second time, I just didn’t have anyone to ride with. All my moto buddies had moved on, so it wasn’t all that fun to go alone. I was a ways away from my parents and so I wasn’t riding with dad much.
The third time I truly believed I was done. My dad finally decided to hang up his boots and quite honestly, it wasn’t the same without him. I took up flying, and other than cost (!), was enjoying it. I ended up getting back into it after 5 years because of a promise I had made to my daughter (learn your bicycle without training wheels and you get a dirt bike). Well, she remembered…and off we went.
Stuff I learned:
No matter how much you think you’re over it or won’t do it again, odds are good you will. Keep at least one good set of gear. This makes getting back in far less expensive and also allows you to test the waters with a buddy’s (or your kid’s) bike.
Keep a stand, tools, etc-again, greatly reduces startup costs. Since your son is riding, I’m guessing you’ll have this anyway.
Take it easy and recognize you’ll be disappointed in your speed and bravery when you start up again. I found that it didn’t take long to knock the rust off, other than my willingness to jump stuff…that took awhile, especially after the 5-year layoff.
For me once I started back up @ 37 it's become hard to give up the feeling of riding moto even @ +60. Hoping to go until 65+ or maybe 70+ racing vet series. I have some extra motivation to keep riding as I was diagnosed with leukemia @ 45 and while I have never been treated I don't want something out of my control to put end to my riding or to look back and feel I gave up and missed out .
Anyways, OP, I feel like there was a similar thread not too long ago and I think this is a pretty common thing to feel like this at different points in life. It's really hard to be used to putting MX as such a top priority in life and then having that change. I have slowly been backing down how much I ride just with life getting in the way. I was hurt this spring and had some time off anyways and we are expecting our first child in October. So my summer was spent just doing stuff around the house and getting ready for that (setting up the room etc.) So I've only been out a handful of times this year. We purposely waited a little later in life to have kids and now that he will be here soon, I know I probably won't have as much time to ride. So I can understand why people feel that way, as I am struggling with that reality a bit myself. But my family is my 1st priority. So this season is pretty much shot for me. I'm hoping next year when things settle down, I can try to get in a routine to ride more. But who knows, just have to see how it goes.
Pit Row
My recommendation to you, if you have to stop racing for now, that is ok...just don't let yourself be complacent and comfortable with your health. Stay fit, take care of your family...you will ride again...
Started again around 23 when I had money.
Stopped again about 2 years ago at 35. Two kids racing it was a lot of work to ride my self. Just had my second knee surgery 6 months ago within a 2 year period.
I have the time and money to ride now. Trying to talk my self out of it. Starting to feel all the injuries at 37, not sure it’s worth it. I can’t just go slow and not jump everything, and I don’t like the woods.
Been living threw my 9 and 14 year old lately.
If I do want to ride, could alwasy ride my kids 2022 fc250
Just look at it as the time will come again but you have to take care of what's important today.
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