30+ Year-old Beginners?

kwhite199
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USA
1/14/2010 4:12pm
swizcore wrote:
Dont care what anyone says. No One on Vital rides.
What speed does a person have to hit before it is considered riding? I am wondering if I fit into the riding category or not

Wink
swizcore
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Fenton, MI, USA
1/14/2010 5:08pm
swizcore wrote:
Dont care what anyone says. No One on Vital rides.
kwhite199 wrote:
What speed does a person have to hit before it is considered riding? I am wondering if I fit into the riding category or not

Wink
I think I just barely fit into the riding category. I have the best bike I've ever owned but I also have a 4 and 1 year old who get first dibs on my time. The 4 year old goes with me to watch me ride now at least, The 1 year old is gonna be the one who likes to ride I think.

I am a pro-moto-nerd and epitome of fast-guy wannabe. I used to go pretty good.
kwhite199
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1/14/2010 5:14pm
swizcore wrote:
I think I just barely fit into the riding category. I have the best bike I've ever owned but I also have a 4 and 1...
I think I just barely fit into the riding category. I have the best bike I've ever owned but I also have a 4 and 1 year old who get first dibs on my time. The 4 year old goes with me to watch me ride now at least, The 1 year old is gonna be the one who likes to ride I think.

I am a pro-moto-nerd and epitome of fast-guy wannabe. I used to go pretty good.
Same here! I used to be able to at least get out of my own way, but I hit the track for the first time in 13 years about 2 years ago and let's just say I didn't impress anyone. I definitely don't have the time to ride as much as I would like. I actually have two bikes and I don't ride either one nearly enough!
jndmx
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South Kingston, RI, USA
1/14/2010 5:18pm Edited Date/Time 4/17/2016 8:02pm
I rode and raced when I was a kid but it was always on friends bikes, we were poor white trash.....lol.

My buddy Jeff's dad would sign me up as his brother and I raced a few times.
Still ride on a practice track here and there.

I'm 47 now to bust my 14 yr old son's ass I rode his bike on fathers day 09 in a special "non-racing dads moto" at the track where I work.
I told him since I was so slow I could really go old school, workboots and jeans.



Dead slow but I can still get my picture taken by Paul Buckley....lol.
www.buckleyphotos.com

The Shop

MIKEY755
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Location
Montreal, CA
1/14/2010 5:42pm Edited Date/Time 4/17/2016 8:02pm
wow.... I had no idea that you guys were all over 30, guess i'm just a baby.

but seriously what does age have to do with riding? it's all about the love of the sport, most of my riding buddys are in their 30's. that's whats great about the mx, it brings the young and the old together, there is no age in motocross.

as for the speed thing, that also has nothing to do with it, as long as you're having fun and enjoying yourself then you're "riding" I used to get pissed when I first started cause people would alwys laugh at my skills, now i just tell them to STFU. however, I have gained some speed since I started, I guess I could be considered a slow intermediate rider..... maybe even less so since I just bought a 125.
zjbell
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CA, CA, USA
1/14/2010 5:56pm
jndmx wrote:
I rode and raced when I was a kid but it was always on friends bikes, we were poor white trash.....lol. My buddy Jeff's dad would...
I rode and raced when I was a kid but it was always on friends bikes, we were poor white trash.....lol.

My buddy Jeff's dad would sign me up as his brother and I raced a few times.
Still ride on a practice track here and there.

I'm 47 now to bust my 14 yr old son's ass I rode his bike on fathers day 09 in a special "non-racing dads moto" at the track where I work.
I told him since I was so slow I could really go old school, workboots and jeans.



Dead slow but I can still get my picture taken by Paul Buckley....lol.
www.buckleyphotos.com
I forgot my riding clothes at home a few weeks ago, didn't want to waste the day so I rode in my jeans and a sweater with my boots and knee braces on underneath. I had a crazy rash on my legs for a week.

My friends enjoyed it more than anyone, I had more photos and videos taken of me on the track that day....
cpracing519
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Jenison, MI, USA
1/14/2010 6:03pm
I started at age 30 on a 86 RM125 then went to a 99 Kx125 2years later. Then I went crazy and bought a 06 KX250f and sunk over $12,000 into it blinging it out and modded motor. I just sold that and now going back to a 87 RM125. I'll be 37 in a few months!
I was born with no fingers on my right hand(throttle side!), just a thumb and a few stubs and still do pretty good. I have broken a few ribs, shoulder, ankles, and concussion in the last 2 years, but I will be back at it as soon as this snow melts! I love the sport and hanging out with all my friends at the track.
Vet sport class, non current, and Innovation class for 2010!
fcr
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Monkeys Eyebrow, YE
1/14/2010 6:30pm
Started in 4/5th grade on my minibike, got my first bike in 6th grade, that was in the 60s. Had to quit due to money and last race was when I was about 20. Got my next bike at 49 yrs old. I am on Hiatus since a year ago again due to health, 55 as of Dec. . Just get seat time Noob the more it becomes 2nd nature the better, more comfortable you get. Also it is all about you and having fun. ONe thing I always notice about new guys is they ride too far back on their seat. ^^^^^
TeamGreen
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Thru-out, CA, USA
1/14/2010 6:45pm
Returned to the track at 43. Had been ridin' off-road a bit; but, hadn't done any 'real' moto since...what...28? (1991)

It's more fun now than it EVER was before.

I take more pride in my results now...no matter what the finish...I'm happy if I rode well.

Events like Mammoth are more fun for me than Surfin' in Maui.
Devil1nNj
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Hewitt, NJ, USA
1/14/2010 6:45pm
I've been riding bikes since I was 10 just trails. Where I grew up the town is 80sq miles, with only 40sq miles residential. The rest is all watershed, or state land. Growing up when I did, you could be best friends with someone at school who lived 20 minutes away by car. So trail riding power, and gas lines, and all the other "illegal but not enforced at the time" trails, was pretty much a way around in the pre license days.
I rode my first MX track at 24. I was addicted immediately, that was 04. I wish I grew up in this sport. If my wife and I have kids, they will certainly be introduced young, to make their choice. Smile
russerbe
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Lubbock, TX, USA
1/14/2010 8:46pm
russerbe wrote:
I rode as a kid and then a short stint in my low 20's. Just this year at 35, I had shoulder surgery which allowed me...
I rode as a kid and then a short stint in my low 20's. Just this year at 35, I had shoulder surgery which allowed me to start riding again. I recently got an 09 KX450. I love it, but it kills me that I don't have half the sack to hit jumps like I did when I was young. I live in West Texas and our tracks are only open maybe 1 day a month unless there is a series going on. So, I don't get any seat time to get better. It's frustrating as hell. When it warms up, I'm going to start going to Dallas for the weekend to ride. They have so many great tracks that are open damn near every day. Maybe then, I'll get fast enough that I won't roll the braking bumps! Hahahaha
txmxer wrote:
drop a line when you are coming this way. We can head out to the local tracks and form a road block... Where do you ride...
drop a line when you are coming this way. We can head out to the local tracks and form a road block...

Where do you ride in Lubbock? When I was there, Abilene and Amarillo, there wasn't much. I think it's MX 211 in Idalou? And a track opened up south of Lubbock 10 years ago, never heard if it made it. I know they had one big event after they opened.

I rode the track in Amarillo and 420 in Borger a few times (think 420 is closed).

Really started in Abilene and rode quite a bit there. It's not bad for a night track and a beginner/novice level rider last I was there.



I will def let you know anytime I come into DFW to ride. Have you ridden River Valley? I love that place. I live 10 minutes from TNT in Idalou which is a great track, but they don't open it for ride days but just a few times a year and they have about 10 races a year and that's it. 211 is the track you are thinking about south of town. My buddy Michael Kasberg and his dad own it now. Its open about once a month for riding and a few races during the year. That's about it for here. I might start going down to Abilene and riding there as well.
1/14/2010 8:50pm
noob wrote:
I went to Piru yesterday, and happened to park next to a few dudes from Dirt Rider. They were really cool, giving me basic pointers that...
I went to Piru yesterday, and happened to park next to a few dudes from Dirt Rider. They were really cool, giving me basic pointers that most of you probably learned when you were 6. It was awesome!

I got my first motocross bike when I was 30... which in "motocross years" turns out to equal around 65-70.

Anyone else start into moto late in life?
i started when i was 34...
1/14/2010 8:54pm
Outsider wrote:
I had a 125 when I was a teen that I bought and had to hide from parents... didn't pick it up again till much later...
I had a 125 when I was a teen that I bought and had to hide from parents... didn't pick it up again till much later in life. Raced offroad first, and then moved back to socal, were buddies forced me into moto... have had some great times.

For me, the worst part about starting later in life is sacking up for the bigger jumps... would have been much easier when younger.
noob wrote:
Sacking up for some of the smallest jumps is tough with a mortgage to pay.
Amen to that brother i still roll small doubles! now tables on the other hand...LOL
Larry
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Fayetteville, GA, USA
1/14/2010 8:55pm
Its the learning part that is the most fun and reward. Doesn't matter if you are 12 or 40 when you start to learn it.
Q247
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Hesperia, CA, USA
1/14/2010 9:03pm
Got my first real dirtbike 8 years ago at age 43.
Quickdraw
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Brisbane, AU
1/14/2010 9:10pm
my brother and I started racing at 11 and he was 10 till we turned 16 and had to get jobs etc. I got a bike again at 28 a cr250 and then decided to get married at 32 and now going for a divorce and I am going to buy another bike after I have to pay the ex out . My Brother started racing again at 30 and he was winning his local B grade races and did a few local sx races and know he is married and stopped riding but he picked it again where he left off and had no troublesd doing doubles and triples but he was always more talented than me. He wont sell his 2004 yz 250 2 stroke because he knows he might not get anopther one. Arm pump and fear of jumps was my biggest problem getting back on a bike. Good luck mate
CamP
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Colleyville, TX, USA
1/14/2010 11:04pm
Larry wrote:
Its the learning part that is the most fun and reward. Doesn't matter if you are 12 or 40 when you start to learn it.
That's true, but you are less brittle when you are 12. Unfortunately I see a lot of guys get into it late or come back from 20 years off only to screw themselves into the ground, so be careful out there fellas.

I guess I'm one of the few that never quit. I saw On An Sunday in 2nd grade and riding motocross is all I've had a passion for ever since. I'm lucky that even though I had bikes from the time I was 8, my parents wouldn't let me race until I was 15 so I never got burned out like the kids who raced peewees from the time they were toddlers. At 46, I still love it as much as I did 30 years ago.
jeffro503
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1/14/2010 11:18pm Edited Date/Time 4/17/2016 8:02pm
Outsider wrote:
I had a 125 when I was a teen that I bought and had to hide from parents... didn't pick it up again till much later...
I had a 125 when I was a teen that I bought and had to hide from parents... didn't pick it up again till much later in life. Raced offroad first, and then moved back to socal, were buddies forced me into moto... have had some great times.

For me, the worst part about starting later in life is sacking up for the bigger jumps... would have been much easier when younger.
Sometimes.....and i say "sometimes".....those early years of sacking up get you into trouble later in life. Example : me sacking up to do the big jumps now , tends to get me into trouble sometimes. I've also learned i don't bounce like a rubber ball any more , more like splat like a sack of shit!


I'm getting back on the saddle again in a couple months , after being off for nearly 4 years. I have 30+ years of racing and riding behind me now , and this is the longest i have ever been off of a bike.


It's ok though. I know i'll take my lumps , bruises , rashes and maybe ( God forbid ) a broken bone or two........But damn it , it's just way to fun! No matter what your age is!
noob
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Burbank, CA, USA
1/15/2010 1:57am
kawboy388 wrote:
Add to that...........your fastest days are ahead of you, most of us +30 racers fastest days are a distant memory.
Great point!
noob
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1/15/2010 1:57am
Thanks for all the comments. Not sure if I came across as discouraged to some of you, but I am having fun learning. After coming up short and driving into the face of the next jump over and over and over again... I'll always remember the first time I landed smoothly over a (small) double.

A career-threatening injury has gotten me timid... but hopefully with more seat time and cautious courage, I'll be able to clear most of the obstacles at the track.
zjbell
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CA, CA, USA
1/15/2010 2:04am
You have your head in the right place Nate.

I didn't figure the whole "might not want to hit that jump" thing out until after a pair of serious falls that left me on the sidelines at work for about 6 months per occurance.
noob
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1/15/2010 2:21am
zjbell wrote:
You have your head in the right place Nate. I didn't figure the whole "might not want to hit that jump" thing out until after a...
You have your head in the right place Nate.

I didn't figure the whole "might not want to hit that jump" thing out until after a pair of serious falls that left me on the sidelines at work for about 6 months per occurance.
Thanks, Zac

I'm definitely on the slow plan to getting faster.
txmxer
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Weatherford, TX, USA
1/15/2010 3:33am
russerbe wrote:
I will def let you know anytime I come into DFW to ride. Have you ridden River Valley? I love that place. I live 10 minutes...
I will def let you know anytime I come into DFW to ride. Have you ridden River Valley? I love that place. I live 10 minutes from TNT in Idalou which is a great track, but they don't open it for ride days but just a few times a year and they have about 10 races a year and that's it. 211 is the track you are thinking about south of town. My buddy Michael Kasberg and his dad own it now. Its open about once a month for riding and a few races during the year. That's about it for here. I might start going down to Abilene and riding there as well.
Definitely. RV is great. About 20 minutes from my door. Cam turnede on to it and it's my first choice if I'm headed to a track. I've got a couple of guys that around the same speed I
riide with pretty often so it will be a good time. We try to move around some too and try other tracks when we can.

The folks in Abilene are good people and work hard to run a nice track.
petegrath
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John's Island, SC, USA
1/15/2010 5:04am
I rode like crazy when I was a kid. Neighbor kids all had bikes, bummed rides from them till I got my first which was a DR100. Rode that dang thing till it literally fell apart! When I broke the back shock, that bike was done... Smile Few bikes in between, then got an XL250 so I could ride my toy to work.

College, military, and marriage put a hiatus in my riding for quite a while. The fun part about getting back into it (about 8 years ago I picked it back up, I'm 39) is I can afford the stuff I only dreamed about when I was a kid. Been riding exclusively KX 250s since. The bikes are amazing, and I ride better than I've ever ridden (the suspension on the bikes I had when growing up SUCKED!)

Plus with age you get a little more level-headed. I'll hit big jumps, I just won't do it out of the gate. I'm better, but not fearless anymore. With that, I'm enjoying riding as much as I ever have, probably more. Having a strong bike with good suspension allows me to get so much more out of riding vs. when I was a kid riding shitty bikes. Plus I'm not afraid to break stuff as much because I can fix the stuff now.
chillrich
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Kamloops, CA
1/15/2010 6:21am
Trail rode in 20s, back to dirt at 38, started racing at 40, 43 now. Its a blast riding with my 8 yr old son.

The fitness aspect of training for racing is absolutely underrated by the general public,, in the best shape since teenage years.
G-man
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Mesa, AZ, USA
1/15/2010 7:22am Edited Date/Time 4/17/2016 8:02pm
CamP wrote:
That's true, but you are less brittle when you are 12. Unfortunately I see a lot of guys get into it late or come back from...
That's true, but you are less brittle when you are 12. Unfortunately I see a lot of guys get into it late or come back from 20 years off only to screw themselves into the ground, so be careful out there fellas.

I guess I'm one of the few that never quit. I saw On An Sunday in 2nd grade and riding motocross is all I've had a passion for ever since. I'm lucky that even though I had bikes from the time I was 8, my parents wouldn't let me race until I was 15 so I never got burned out like the kids who raced peewees from the time they were toddlers. At 46, I still love it as much as I did 30 years ago.
Yep this is very true. I see old guys get back into the sport only to realize the jumps, speeds and SX style whoops are much larger.

On Any Sunday did it for me too, and I still get a lump in my throat and a little misty-eyed every time I see it. lol

I’ve had gaps in racing but once I got my first bike I’ve had one in my garage ever since for the last 37 yrs or so.

I grew up right next to acres of hills in So Cal that my neighbors rode on. I never had a mini bike and would just ride friends. My first bike was a used 67 Gilera 175 that was really a street bike, then a CT1-175 I bought from my Cuz and finally a 74 TM125 that really hooked me on moto.

Didn’t start racing till I was 17 as my parents never supported it but they knew I luved it. In fact I use to have to sneak new bikes in without telling them cuz I would sign my life away to get one. Stopped racing at 19 to go to A & P school full time.

Didn’t start racing again until I moved to AZ and had a new lease on life by turning 30 and joining the Vet Class. Did that for about 5-6 yrs.
Then when I turned 40 joined the AZOTMX club and been going at ever since. Although I have now turned 50 (51 actually) and I really feel like my body has hit a wall and I have aches and pains I never did before. That and the voice in my head to slow down or don’t jump that gets LOUDER & LOUDER….

I still love riding as much as ever though and what I do to keep it fresh is to mix it up by Trailriding, Dual sport, Moto and Jetski’s in the brutal AZ summers. I know guys that go to the track week after week and I know it’s just a matter of time before they quit for one reason or another. I’ve seen so many come and go in my 40 yrs of riding I’ve lost count.

My riding friend of 37 yrs is coming out this weekend for SX and to trail ride and we look forward to it just like we did when we were in our teens.

This is so much better than living life in the past folks.
YOU ONLY LIVE ONCE--get out and ride!


MickeyMeanie
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Frisco, TX, USA
1/15/2010 7:22am
I got my first bike at 12, rode trails mostly up until I got my drivers license at 16 and that was pretty much the end until I turned 29 when I bought my KLR650... not an MX'er but fully capable of hitting the trails. At 35 I bought my first MX'er... a used '03 KTM 250SX... holy crap that was a lot of bike just starting out, not to mention the vibration put my feet to sleep after 15 minutes of riding. Sold that and got myself a brand new '06 KX250F in March '06. Managed to blow out my left ACL after about 4 months of riding... was off the bike for quite a while recovering from the surgery to repair the ACL. Once back on the bike I was pretty timid for a while knowing what a pain in the arse the ACL ordeal was... in a few months though I got my confidence back and was riding fairly well. This past spring I sold the 250F and got myself an '09 KX450F... what a beast! I'm back at square one trying to learn how to ride this thing.

I raced twice at Burleson on my 250F and did the Freestone TORN round this past summer on the 450. Racing is addicting for sure! I'll do some more eventually...

I'm for sure one of the slower guys on the track, but at 40 years old, I've decided it's more about enjoying the ride and getting a good workout. Hucking a 60 foot double is at the very bottom of my priority list, well not even on my list really... I just want to be able to ride safely and as smoothly as possible.

TXMXER... generally RV is my first choice to ride lately, give me a shout next time you are headed out there, would be great to meet you. I'm HOPING to get out there this Sunday... I also want to check out the changes at TMX sometime soon...
txmxer
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Weatherford, TX, USA
1/15/2010 7:26am
cool Mickey. Don't know about Sunday yet. Might be able to do that.

txmxer
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Weatherford, TX, USA
1/15/2010 7:43am
I'll be at RV Sunday first thing.


Dallas plays at noon and I want to catch the game, so I'm going to try and get there at 9 when it opens. Got one riding buddy in and I'll check on the other.

I'll be in a pewter Silverado, '06 CRF450 with no numbers on it. The really slow guy.

CamP, come on out if you get the chance. Haven't seen you in a while.





jeffro503
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St Helens, OR, USA
1/15/2010 8:39am Edited Date/Time 4/17/2016 8:02pm
Noob ( Nate )....a lot of these guys have great advice for you. My only advice i can give is something along the lines of what a lot of them mentioned.....which is take your time! I also have to say that no matter how you feel that day , don't let anyone pressure you into doing something you are not comfortable with.


On other thing : You'll find out that when you trust the bike enough , is the day it throws you on your ass hard! Don't trust it to do the right thing , as you are the one that's telling it what to do. Show that bike of yours respect! I know it sounds weird , but when you trust your bike "not" to hurt you , it will! If you respect it , it will treat you right.


Just have fun with it. And remember the old "boxer saying" , always protect yourself at all times. From the second you start it , to the second you plop her back up on the stand. They can be an Evil Bitch at any time in between!

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