Age and fear

56 yrs old still racing, only about 5x year. 
Fear of getting hurt keeps me from jumping anything with a crash penalty for a mistake. 
I really don’t look forward to riding anymore, but always have a great time once I’m there. It doesn’t make any sense but I just seem to make a million excuses (5 hrs of driving, work/home/wife honey do’s) up and can’t look forward to something I’ll enjoy.  If it wasn’t for friends and family I’d stop completely - riding by myself has no interest anymore.  

I'll stop posting my drivel ...... one more I swear...

 Chasing granddaughter around 9 a.m. till 4:30 pm...fishing, grocery store, playground......McDonalds.....

I agree Bro it is strange . I can’t wait to hit the Chad Apult at Millville in 4th. Depending on how secure the ski hill is . I might go hit the ski flying ramp. Trespassing of course. 

Sometimes I shake my head and laugh, I’m not racing motocross anymore because it’s too dangerous, so instead I’m riding my dual sport in traffic and going 35+mph on a bicycle. Yeah that sounds safer than going around a track with a bunch of semi slow guys my age all going the same direction with an ambulance and emt’s on site... 🥴.
 

 I can 100% see how racing vintage bikes on vintage style tracks would be a good way to keep the racing juices going without having to worry about landing in the perfect spot from 10 plus feet in the air. I’m 64 I don’t even jump off my tailgate. I don’t mind taking some calculated risks but trying to jump 8-10’ high and cover 30-45 feet of distance or eat shit 7 or 8 times a lap doesn’t sound fun anymore. Drag racing my buddies off the start, out braking, diving inside or railing the outside before the next drag race to the next corner, jumps that’ll throw you far not high and  without a “Bad” landing spot, that sounds fun. Some tracks I wouldn’t even be thinking about dicing it up with other guys, i’d be worrying about not crashing on some jump.  I know I know....“I’ll take things old people say for 100 Alex”. 

I agree also, been in this state of mind a couple of times myself. I'm 60 and was feeling the same way when I was in my early 40's. I sold my bike's and quit riding. Every day I thought about riding again. Couple years later I get another bike and within a few months I get injured. 4 months off and job issues I sell my bike. Again every day missing the ride. 2016 I get another bike and get into cross-country and enduros. Haven't looked back. The enduros are a blast for me and I enjoy the ride again. Try what Richy posted. Hang in there. There's something inside of us that ride that those folks that don't ride can't understand. Whether you're feeling the flow on a track or the flow through the woods. It's a natural high.

I survived the Washougal OT Event this last weekend. Track was epic!  Rode 70 Master and finished 2nd OA. My son raced 40 master and won all five motos. Joey Lancaster finished in the top 3 in 30 Master. Joeys dad rode the 70 Intermediate class.

Managed the fear with experience and caution.....in blue tee's Rory and Myself

Good times!!

I'm around 5 decades old and stopped caring about needing to clear big shit at least 10 years ago. It's okay to half jump stuff or roll it, only do jumps you feel 100% confident clearing. Don't succumb to peer pressure unless you are willing to pay the price.

I still have fun riding even though I'm nowhere near as fast as the kiddos (or myself when I was younger).

^ This

For what it's worth... I went to Pala yesterday, first ride in like 3 months. I'm 50 yrs old. That previous ride was not good, couldn't get a flow, struggled to save the bike when it got a little out of shape. I have very low hopes for a good time when I went yesterday. 

Turns out I had a blast, because I rode (for me) great. Was hitting jumps I was scared of on the last ride. Felt comfortable with the bike twitching around. I was so surprised. 

Reason for this? I bought a Sur Ron a couple of months ago, and mess around on it literally ever day. Trails, urban, driveway, learned how to slow wheelie it, trials obstacles, and lastly MTB jump lines that I would NEVER have hit on an MTB (no throttle). So I go to the track and all my fast twitch muscles/ muscle memory is up to speed (this is my theory). I'm initiating saving mistakes so much faster, without really thinking about it. 

Ergos on the Sur Ron, which is small (I'm 6'2) are the same standing up as on my 450 as I have bar risers and moved the pegs back. I highly recommend getting one!