Keeping It Fresh - Opinion

May 11, 2016 at 15:58
by Mike Kazimer  
Spinning Circles column Mike Kazimer


In the early 2000s, my buddies and I spent countless evenings wearing out VHS copies of the North Shore Extreme and New World Disorder series, dreaming of making the pilgrimage to British Columbia from the small Colorado mountain town where we lived. It wasn't long before we were road tripping every summer, embarking on the 24-hour drive that had us blasting through Utah's deserted highway in the middle of the night, continuing onward through the vast emptiness of Idaho and the desert of eastern Washington before our surroundings suddenly turned lush and green, a sign that the promised land was near.

On these road trips I would throw myself with reckless abandon at skinnies, drops, and steeps, worried that I wouldn't get the chance to experience them again. That tactic had very mixed results, and more often than not the added pressure of knowing that my time in mountain biking's mecca was limited resulted in me riding as if I'd just graduated from training wheels. As it turns out, riding at 110% isn't the best strategy for bike and body longevity. Who knew? It took years for me to figure that out, with plenty of ragdolling through the trees along the way, but I finally learned that a more patient, relaxed approach is a much more reliable means of progressing, whether that's while riding at a dream destination or on your backyard trails.

My 17-year-old self was pretty sure I wouldn't make it past 25, which may have been why I was so hellbent on riding every trail perfectly the first time, but here I am, cruising towards my mid-30s, and riding at a much higher level than I was on those early trips to BC. Of course, there's certainly a time when acquiring new skills comes easier, and you're probably not going to see a 50-year-old suddenly start winning World Cup DH races, but the passage of time doesn't mean progression needs to stop, or that your riding needs to become stagnant.

“My brother says you're totally washed.” Recognize that line? It's from the 2001 classic 'Ride to the Hills', where Ryan Vanderham calls out Wade Simmons for being past his prime (Wade was all of 25-years-old at the time). Wade may have some superhuman skills up his sleeve, but he's an inspiring example of the fact that getting older doesn't need to mean slowing down or riding more timidly – take a look at Rocky Mountain's recent video for the new Pipeline if you need proof. That's one of the great things about mountain biking – there's an endless array of ways to stay entertained, to keep the sport fresh and exciting even after decades of saddle time.

Think back - when's the last time you practiced a section of trail more than once? You know, stopping to retry that awkward climb that always forces you off the bike, or to hit that corner a few more times to see just how low you can get your bars? Sessioning (and the good-natured heckling that comes with it if you're with a group) can be the key to unlocking, or rediscovering skills, and it's a great way to turn an average ride into something much more memorable. Or how about visiting a pumptrack or a foam pit? Stepping away from your regular trail riding routine every once in a while makes it easier to avoid getting stuck in the same old routine week after week.
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Mountain biking is a deceptively difficult sport, and even after more than two decades of rolling around on knobby tires I'm still constantly experiencing eye-opening moments that illustrate just how much room there is for improvement. Just when I think I have a trail completely dialed, content in my knowledge that I know every sneaky line and jump, someone will come along and go even faster, and with more style than I thought was possible. There was a time when that would have been frustrating, where I would have thrown myself a little pity party, but now I use those moments for motivation, fuel to get me out the door for another ride, another chance to learn and evolve as a mountain biker.




Author Info:
mikekazimer avatar

Member since Feb 1, 2009
1,716 articles

138 Comments
  • 201 40
 This guy is talking about getting 'old' and he's [JUST] 'cruising towards' his mid-freaking-30's?
Give me a f*ckING break! I remember my mid-to-late 30's as a time when I STILL didn't wake up the next day with sore
fricken legs, arms, shoulders, and would ride that day as fresh as I did the day before.
Heck, during the week I rode in the morning before work, then in the afternoon when I got home.
People in their 30's crack me up and piss me off at the same time. They think they're getting old when
they're still fuggin pups.
So Mike, wait another 15 years, THEN you can talk about how to ride when you're getting 'old'.
  • 83 12
 It's not the year, it's the miles. Are you one of those guys that had to walk uphill to school both ways in the snow?
  • 129 3
 Just relax man!

I have a friend who is 69 and still rides his DH bike (including on the gnarliest trails in Finale Ligure). When he gets overtaken by "younger" riders (that's about everybody else) with gritted teeth and a cocky attitude he just puts on a smile and shrugs his shoulders as if to say "still so much to learn".

Guess what I'm saying is that age is always relative, there's always somebody older than you that could say "well you have no idea about getting old". The only difference is that those who age well and are happy with their lives tend to understand that the best way to deal with this is not to get worked up about getting old or slower but to just enjoy whatever riding you get to do - whatever that may be. Everything else is a one-way road to frustration.

Happy trails !
  • 17 5
 Way too young to be making those comments!! A mate was telling me he bumped into an older dude riding Cwncarn, a brutal DH track for the body, his age started with a 7!!!...He posted the guys picture up......a few days later I was at Bike Park Wales and the guy gets in the seat on the uplift bus next to me!!.....I had a chat with him and he was hitting more gnar more frequently than anyone I know.
  • 3 3
 this is an excellent rant, 11/10
  • 33 0
 What he's saying applies to pretty much any age. It doesn't really matter that he's thirty something. It's not a competition of age, it's a mindset.
  • 8 0
 Just ask RC how it feels to be aged and experienced....
  • 8 0
 Feck me I'm 45 in September, starting to gather all the medication I start eating a few days before my Morzine trip, if you hear someone rattling as they going down then that'll be me..
  • 9 0
 @tinyfatcat: I fully agree. To me the thing is not so much if getting older implies getting slower or not, but more than getting older means that you do not really care. If my fast is snail pace for others, well, good for them. I just love being out there on my bike.
  • 3 2
 @mammal @ViceGrips Yes and yes! It's a mileage and mindset thing! I'm expecting to need knee replacements in 15 years and needing to be done with my current lifestyle but @YoKev expects us to wait before anyone can even talk about getting old... That's why I wake up every day (often times extremely sore even though I'll only be 30 in Sept.) and want to push and enjoy my riding as much as possible. We only have one life to live so get after it!!! #LONGLIVECHAINSAW #IRIDEFORPAUL
  • 14 4
 pfft this 45 yeara old make me laugh, thinking they are old and shit, I remember being 45 as the days that I could still fall without breaking a hip and using a camelbak to drink and not to pee. Wait till you are 85 and tell me how it is to be old
  • 5 2
 I'm 26 and I feel sore and broken every morning after a ride. I'm past my prime!
  • 22 0
 @arkon11: your just out of shape
  • 4 1
 Didn't Minnaar just win last weekend? Pretty sure he's pushing the mid 30's mark. Granted we can't all dedicate our lives to training and racing but you can be fast well into your 40's and beyond. I started aggressive trail riding in the early 90's and bought my first dedicated DH bike at 49. Sounds like Mike has performance issues. He just needs to bike with slower people so he feels better about himself. Don't come riding with me.
  • 4 1
 The only time MTBing makes me feel old is when I ride my first bike. It is a bike that is full ridged with cable pull brakes. This makes me feel old. I realize how far this sport has come in the last 30 years. How nice bikes are now. Then I ride my new rig and pass up all the kids. Now I feel just like a kid again . 40's and flying.
  • 3 0
 A few years back, I met a fellow snowboarder on the lift that was 80 years old and he told me he learned to board at 60. A real-life hero! I often think about him when I feel "old."
  • 1 0
 beat me to it... as I sit here with sore shoulders, a sore (and JUST realigned spine -thanks stretching) and thinking how I should PROBABLY not ride until at LEAST Monday... but that PR on Tuesday's climb was SOOOO worth it.
  • 2 0
 Unless you are playing golf or auto racing mid-30's is when most athletes start thinking about retirement (if they were lucky enough to make it that long). Granted you can still perform at a high level for much more of your life.
  • 37 3
 @YoKev, ha, in my mind you're shouting that from your porch, a clenched fist in the air. You know, the guy that's always scolding kids to get off his lawn. I never said I was old, but I am getting older. We all are, every single second of every single day. But the cool thing is, there's no need to stop riding, and I don't have plans of getting 'old' any time soon.
  • 2 0
 @tinyfatcat: The truth
  • 2 0
 @tinyfatcat: Right On!
  • 6 0
 I found it noticable that it took longer to heel past 35. I dont hit the same big stuff I used to but I am a smoother better rider however....
....My arm is plastered and in a sling from a recent after work trail loop 'incident'.
When I look back at my worse injuries, broken bones and hospital stays, they were all from stupid minor things that my mum could have riden.
As you get older (and Ive been riding over 20years so that counts as getting older not age), you get less complacent and spend more time thinking about what an utter ball ache being injured is and not been able to drive when you live rural, have kids and cant get to work. Its that that slows you down.
  • 15 0
 There's a saying, those who think that not having money is no big deal have never truly been without. The same reasoning applies to those who say that age is irrelevant, it's the mindset that matters. While there is a kernel of truth to this, until you are actually "older" you cannot truly speak to the effects of an aging, active body. I'm in my early 50's & while I can still mostly keep up with people 20 years my junior, I definitely cannot do or maintain my mid 30's output in any of the sports I do. With the benefit of hindsight I do not consider mid 30's as remotely being old, but...I'm sure if I live to see my 70"s or 80's I'll look back at my current age with fond memories of what it was like to be "young". A piece of advice though for those who are in their 20's & 30's, look after your bodies, pay attention to warning signs & NEVER think "that will never happen to me", otherwise kudo's to those warriors still plugging along well into their senior years & a tip of the hat to the younger chargers for showing us there are very few limits to our sport. Happy riding.
  • 1 0
 No worries. You can be any age and still manage to break your neck.
  • 5 0
 47 years old. Frankly, its better. I now have some disposable income to spend on trips and bikes, and have a appreciation for a good make, either up or down.
  • 3 0
 It's all just relative, ya crusty ol' bastard. And did your old ass even read the article? It's about how he continues to learn and progress throughout his life, which applies to anyone whether they're 15 or 65.
  • 1 0
 wait til you're actually the goat mtb rider, mike.
  • 1 0
 @properp: Hahaha I totally am man. Working on it!
  • 1 0
 remember this: "67-YEAR OLD TOM REACHES 1,000,000 downhill'"

www.pinkbike.com/news/tom-reaches-1000000-at-67-yrs-old-video-2014.html
  • 7 0
 I'm 47. Between improvements in bikes and training knowledge I have been getting consistently faster over the last 8 years both up and down. 47 yo me would beat 40 yo me everytime. Training requires shorter more quality work and longer recovery periods but I am constantly building. I had my fair share of metalwork and injuries over the years and bounced back quickly enough but I do realize i no longer bounce at 47 and most falls now leave their mark more and for longer. Im not the fastest dude around by any stretch of the imagination but I'm still put in times that would be competitive in all but the elite cat's. Competed in the last round of the EWS and wasn't far off the top 100 overall. Given the quality at those races I'm actually kinda chuffed about that. If you are feeling old in your early 30's riding MTB you need to change how you train, what you eat and maybe your mindset.
  • 1 0
 We have a lady in Sheffield who rides aged 72. I believe she took up DH mtb at 65. This gives me hope
  • 3 3
 How high and mighty of you.
Completely condescending, dude. You're 40-50 so you assume you can tell anyone yournger than you how it is huh? You crack me up. If you wern't sore, you wern't riding all that hard I'd guess. I have memories of being sore at thirteen from skateboarding. Same for biking, and climbing today. If I wasn't sore, I wasn't pushing my body hard enough, and that holds true today.
  • 4 0
 YoKev I was still racing downhill, jumping off everything and riding morning and night at 45. At almost 60 I am still riding black runs and giving youngsters a push along. So I agree that 30 is just getting out of playschool in the mountain biking time frame but the age of OLD is getting further away every year
  • 4 0
 @arkon11: I'm 62 and wake most mornigs feeling my age. But when I go to bed especially after a ride day I feel 14. Boy that feels great.
  • 1 0
 @mikekazimer:

Just remember no matter what you say, SOMEONE, will get upset and act incredibly offended by it as if you just murdered their family. YoKev is just an example of this rule in action.
  • 1 0
 @Wesley-Swipes: I can't believe you just said that, that's pretty offensive against people who are offended by nothing.
  • 2 0
 Well, I'm almost 50 but when I was in my early 30s I filled my burlap knapsack with rocks to snack on 'cuz there wasn't no "camel backs" filled with "food". And you know what? I was GRATEFUL!
  • 1 0
 @mikekazimer:
So all of us 'old' people clench our fists and scream at the neighborhood kids to get off our lawns?
All I was saying was to quit-yer-bitchen, and ENJOY your young age, 'cuz in a few years you're gonna start paying a heavier price each morning when you wake up.
You know how when you hear a high school or college kid complain about his/her life because...... and your response is to tell him/her to snap the f*ck out of it, and get with enjoying the best time of his/her life?
You say that because now that you're 'older', you want to shake the daylights out of the little punk and get him(or her) to realize what YOU KNOW, while at the same time wanting(desperately) to change freaking places with him/her, and relive that time in your life with the knowledge you have now.
You're the high-school kid....
  • 1 2
 @millsr4:
Dude, at your age, if you're waking up sore from freaking EXERCISING, you're simply are out of shape.
I don't know what else to tell you.
And yeah, you talking about being old-while still in your freaking 20s- is the perfect example of what I originally wrote about pissing me off, and making me laugh. I laugh(AT you, not WiTH you) because of the outrageous humor of you wanting to talk about 'getting old' while you're still in YOUR f*ckING 20'S!
It pisses me off because of how much I feel your age is being wasted on you, thus it should be given to someone like me, who deserves it SO MUCH MORE.
  • 4 0
 @YoKev: Dude you have totally missed the point of this article and my comment... This is all about still pushing ourselves even though we are getting older. I'm not talking about being a fat ass and having sore muscles(thanks for assuming DICK), both my knees are f#@&ed as is one of my shoulders... so yea I wake up sore and in pain often but I continue to push myself in my riding and all facets off my life. You sound like a pissed off bitter old man... I sure as hell hope not to end up like your ass when I'm older...
  • 100 3
 30s are the golden years of MTBing - You can afford the equipment and travel, and don't yet have the family responsibility, your body still works well, and your wise enough to start learning... I bet the average age of reader of this site is higher than expected...
  • 9 1
 So true....
  • 6 0
 Yeah, I agree. I really found my passion for riding at the end of my 20s after a boozey impovrished scholastic hiatus. I get better every year, though it does take longer to get my legs now at 37 as it did at 27. I love that I ride with dudes in their 40s that rip. Means I've got years ahead of me. If you race, though, this is not the same.
  • 37 0
 Your thirties involve more money and no family responsibilities? Hmm. Maybe I did this wrong...
  • 19 0
 I'd call that my 20's! I'm 33 and have 2 kids under the age of 4. We can't afford to travel that much but luckily I moved to a place with world-class trails out my back door when I still could. I got my wife into mountain biking (she's now obsessed) so we just take turns watching kids while the other rides. So the moral....live in a place with trails and pick your spouse wisely.
  • 2 0
 @ryan83: I think about this daily. I conveniently have a trail system less than 15 minutes by bike, but it's not "world class" but pretty damn fun. I'd love to get out of town more, but with a 2 and 3 year old my weekends are usually too busy for an extra 2 hours of travel time.
  • 4 0
 I feel like I've progressed more in my 50s than ever before (not really saying that much but whatever...). With so much improvements in trails & bikes, it's funner than ever getting after it!
  • 1 0
 @railin: You could never have as much fun riding a rigid 90s bike on flowless trails than you can on a contemporary bike riding riding todays trails. Sorry, it's impossible.
  • 6 0
 That's a good idea: Pinkbike poll to ask the age range of readers. I bet there will be some surprising results.
  • 2 1
 Sorry dude, but not many people are still single in their 30s. If you wanna wait 'til your 40 to start raising a family I got news for you. You better find a woman who is 10 years younger than you. Being 40 and giving birth isn't really good for a woman, not to mention the fact that you'll be ALMOST 70 when your kid graduates high school, and depending on how long the little f*ck takes to graduate college, you could very well be dead and buried by then.
Plus, all of your kid's friend's parents are gonna be a LOT younger than you.
You want your child to get teased because he's being raised by his grand-parent(s)?
Having said that, I agree with everything else you said.
You [should] have more money than you did in your 20s, you prolly are secure enough in your job(career) so that you can take more/longer vacations, and you (finally) realize you're mortal, so you don't ride with your head up your ass-as much.
  • 3 0
 @YoKev: ummm, how long did high school take you? Also, kids later in life may seem like not the greatest option, but hey man, people do what they have to do. I'm glad I didn't wait, but to each their own...
  • 2 0
 @YoKev: The part where the wife is ten years younger sounds pretty damn smart to me Razz
  • 2 0
 @JesseE: , Start now to nurture your kid's love of riding, and just wait a couple of years. Soon you'll be able to take them riding, and soon after, they'll be showing you all the best lines. Riding with your kids is a great experience. My youngest is almost 15 now, and has been riding since he was 3, about 3 years ago, he truly fell in love with riding and now is obsessed with bikes. We now plan most of our vacation time around riding/racing, and I enjoy having a passion that we both share. i get to see riding from a fresh perspective now and I get pumped up just from his enthusiasm about riding. As for age, i just turned 50, sure I'm slower than I used to be, and I don't hit all of the gnarly stuff as much anymore, but when I'm on my bike, I'm as young as I ever will be again, and I make the most of the ride.
  • 1 0
 @canuckcrawler: great attitude. I've got the girls on runbikes so fingers crossed they'll love it! I'm confident one will, but the other is even more risk averse than her dad!
  • 1 0
 @canuckcrawler: Im at the beginning of that path, my little guy (2.5) got his strider bike for his 2nd birthday. Seeing him get excited going down a hill, and riding over a root or a rock on a pathway is so fun and is totally rewarding. He obviously isn't running jump lines yet (he thinks he does though!) but we have so much fun going out and watching him discover the freedom we all know we get on a bike.
  • 1 0
 I rode my bosses rigid bike, flex stem thing, weird long stem, he owns a very successful high end bike shop and could ride anything he wants. I used his bike it made easy trails sketchy as f*ck. Fun is where you make it. Impossible, not hardly. Did people have fun f*cking before porn?
  • 1 0
 @bikerider4444: I'd say f^c&ing before porn was better.
  • 1 0
 @YoKev: LOLOLOLOLOLOLOL at taking 30 years to finish high school. If it takes your offspring that long you shouldn't have had kids to begin with.
  • 1 0
 @YoKev: Tell That to Comedian Joey Diaz, Living Proof what your saying is All Internet talk Bullshit. Sorry bud
  • 95 2
 you don't stop riding because you get old, you get old because you stop riding
  • 10 0
 dtax, agree with you on that. Im 51 and been cycling for almost 10 years now and feel fitter and better in myself than I did at the age of 40....when I was an unfit 19st blob!
Im not stopping this cycling thing any time soon, for fear of turning to a person worse than I was at the age of 40!! Im currently 14st 9lbs and faster on a bike than I have ever been, not that im that fast mind ;-)
  • 2 0
 Yer fuck age........
  • 2 0
 @Travel66:
Your only as old as you feel!! I feel 30!!! If I realy was, then I would not be so worried about my pension :-(
  • 3 0
 You are wiser than your years, young sir!
  • 8 0
 You don't stop reading because you get old, you get old because of all the goddam brainless cliches make you want to pull your hair out, move to an old folks home and forget how to read.
  • 4 0
 @obee1: ^^^ absolutely!

I blame Oprah. Wink
  • 10 0
 Right on! Age is a state of mind. I'm probably older than 90% of those here but I'm kind of in denial. Riding hard but a little smarter every time out. Still learning in my 60th decade, equipment's better than ever allowing me to still send it and ride the gnar. Crashing is way overrated for sure, recovery is slower as you get on in years. Never stop riding or skiing or climbing or paddling or...keep on keepin on!
  • 15 2
 @manitou2200: Wow, 60th decade. Are you really 600 years old? Keep going man!
  • 5 0
 @stumpymidget: Oops typo haha! meant 6th but well preserved. Thanks!
  • 3 0
 “Man does not cease to play because he grows old; man grows old because he ceases to play.” - George Bernard Shaw

I find this to be an important quote.
  • 4 1
 Kids, pay close attention to this! I have directly made fun of these old farts for using boring quotes and brainless clichés, yet they continue to use them. this is one component directly related to dementia and alzheimers.

"ride your bike, don't do hard drugs, try not to shoot people who don't deserve it". - John 3:16.
  • 2 0
 @ballardski: you're only as old as you feel to the person touching your naked body!

And I've found denial to be an effective tool with regard to age. Works perfectly... unless it's morning.
  • 50 3
 TOTALLY disagree, I'm as slow now as I was in my twenties
  • 49 3
 Some people are 'over the hill'.... but just picking up speed!! Ha ha
  • 28 1
 Plus your centre of gravity improves with age.
  • 5 0
 @fartymarty: yeah now i don't ride uphill tits to bars, i ride sack to toptube
  • 1 0
 For sure Brett, then the trick is to carry that speed up the next to keep that over the hill attitude! Haha
  • 23 0
 When I was 45, a friend of mine introduced me to dh. Absolutely fell in love, lol. Now at 51, I am faster and better. Went to Whistler last summer and went faster and had more air time than I thought I every would, although I do know my limits. It made me feel like a kid again, smile from ear to ear. God I love this sport of mountain biking, at any age.
  • 5 0
 @habsfan I'm following in your footsteps! I got really into DH and riding at 49, 55 now and still shredding pretty hard. It is great to afford stuff and looking forward to retirement riding next year. One of the best compliments was from my Mom scolding me for not "growing up" and being "more immature than her grandkids". Still trying new stuff at my pace and getting most of it. I've seen some very awesome and immensely sad things while riding - still not expecting to switch to couch shredding for a few years yet.
For the younger whippersnappers, riding hard does not need to stop in the golden years. Just don't frack yourself up too bad on the trails or let yourself go so much that you need a 750lb coil spring.
Keepe feeding that 2-wheeled addiction!
  • 4 0
 I totally agree with you - I started in my late 40's too and having a blast. Having said that - I do notice that as I get older the biggest difference is that it takes longer to heal from the inevitable bumps and bruises that can happen.
  • 4 0
 @pjakob: you got that right, sir. That's one of the big deciders whether I try the bigger gap or drop knowing that injury means a looong time off the bike. Not fun having a longer recovery period.
Development is a bit slower my way, but I still get to ride lots.
  • 21 0
 Spot on - I have been riding since I was 28 and am about to turn 50. I have progressed more in the last 4 years than I did in the previous 18 and hope to keep the trend up for several more years. Mike - 35 is not old. Look at Greg Minnaar and Peat. My word - I wish i had 15 years off my age and the same skills I have now...
  • 17 2
 Hey kids....remember that drugs and alcohol are preservatives and keep the body young. Oh and don't forget to add your daily dose of sex (partners optional) and rock-n-roll!

Sincerely,
Iggy Pop
  • 5 0
 Secondary evidence: Keith Richards
  • 11 0
 Great article that resonates for me. I only started riding in my early 30s but I progressed quite fast. For me it's the progression that makes riding so addictive and I'm doing things now that I remember thinking I would "never" try. With a young family to think about I also believe in working up to things, or leaving that risky jump or feature for another day if I'm not feeling it.

More recently I was wondering if the progression would stop or slow down as I got older. But then I see my mates in their 40s and 50s hitting big stuff and Minnaar slaying WC's at the same age as me and figure I'm good for a while yet. All the more reason to take it slow and enjoy the ride.
  • 13 0
 TOTALLY agree, I'm over fifty now and I'm as slow as I was thirty years ago, but I keep looking for new ways to be slow. Never stop learning!
  • 8 0
 Me too! I've been spending the last thirty years trying to find new and innovative ways to be thrown off my bike, damage something difficult to repair, and entertain spectators with. ( insert random cliche) NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE!
  • 6 0
 GO AHEAD AND BEAT ME YOUNGLINGS, I'LL MAKE YOU EARN IT. STILL SHREDDING MY DH RIG AT 52, The misses dreads it every time I grab my kit. Don't worry darling my 500k life insurance will get you alls kinds of cruises around the world if I case the big one. BRAAP! MID 30's HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA HA...
  • 6 0
 I'm a 45 year old mother of two young girls. I may be progressively getting slower over the decades, but I'm still here!. Love my AM bike but just built up a big bike Rocky Mountain Maiden for some bike park shreds, and it's amazing. Any chance I get.
  • 6 0
 My old man is 72, bought himself a trek superfly and is hitting black Diamond runs! Plus he's a machine on his roady! Age is only a number! We all have room to learn and grow no matter what age!
  • 7 0
 Young folk and their misguided ways. Having a great year - riding my best tech in a while - in fact yesterday I rode like I was 48 again!
  • 5 0
 Nothing stoaks me more than seeing a father (or mother) out riding hard with his son/daughter. I have a daughter 6 and a son nearly 4 and ive had em at the local bmx track for a while. The boys a mennace. He never comes home without a new graze. Took em up the flat forest and they love that too. Good times!!!
  • 3 0
 Yep, definitely a great write up on the topic. The "wiser" mindset when it comes down to learning new stuff really is super important, you will realize that soon enough, in case you haven't had your first major injury yet.
Injuries often occur because you wanted it a bit too much with a lack of preperation for that particular kind of jump/line/obstacle.
As a summary from a pretty beat up guy, that has to face lifelong consequences because of injury: Patience and preperation. They are key for learning. And by preperation I mean mentally and physically. Regular challenges are a cool and needed thing, just make sure you have the routine and physical shape on similar, maybe slightly smaller lines before tackling the next step. Only then you will have the confidence as well. Good luck to all riders out there...
  • 3 0
 Mmmmyes! Sessioning is something that I look forward to so so much inbetween pedally spins with the lads...to try to do stuff that you imagine in your head, see in some pros video, to just de-stress and think of nothing apart from skids, wheelies, roost,steeze! Then the next time you ride you find yourself riding with my more flow, style and everything feels less awkward. I live for that shit at the moment haha
  • 3 0
 I think I spend more time seeking out riding that is hard. Much of the riding that is popular isn't hard anymore, it's just blown out and just requires you to hang on. Going fast, and being fast are much more like exercise than it used to be and I am not sure why. My friends and I are definitely better riders, our bikes are exponentially better, but being fast is actually harder than it used to be. Why? Is it because younger folks are on better bikes and are just stronger? Is it a mental thing?

Piecing together a section of trail that is nearly impossible to clean is what gets me off these days. I also really like rock rollers, hucks and drops. Go dumb.
  • 4 0
 Could name quite a few 50 and a half year old legends round here that annoyingly seem to get faster and faster every season...
  • 1 0
 Yes you can get faster on the bike after 50 years of age and no one should ever stop trying to better themselves or there riding technique. But one thing is for sure and I don't care who you are. You heal up from injuries a lot slower as the years pile on.
  • 5 0
 Riding and loving that opportunity to do so is a wonderful thing. Enjoy. Smile
  • 2 0
 Age is just a number and a subjective reference point. Riding bikes is fun and that shouldn't be defined or limited to your DOB. In fact, the older you get, the better you get at knowing the true value of fun, at least I have.....
  • 4 0
 Age is in the mindset. When your body tells you it's feeling 'old' or 'worn'...drink a beer and tell it to go f*ck itself... we're riding today!
  • 2 0
 I am old now, and I don't give a shit who rides faster than who, because riding mountain bikes has to do with being out there to live the experience, and getting out of there asap is not what gives me pleasure. Jeez, riding trails has nothing to do with racing mountain bikes. Life is not a competition for hapiness. Age will slow everyone down until the total stop, and there is no reason to be in a hush to get there.
  • 2 0
 I believe it's pretty simple. If you want to ride, progress or do much of anything, then by all means do it. If it is no longer appealing due to lack of satisfaction in the effort, consequences, costs or whatever, then do not. I do not ride the same way I did when I started, but I neither pine for those days nor worry about how I will be riding tomorrow. Have fun and live in the moment.
  • 3 1
 Why is everything about going faster or Enduro this enduro that? Is so stupid. Doesn't really matter how fast your going, it's just about having fun. I think the fun factor was lost with all the sizes, standards, and enduro hoopla.
  • 1 0
 at least now there is less hair to get in my eyes... my pain sensory system is not what it was..."im bleeding..? really?" and even if im going a little slower....with my eye sight dwindling..i cant tell the difference. never forget....! Health is Wealth !.
I WILL RIDE TILL I AM WHEELED....then i will just need a push.
  • 2 0
 We ride with a 63 year old who will goat up and shred down everything us 30-year-olds will. Super inspiring and I hope to be as physically and mentally strong as he is at that age!
  • 1 0
 I would guess he does not have to get up and go to work the next day!
  • 1 0
 @truehipster: he actually does! Haha runs his own business.
  • 1 0
 @danstratplr: good for him. Running your own business is different then working for some one. Most employers won't put up with someone getting hurt expected to be at work!
  • 1 0
 @truehipster: true that. Most of us spend our time working for the maaaaaan!
  • 2 0
 60 this year and have no intention of slowing down ! Sure the knocks take a little longer to heal but am never down about it for too long. Used to watch the same video's too ????
  • 1 0
 Clearly the message here is that his riding has IMPROVED with age in many ways, not that the author thinks he or anyone else in their thirties is old, washed up and relegated to fireroads...not sure why everyone got so worked up! He is not calling us old!
  • 1 0
 We're all getting older - but that doesn't mean we can't still get rad. Remember this story from PB: "67-YEAR OLD TOM REACHES 1,000,000'" - that's 1 Million feet of downhill at Angel Fire Bike Park. I look at this guy as what is possible, he's still kickin' ass at 67!

www.pinkbike.com/news/tom-reaches-1000000-at-67-yrs-old-video-2014.html
  • 1 0
 FUck old attitudes, I can't do this that or the other, people stop riding downhill because they reach some magic age, don't become those guys. There are lots of bike shops filled with people who stopped at some point, there experience stopped because they got hurt due to a lack of skill and pulled way back. Old is in the head.
  • 1 0
 this is one of the things I love about this sport (and many sports in general) - regardless of age you can always improve. at 39 I certainly don't have the physicality I had in my teens and twenties but because of the skills and knowledge I have accumulated over the years I able to over come the the fact my body is just weaker now. Now the focus is more concentrated on technique instead of physically smashing my way through things.
  • 1 0
 I look at the leaderboards of the enduro and xc races I enter and there are some very fast 40+ year olds out there - not far off the pace of some of the pros. If I remember correctly I had to check into the 70+ category at last year's Test of Metal until I found a category winner who was slower than my 43 year old time. And it's not just fitness - there were plenty of dudes a good decade older than me who stomped (like STOMPED) my times in my local BC Enduros. Keeping fit is key to staying strong, avoiding injuries, and living long enough to get smarter.
  • 1 0
 I rode a bit in my mid 20s (that was the mid 90s...). Didn't get back into it until I was 40 - that was six years ago. But in the last three months or so, I took a few clinics (we're blessed locally with some pretty amazing opportunities for that - marchnorthwest.com offers up all sorts of great coaching in packages from bite sized intro sessions for beginners through evening sessions focused on specific skills all the way up to coaching for pro and Olympic level riders). And damn, those four evenings have made a huge difference in my riding. I've found the same in skiing. I'm a lifelong athlete and have been racing windsurfers for a long time - MTB and skiing were sports that I really got to later in life. With a bit of awareness and skills work, I'm finding myself progressing quite nicely and having a lot more fun as a result.
  • 2 1
 about to turn 32. havent lost any speed or aggression yet. Biggest thing I've noticed versus being mid 20s is how quickly i lose fitness, and how hard it is to gain fitness. riding just DH used to be enough. Now I have to pedal and climb and push myself to stay fit and make gains.

Otherwise still showing the local young punks whats up Wink

Oh, but I am getting crotchety at the young punks smoothing out the trails and straitening twisty sections. can someone explain why the new kids are afraid of tough sections? lol
  • 1 2
 the kids are usually right. don't forget that
  • 1 0
 I think STRAVA is the main reason around my trails, people who can't work out that the guy who's fastest through that section can probably ride faster than them in a straight line too.
  • 1 0
 @metaam: makes sense...sadly. I do know one rider in my area that refers to all the new easy straight bypasses as the "race line". I want to throw dirt at him when I hear it lol.
  • 3 2
 I used Strava a few times and stopped, saying MEH, I ride for fun. This year I used it again to prepare for a competition to see how do I line up with people who I knew will come in first 10. First I got depressed. Really depressed with how much I sucked, how much do I have to work to get into proximity in top ten in my town. Then I had many maaany thoughts in line with this article. But the rage kept building up. I need to get faster, I am fkng slow according to my own standards, considering there are no world cup races in my area... I am going to get faster. I am going to figure out where those fkng minutes went out of the window. I hope I will get into this zone where I can say: "I no longer wish to be faster, being slow is fun". f*ck THAT! Getting slow is reserved to fast guys. 1.5 minute back on 5 minute trail, my fkng favorite trail. My bike is not a trail bike it is a snail bike now. Please serve me ok to be slow when I get a letter from my bum doctor Big Grin
  • 1 0
 As long as there is a smile on your face after a ride, who gives a shit how old you are. I'm 41 and have riding buddies ranging from fearless 20 something to seasoned veterans. We all have different things to offer each other with bike skills, live and learn. Just go ride your bikes!!
  • 1 0
 Another click-bait sesh for the bean-counters in the Dept of page Views? Haha you kids are stoked with decades left to go. I am old and if any of you other oldsters think fools our age are lagging, sign up for a Cat 1 or 2 (same thing cuz cheapskates won't Annualize) DH race - those fools are fast. Leathery Demons of Dirt I tell ya.
  • 1 0
 Great article for one reason, the comment section. I am 49 and nice to see that there are many guys around and over my age and still riding. I ride with much younger guys some of my friends are younger than my daughter but the age difference doesn't mean anything as I can still keep up with them and they keep me young! Smile
  • 1 0
 Nice read, and I agree. Controlled, varied practice makes much more sense than just going in 110% every time. Just like every other disciplines (other sports, music, etc) it gives a much better progression.
  • 1 0
 I'm in my 50's, so to stay sharp on my bike. I have younger friends. Some squids groms-50 I have to chase down. All the training I need. Oh, by the way. I get f-ing sore and tired.
  • 2 0
 I am faster downhill now at 41 than I have ever been because of my Enduro 29 . It truly is due to the bike. Uphill is a different story though
  • 2 0
 Im just relieved to actually see that there are more than a handful of 40+’s that visit PB! #REALMEN
  • 1 0
 Its very satisfying being an 'older rider' seeing some young groms sizing up some jumps, then coming through and hitting them all textbook technique.
  • 2 0
 On the eve of my 40th birthday, I endorse this message.
  • 1 0
 Watches Ride To The Hills... Reminded that his riding skills at best are a decade and a half old.
  • 2 0
 For NM locals, one name: Lynn Lee
  • 1 0
 Getting slower everyday, but enjoying the ride much more now.
  • 1 0
 Articles called, "Opinion"...
  • 1 1
 Guess what: you WILL get slower with age, no matter what you do. Better embrace the fact instead of deluding yourself.
  • 1 0
 That last paragraph read like an ode to Strava...
  • 1 0
 Man.... If assholes had wings, this place would be an airport.







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