Posts
4506
Joined
9/22/2008
Location
Arlen, TX
US
Edited Date/Time
1/27/2012 8:09pm
Today I went riding motocross with my friends. As usual, I was criticized and looked down upon, for not jumping the bigger jumps while my buddies had quickly adapted to a track that was new to us (I eventually jumped it after I knew I could do it). On the way home, my friend who overshot a berm and crashed into a pond kept telling me I could be going so much faster than I am right now. He did not say this to imply riding over my head; he said it because of my background riding bmx and mountain biking. Apparently, another friend that came to watch said to another spectator, “out of those three guy out there right now, the one out there with the most talent is riding the most conservative.” Was that a good thing, or was it a bad thing?
On the way home, I thought about whether or not I was really pushing it? I thought to myself, “Maybe they are right, maybe I can ride faster than I am right now?” After talking to another friend – one that is a little older and a little wiser – he reminded that my number one concern was to not get hurt.
After reading the thread about pain killer addictions and chronic health problems due to motocross (from this site), I have been wondering: why are so many riders getting hurt? Well… obviously, there are a lot of factors that go into this equation; but one of those factors tends to be a cultural sociological factor, and one many people passively adopt with out given any critical thought.
In our society, men are supposed to be macho, display maleness, be better than, and never ever at any cost display any sign of weakness. Nobody wants to be remembered as the “pussy” but rather the guy with “balls.” A term I hear repeatedly throughout the day out on the track. Unfortunately, most riders either fall into either category.
However, I have a different way of looking at it though. I don’t think a rider should try and jump a jump because his friends want him to: I think a rider should jump a jump when he or she is ready to. There’s a reason why the top riders in the world have made it to where they are at today, and it’s not from riding beyond their limits.
I think many riders today - on the local level - listen to their friend’s too much. Listen to yourself – no one else! Think with your big head, instead of your little head's companions! And it’s better to be a pussy and not spend five months off the bike paying hospital (which would be time you could actually be riding), than to prove to your riding buddies you were born with a pair of testicles.
The point is, there are a lot of macho cultural attitudes that surround us out on the track and influence our decisions in the way we make choices on the bike - be aware of them…
p.s.
God Bless the guy that crashed in Bercy tonight.
On the way home, I thought about whether or not I was really pushing it? I thought to myself, “Maybe they are right, maybe I can ride faster than I am right now?” After talking to another friend – one that is a little older and a little wiser – he reminded that my number one concern was to not get hurt.
After reading the thread about pain killer addictions and chronic health problems due to motocross (from this site), I have been wondering: why are so many riders getting hurt? Well… obviously, there are a lot of factors that go into this equation; but one of those factors tends to be a cultural sociological factor, and one many people passively adopt with out given any critical thought.
In our society, men are supposed to be macho, display maleness, be better than, and never ever at any cost display any sign of weakness. Nobody wants to be remembered as the “pussy” but rather the guy with “balls.” A term I hear repeatedly throughout the day out on the track. Unfortunately, most riders either fall into either category.
However, I have a different way of looking at it though. I don’t think a rider should try and jump a jump because his friends want him to: I think a rider should jump a jump when he or she is ready to. There’s a reason why the top riders in the world have made it to where they are at today, and it’s not from riding beyond their limits.
I think many riders today - on the local level - listen to their friend’s too much. Listen to yourself – no one else! Think with your big head, instead of your little head's companions! And it’s better to be a pussy and not spend five months off the bike paying hospital (which would be time you could actually be riding), than to prove to your riding buddies you were born with a pair of testicles.
The point is, there are a lot of macho cultural attitudes that surround us out on the track and influence our decisions in the way we make choices on the bike - be aware of them…
p.s.
God Bless the guy that crashed in Bercy tonight.
I totally agree with your point of listening to yourself, no point trying things your aren't comfortable with
I always make it a point to try and make time where if I wreck, I'm not going to get hurt. If a jump is built well this is almost never a problem, but we all know that's not the case.
There are some goofy fucking tracks out there, and some things should not be attempted unless you are 100% comfortable.
You're never going to be 100% comfortable jumping a big table or a big double etc if you haven't jumped it before. Some jumps or obstacles may never be easy, no matter how many times you do them.
When you go out and race, you try a bit harder, you ride a bit faster.... whatever you call it, you're essentially just taking more risks. But it has to be that way. The aim of the sport is to go round the track as fast as you can. There you go...
What it comes down to is "attempting" to ride within your limits the best you can and only taking acceptable risks. This not only includes riding within and recognising your limits as much as possible, but also includes riding at sensible tracks with well built obstacles, good marshalling, sessions if it's crowded, taking care of yourself with regular bike maintenance and high quality safety gear. And of course NEVER ever ride alone.
The Shop
Motocross83, you have a great point also. I typed this just thinking about riding motocross. I haven't raced since I've had a bike the past two years (did fifteen years ago), and that's one reason I haven't raced so far: no insurance, and I don't want to get out on a track with a bunch of guys who are going to be taking more risks than normal, especially beginners who can easily be influenced by their peers to be more prone to ride over their head.
You won't improve if you don't ride slightly beyond your ability. Keep pushing hard and that's how you get faster.
Just ask Doug Henry. That's how he got faster.
Earlier this summer, while working with my son on hitting a new double, he was not comfortable with the jump yet was working to it down on a regular basis. He ended up crashing and breaking his shoulder and foot. As a result we had lot's of doctors bills and several weeks off the bike.
Accidents are part of our sport, but in the two years I have been riding, the number of kids and adults hauled / airlifted from the track is really shocking. For me, the emphasis is have fun first and let the speed come as it will.
As a father / son sport, mx is great. We both have some fantasic memories already and more to come. The times we have been in the ER or Dr's office as you would expect are not top of that list.
All that being said I ride every Saturday with a group of guys and we all watch out for each and make sure we are all riding safetly. I am not as fast as I was nor can I keep up with some of the guys I used to be able to pass easily. However, I am having more fun and haven't have any serious injuries. I'd like to be faster again but the risk and cost is too high.
Ride within your limits and ride another day.
your number one concern should be to have fun! not getting hurt adds to the fun!
those other guys your riding with will turn pro in a couple years so they should be riding over their heads
I'm glad others somewhat enjoyed the topic. I wrote this completely hammered last night lol which is part of the reason I totally didn't take racing into considering.
I agree, you must push your limits to get faster; however, there is a difference in pushing your limits and ignorantly riding beyond your limits. I believe professionals are great at this balancing act. From all the experience they know what they can and can't do, and for the most part, that allows them to stay healthy. Heck, I remember a lot of SX races (atlanta '07) for example where Carmichael wouldn't do some of the rhythm combos James was doing because he trusted his gut.
This past summer my friend was trying to get me to jump a little creek jump on a cross country trail. I wasn't 100% comfortable with it for some weird reason, and so I told him about not having insurance, and not being able to afford another 10,000 dollar hospital bill.
A few weeks later he was riding over (as he openly admits) his head racing a friend and hit the creek jump, overshot a turn and crashed into some trees. Now he's off the bike for 9 months, but thankfully he was native American which saved him probably $100,000k in hospital bills. Now he wishes he would have been riding within his limits. I always over emphasized to him about trusting your gut feelings (which from a psychological point of view is your sub-conscious processing). If you're afraid of a jump, there's a damn good reason you are.
Calimxr91 is jealous!
I prefer to ride well below the "Henry Factor".
Pit Row
Yesterday I got the bill for my hospital stay after the first bad crash I've ever had ( been riding since I was 7 , now 43 ) . And , yes, I had plenty of warning I was riding too hard before I finally swapped out in a whoop section and hit the dirt.
4 ribs, Collar bone, puctured lung and internal bleeding which resulted in a 5 day stay in hospital and a FIFTY EIGHT THOUSAND dollar bill - my co pay is $1800.00
Guys, riding without insurance is crazy you should make it a top priority to get coverage.
Oh and that pain pill thread is scaring the living shit out of me too.
I'm healthy and enjoyed riding until my 51st year. I'm a pretty happy guy.
Without people like Doug Henry where would we be?
Thats how I ride.
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