Lot's of ways to go with this. I brought it up because as I have gotten older, with more responsibilities, I'm more concious of my riding style.

I raced MX in my teens. No football, basketball, track , or other HS sports.
I wanted to race MX and did. I lived it. Breathed it. Danny Chandler was my MX idol.

Although my competition days are gone now, I still have the desire to attack and ride like I was in competition, even on a trail ride. I can't shake it.

When I ride with friends now (mostly trail anymore), I find myself wanting to go as fast as I can. Some of my bud's have even said " WTF?" , "this isn't a fawking race", "slow down dumbass, you have a mortgage to be supported by your job, a child you need to provide for" ETC. ETC. Never mind I have a bike that doesn't do slow well.

So I need my buds to shake their head at the gorge I'm sizing up to jump and rethink that I'm not 20 anymore.

I concede and think, " fawk, I could do that", but the reality sets in and it kinda sucks. But deep down I know they are right.

So how has your age and responsibilities, VS your ability, altered your riding style?

Not really. I've always concentrated on the technical aspect, and I've never really pushed the limits anyway. I have more of a "be able to cope with any situation" riding style.

That, and road rash scares me. :laughing:

I too rode MX and did x-country races in my earlier years,

At 25 when first kid was born, I went on a trail ride (fast paced) with some older guys and realised that I wanted to ride forever :)


I just rode 220 miles of singletrack at Hoilster and Stoneyford with my kids at a good pace

I enjoy the harder trails instead of getting the thrill from speed now.......


So, yes.... I slowed down (pacing myself), got more into the trials stuff and backyard xr100 racing :D



edit:
I slowed up so I could ride forever .... not because of my "age and responsibilities"

I'm much faster on the same bike than I was 4 years ago

I,ve ridden for 30 plus years and never gave much thought about getting hurt until I did(when the throttles stuck wide open and the rear tire is chewing thru your chest do not grab the tire) that was right before my son was born
2nd biggie was a broken back. after I got home from the hospital my son and daughter (about ages 2 & 4) came into the room and told me I could not go into the desert on 2 wheels any more 4 wheels was fine with them. that kinda hit home for me. I still ride once in a while at a much slower pace tho

Mine has changed somewhat. I too raced and even held a pro license in my late teens/early twenties.. I started a family early(21) and by the time I was 24 I wasn't as willing to "go for it" on some of the huge doubles alot of tracks were putting in.. Add to that the total lack of time on the bike and in the gym(due to everything else I had going on in my life) and it was starting to get dangerous to go ride once a week. After a few cvlose calls I decided to hang it up and quit riding.

I was always told, if you have to think about what you are doing, or build up to trying a jump, your not really ready to do it yet.The last few times I rode, seemed like every jump I went over I couldnt stop thinking about how it could end in disaster. I knew at that time, it was time to call it quits, so I did.

About a year ago I got the urge to start riding again, but I didnt have anything to ride. Finally it grew enough that 3 months ago I went and bought a new bike. The first day out was rough and scary to say the least(my mind still had speed, but my conditioning and timing didnt). 3 mo. into riding again, I still have corner speed, and most jumps I am now doing , but I dont even think about the huge leaps anymore.If I am carrying enough speed that I just jump them then great, but if I have to think about it, I wont even size it up... My conditioning is WAY below what it was so I only get in 2, maybe 3 laps before I am winded enough to just cruise around the track.

Not really. I've always concentrated on the technical aspect, and I've never really pushed the limits anyway. I have more of a "be able to cope with any situation" riding style.

That, and road rash scares me. :laughing:
I'm technical too and try to hone that, but in a fast way. Can't help it.

I too rode MX and did x-country races in my earlier years,

At 25 when first kid was born, I went on a trail ride (fast paced) with some older guys and realised that I wanted to ride forever :)


I just rode 220 miles of singletrack at Hoilster and Stoneyford with my kids at a good pace

I enjoy the harder trails instead of getting the thrill from speed now.......


So, yes.... I slowed down (pacing myself), got more into the trials stuff and backyard xr100 racing :D



edit:
I slowed up so I could ride forever .... not because of my "age and responsibilities"
I hear ya, but at mid forties, I'm not as "elastic" as I used to be and the healing time is longer, so I can't afford to be too injured to work. That's what I meant.

I,ve ridden for 30 plus years and never gave much thought about getting hurt until I did(when the throttles stuck wide open and the rear tire is chewing thru your chest do not grab the tire) that was right before my son was born
2nd biggie was a broken back. after I got home from the hospital my son and daughter (about ages 2 & 4) came into the room and told me I could not go into the desert on 2 wheels any more 4 wheels was fine with them. that kinda hit home for me. I still ride once in a while at a much slower pace tho

That's what I was eluding to. You made a conscious decision to slow your shit down because of obligations. Can't afford to be injured or incapacitated.

Mine has changed somewhat. I too raced and even held a pro license in my late teens/early twenties.. I started a family early(21) and by the time I was 24 I wasn't as willing to "go for it" on some of the huge doubles alot of tracks were putting in.. Add to that the total lack of time on the bike and in the gym(due to everything else I had going on in my life) and it was starting to get dangerous to go ride once a week. After a few cvlose calls I decided to hang it up and quit riding.

I was always told, if you have to think about what you are doing, or build up to trying a jump, your not really ready to do it yet.The last few times I rode, seemed like every jump I went over I couldnt stop thinking about how it could end in disaster. I knew at that time, it was time to call it quits, so I did.

About a year ago I got the urge to start riding again, but I didnt have anything to ride. Finally it grew enough that 3 months ago I went and bought a new bike. The first day out was rough and scary to say the least(my mind still had speed, but my conditioning and timing didnt). 3 mo. into riding again, I still have corner speed, and most jumps I am now doing , but I dont even think about the huge leaps anymore.If I am carrying enough speed that I just jump them then great, but if I have to think about it, I wont even size it up... My conditioning is WAY below what it was so I only get in 2, maybe 3 laps before I am winded enough to just cruise around the track.

I'm not in the same physical shape I was 20+ years ago, but when I'm on the bike, my brain is still back in attack mode. I don't follow through with some obstacles I would have attempted back in the day.

Sometimes it takes my riding bud's to remind me not to act on impulse. I know I have the ability to attempt it, but everything talked about thus far keeps me from becoming a fawkup, so that I may ride again another day.

I'm technical too and try to hone that, but in a fast way. Can't help it.


I hear ya, but at mid forties, I'm not as "elastic" as I used to be and the healing time is longer, so I can't afford to be too injured to work. That's what I meant.



That's what I was eluding to. You made a conscious decision to slow your shit down because of obligations. Can't afford to be injured or incapacitated.



I'm not in the same physical shape I was 20+ years ago, but when I'm on the bike, my brain is still back in attack mode. I don't follow through with some obstacles I would have attempted back in the day.

Sometimes it takes my riding bud's to remind me not to act on impulse. I know I have the ability to attempt it, but everything talked about thus far keeps me from becoming a fawkup, so that I may ride again another day.

For sure you don,t heal as fast. if I ride to much I start twisting the throttle a little more