Wanting to get back into it...

Bro you’re 42. You aren’t some ancient man. There’s plenty of guys your age out at the tracks.

You don’t have to race. I run a couple races a year, but for the most part get my enjoyment riding tracks with my friends every weekend, putting in hard laps, throwing some style/whips, and having fun. That’s what it’s about.

Get your ass on a bike before you’re too old saying woulda coulda shoulda. You’re gonna make some great memories with your kids.

Just do it, dude. 

I was in a similar scenario, albeit slightly younger and no kids, a handful of years back and getting back into riding has been the best thing I have done for myself mentally and physically.

My wallet, on the other hand…

go ride

I took a long break in my early 30s due to injuries and burnout from racing, so I decided to focus on mountain biking full-time. I got back into regular riding in my early 40s. For me, it was essential to take things slow and gradually build up my stamina over a couple of months. Initially, it was frustrating because I was riding much slower, and my heart rate wasn’t even close to its maximum. It took some time for me to regain my confidence. I never reached my former speed, but I could get around the track well enough to enjoy it.

I believe that if I had decided to race in a series, it would have pushed me to regain that extra pace by riding with others. 

(You probably know all this) The biggest thing is ride a track as much as you can to get back in riding shape (2-3x/wk thru 5 gals of gas). Go as fast as you can and jump the small stuff at first. The jumps will come.

Enter a race on the track you’ve been practicing at. Try to stay loose in the race. You’re gonna be super pumped with intense fun and gumption, but don’t hold on too tight. Try to breathe.

I would get Aflac just in case. 😎

I started riding again around 48 (57 Now ) , just do it , worry about the details later , you won't regret it 

https://youtu.be/c8ThDWrcwgI?si=D0ML0F4fvWXoFygZ

The 40+ class is FAST

Not sure what you do for a living but you might want to do it now . Before your body is shot . I,ve been off for a month trying to get injections. In 2 1/2 yrs of driving 1099 Chicago trucks I,m 2 1/2 inches shorter in a lot of pain now. I worked for 1 b4 c19 then 10 of the crazy co.s after that.  Between getting ko,d numerous times driving junk & hand unloading odd stuff ovr a million lbs .  What is your itch ?  Mine is the feeling of flow wo . I never think about getting hurt.  1st ride in 14 yrs bikes where stolen .  I jumped everything the 1st lap without walking the track. It’s mental if you want to get flow & go wo. You do it rt away otherwise you’ll question why your riding.  A 04 cr125 does all the work & jumps perfectly every time .so it’s easy to get a fast pace.  For me it’s less impact than walking .Then I just kept it on the pipe & worked on Perfect body position to use less energy. For a few laps then pu the pace . Because I was landing off the track kinda out of control. I like letting it hang out but I knew I wouldn’t last. I had to be in control then less mistakes happen.  And more fast laps r easier. Wild fire smoke here air  quality sucks.  Drove to a mechanic shop & he had to leave for parts. New ac compressor & it blows hot air.  It might take you months to get a old bike ready . Stuff like getting the wrong parts . Try to find a low hr bike having bike problems will take the fun out it . Ps I only do 4-5 heaters . I look at it like a 6 flags ride that I control. 

Yeah at LL there crazy fast . Local 40b is slower than 50+.  Mn. Has a lot of sand tracks he might want a 2-st. A older one holds there value or actually goes up.   I bought a 04 cr125 with maybe 5 hrs on it from Mn. For 3,200.  Wi. Has 10 consecutive days of rain in the forecast. Raining rt now and it’s not supposed to be. 

Same, 42 going on 43. Been there.

My perspective is it's not worth it to try and chase the glory. I get out and ride my TC250 when I can but I know I'll never be competitive when looking at some of the younger riders. Racing/winning a vet class wouldn't feel like much of a milestone because I know the guys in the A/B classes would eat my up like birthday cake in an actual race.

Having 2 little ones and a wife who depend on you is also more important than getting out there and experiencing the thrill.

Take it easy, ride some practice days and enjoy the solidarity of being washed up in your 40s.

You don’t stop riding because you get old, you get old because you stop riding…get out and have some fun dude!

Just think about how cool it will be to cruise around with the kids and watch them learn and get better. 

Started riding at 9 or so and racing at 16 and never looked back. Yes, some years were not as crazy has others and there were a few dry spells as I focused on other hobbies, however there was always MX bike in the garage. When I got married and had kids, never stopped. Eyes forward always seeking the next adventure on a dirt bike and sharing it with the kids. Yes, there were injuries that caused issues, however there is always a workable plan, be it home or work. 74 and there are 4 bikes in the garage and all get ridden. Either at the MX Track or Offroad…………..

I turned 40 this year, married w/ 3 kids, and the last bike I had was a 2008 KX450 that I sold in 2014. The itch to ride was always there and this year the itch finally won. I picked up a 2024 YZ450 this February and have been back on moto tracks this spring. It's been great riding with the old riding buddies again and it keeps me motivated to stay young and stay in shape. You just have to manage the risk at our age, no more sending it. I'm so damn happy to be back on a bike again, and you will be too! 

Whatever you do, don’t buy a 450 and kill yourself. Too much for mortals.

Buy the cleanest, tightest, lowest hour 2009+ YZ 250 smoker you can find;  add a 10oz flywheel weight, get the head decked for proper squish, jet it right, get your suspension done for your weight and ability, keep fresh tires and fluids in it and just ride! 

Get some good disability insurance and let er rip. Seriously though that's important. I should know. 

I sold both my bikes to get out of debt and I miss riding so much. Buy yourself a good bike and maybe even take a riding class to get back in the swing of things. I've almost paid my crap off and hope to get a nice used bike this fall. Let er Rip and keep us updated ! 

I'm 54. Spent the last several years in debt and circumstance, riding when I could and not racing anymore. It made me slow, tight and nervous. I'm finally over that part of my life and now my son wants to start racing, so I'm going to ride with him and try to stay faster, haha. I made a pledge to ride/train/concentrate like I used to at least until I'm 60. After that, if I slow down, I won't feel any guilt. Until then, however, I'm going to ride hard and try to get faster again. I did it this weekend, in fact; went out and turned some quicker laps like I used to. I'm not 100% back to full speed and may never be, but I'm darn sure going to go as fast as I can instead of being timid and slow. 

OP you're ONLY 10 years older than Tomac. You got this!

Get after it ! 150sx has been amazingly fun for my return after about 5yrs definitely recommend !

I took my entire 20s off and got back into it at 30. The only regret I still hold is not riding in my 20s. You’re only getting older, jump back into it if you are able to!

Your EGO decides - self talk. Enjoy linning up with the old boys but park the ego 

4-20-21 I quit the Serbian co soo crazy there.  The 40+ hr days on a 3 hr break of sleep my whole body would jump a foot off the bed that freaked me out. It was like I was electrocuted. Etc.  I hit urgent care b4 I got a room there all freaked out on 1/2 a dozen big injuries.  When threw a 5 month pt program that left me broke. Economy crash made it harder to make dough back running 20-40 hrs 7 days a week I blew all my disk out of my neck , more bulging disk in back , etc.  23,24 money turned into crap this it’s nothing.  In 21 I was 54 I thought I could get ovr the injuries within a month. Pt was a joke I fought to get injections it never happened. Eventually I could put weight on my leg. Extremely frustrated & getting insulted at pt. I said f it I,m riding .  1st time in 12-14 yrs bike where stolen    .  I just let the speed go had concentrate extremely hard on being perfect on riding position & let the bike do the work.  Guys at the track saying who is that . The owner said your soo smooth & fast . Nice to hear all that but I had a lot of improvement after that . In my 5 rides. Next yr more injuries & off the rd .  After a few weeks & injections. I hit the track for a speed check. 1st ride when to knife in on a uphill off camber into a ft of powder did a 180 & torn my groin muscle bad all bruised black. More pt & not healed from other injuries.  3 weeks later after 7 days a week of ice etc on the groin I rode smooth & fast .  My last ride was  real good . Last yr still dealing with injuries I never rode made no money at all , I never rode.  I,ve been in a 3 week battle with insurance & the clinic I need that back epidural soo bad.  I did hv a neck epidural 6-16 a lot of pain today getting into shoulder blades.   Get the back epidural get 1 -3 rides  in & race.  Basically ride with what little is left of the body .  Now I take a 30 min hot shower apply pain creams then go to the y do stretches then intense speed sit-ups it’s all about fine tuning my quickness .  My 170 wt is 156 now not dieting I,m eating a lot & b4 bed.  Muscle relaxers , anti flamatories ko,d my energy & it’s Very boring here.  Nothing to do here but outdoor activities & the weather has been horrible 2 mornings last week it was 43 with a high of 50 & rain or light rain everyday .  Hope to get riding soon get in riding shape once my legs get strong enough, race .  I had 3 injection & nerve blockers on the back of my shoulder it work a tiny bit. I know my rt arm will go numb & pump up on lap too. So I hv to sprint hard then try to hang onto my position.  Allergies r soo bad here & now cotton wood trees hv puffy things flying like it’s snowing east side by the bay it’s bad.  Feel week people at the y said it’s because your not getting oxygen when you sleep, that makes it tough.  Once I start riding I,m doing it like the start of bball season intense & you work on weaknesses & perfect what your good at.  Big difference from 54 to 58 your body doesn’t recover the same.  Concentrate on being smoother to use less energy 

I disagree.  No short comings in winning a vet classes. Is a vet B same the same speed as a 250B, heck no and not supposed to be. That's why there is age classes starting at +25.

To the OP, get the dirtbike, after 20 years away I got back into it at 38, now a few weeks away from 42. No kids, but a blue collar job that I need my body for, as well as all other adult responsibilities. I have had ups and downs since getting back, winning races/championships, also getting hurt that required missing work and or surgery. I absolutely love that I took the chance and got back into it, lost weight,  have goals  and drive that I had been missing in my life. For me personally when I'm done racing I will most likely be done all together, to much risk without an end goal to compete on Sundays. But whether you race or not is on you, get the bike and have some fun!

Good - but I’d got with an 18 if you can - it’s the last of that generation and manufacturers always have the lil problems worked out by the end of the run.