Who is scared of getting hurt?

[Red Bull]

I am not a pussy, ive done drops twice the size of all my friends ( 10+ feet) and have done jumps that noone around me is wiling to do. But when i am not riding i sometimes start t feel sick when i think about getting hurt :think: .
Is it because i have never broken a bone and am worrying about what it will feel like. Like i used to skate and everytime i would sprain my ankle i would fel sick. I dot know what this, but does anyone feel similar

[Roasted]

I think everyone is scared. Its how you battle that fear. Thats half the rush. The feeling you describe sounds like that rush. At some point I am sure 10ft, for example, becomes commonplace and like a bump in the road. But all of us have our 10ft drops.

[DLo]

I am. The thought of being a gimp scares the hell out of me, as well as the idea of not being able to get on a bike for even a small period of time :(

[vogey40]

I know exactly what your talking about. I just got my first big travel bike. At first it gives you some added confidence, but now when Im doing a drop over 7 or 8 feet, or a high speed jump I get that feeling your talking about. But you do it anyway.

[corey_rideDC]

when "No Fear" became big as a brand I'd always see all the 'necks with giant NO FEAR truck stickers and wonder how boring life would be without fear.

[profro]

In the last year I started racing and riding pretty tough stuff and as a result in a year's time I broke two vertebrae and my shoulder. Its turned out well, getting "hurt" has helped me realize that its not that bad to be hurt or even be forced to not ride for awhile. In fact I think its helped me to go bigger and be faster. But being scared and taking risks adjusts as you take bigger and bigger stuff more frequently. What scares you may not scare the next guy/girl.

[dirtyj]

just don't think about it too much or you are going to get hurt. I broke my wrist 6 weeks ago, and went threw 7 houres of surgery and ended up with 13 screws and two plates and I look back at it all and would never change a thing. Just remimber to calculate your moves a little more precise I know I will and to tell you the truth I did it on a very small box jump 7' lip and only a 10' gap landed 5 feet past the ramp on my wrist. I've hit jumps as big as 30+ feet and never had a problem, so be careful and use your head.

[OGRipper]

Fear is good, it makes you pay attention. Too many people think of fear as negative. When I'm riding I have a constant push-pull between the desire to progress and self-preservation. Somewhere in the middle you find the point where you are moving forward in a way that is not reckless, even if you are going big and the people around you think you're nuts.

PS, West Hartford, represent!! I grew up there but moved out in like 1990.

[biggins]

i broke my arm (both forearm bones, my scaphoid, dislocation of hand and wrist, with compound at the ulnar stylus)doing something i have done a couple of times before. it hurt and was a pain in the ass and now i am left with 25% range of motion, i will never even be able to wipe with my right hand again. But would i change it if i had the chance?probably not. am i still scared of getting hurt? yeah. Do still push my personal limits?yes. now i have some screws, a big plate, some threaded pins and i had 2 pins stickin out of my arm you can see in the pic below. Also some synthetic bone to make my arm shape more natural where my srtylus was ground down.
you can watch me break my arm on this video.
http://www.ridemonkey.com/forums/showthread.php?t=100746&highlight=asheville

http://www.ridemonkey.com/mountain-bike-photos/data/500/452922315666106_0_ALB.jpg

http://www.ridemonkey.com/mountain-bike-photos/data/500/452949171396106_0_ALB.jpg

http://www.ridemonkey.com/mountain-bike-photos/data/500/452958980396106_0_ALB.jpg

http://www.ridemonkey.com/mountain-bike-photos/data/500/452919745666106_0_ALB.jpg

http://www.ridemonkey.com/mountain-bike-photos/data/500/452998545666106_0_ALB.jpg

[Tarpon]

There are times when "being a pussy" is the right thing to do. I have the fear of getting seriously hurt,; the fear is not what's important, it's how you manage it. Two people I rode with this year had spine injuries (no permanent damage, thankfully) and it really makes you question the things you do. What I came away from ift with is the reassurance that path I am taking to expand my riding skills (take it easy, have fun, and don't push too hard) works for me. I see no shame in walking or riding around something that "just does not feel right" whether you have never tried it before or have done it a hundred times.

[Pip3r]

if your not scared then your retarded. You need to acknowledge that theres always the possibilty of getting seriously hurt, but overcome it and just deal. I cant stand young kids that have pretty much no style, can barley hit stuff but try all these tricks or whatever. Gotta learn the basics first before you realize it too late when you wind up in the hospital.
In large part, what we do is safer than most other sports because when you get hurt, 90% of the time its entirely your own fault. Aside from mechanicals or something going wrong with the terrain, if you mess up its your fault. Unlike football or even driving to work every day, where you can get seriously messed up and it could be completly beyond your own controll.

[dirtyj]

dam dude that looked like my wrist. I feel for you. I had a little more hard wear, but yours looks pretty bad. I don't think mine dislocaded. I also had the synthetic bone done as well. How long were you out. I'm going on 6 weeks and have about 60%. I just don't have the pulling the wrist back motion. It really doesn't hurt, but it is really stiff.

[llkoolkeg]

More than the fear of getting injured is the fear that you will be hurt and not able to provide adequately for your family. I know I suck and am not too proud to admit it. BFD. I like riding bikes fast and just don't do anything that I am not sublimely confident about.

[biggins]

dam dude that looked like my wrist. I feel for you. I had a little more hard wear, but yours looks pretty bad. I don't think mine dislocaded. I also had the synthetic bone done as well. How long were you out. I'm going on 6 weeks and have about 60%. I just don't have the pulling the wrist back motion. It really doesn't hurt, but it is really stiff.

i was in cast for a long time. i broke it on may 7. i have 4 screws, 2 threaded pins, one big ol' plate and had 2 external pins. I will never acheive 50 precent range of movement.i was in 3 different casts then a brace and went through 9 weeks of pt. The top of my radius was cpmletely broken off and my ulnar bone was broken length wise.my scaphoid is basically an out of shape mass of bone now. I have complete and utter confidence that my surgeon was the best man for the job and hey was even in Twenty Six magazine because of it.

[dirtyj]

thats not good. I only had the cast for 2 weeks, and now with 4 weeks out of the cast I'm able to do almost everything but put down pressure on it. I have 13 screws and 2 plates on my radius. I hope to be back on the bike by x mas. It sucks but hang in there.

[biggins]

oh yeah im back on the bike its just that everything was wrecked in my arm. the dislocation was one of the main issues due to the tendon and ligament damage.

[Brian HCM#1]

I'm a wuss when I ride, I love to ride but don't push it to the limits. I have nothing to prove and I'm just out to have fun.

[dan-o]

I've banged myself up exceptionally well over the years but, after reading the BB thread, I'm now more afraid of others getting hurt than myself.

Life's rewards are only achieved through risk, IMO.

[neversummersnow]

It's natural to be scared, but in the end you've just got to realize you cant be scared of life. Carpe Deim.

[OGRipper]

Yeah, Tarpon really hit it: "I see no shame in walking or riding around something that "just does not feel right" whether you have never tried it before or have done it a hundred times."

The fact that you needed to tell us all that you're "not a pussy" kinda bugs me, not about you personally but because our sport unfortuneately seems to produce that attitude. Doing crazy stuff doesn't make anyone more of a man or whatever...there are plenty of serious losers that do cool stuff on bikes...and paying attention when your brain is telling you not to do something does not mean you're a whimp. That whole macho thing annoys the hell out of me. And it annoys me equally when someone calls me pussy for not doing something as it does when someone calls me a man for doing it...

And I agree with Dan-O that rewards require risk, but only to a point - there's a big difference between financial and physical risk. You can rebound from a financial hit but there are lots of permanent physical injuries.

To me it's about pushing myself, for myself. With dh and freeride that usually involves overcoming some fear of real physical danger, but with other riding (like say a 100 mile road ride), it's about the fear of the pain and the effort required to get through it. Still fear but not the life threatening, self-preservation kind.

[dan-o]

OG, my risk comment was intended as a general statement regarding all aspects of life (sports, career, financial etc). I agree, it's all about personal progression within the boundries you feel comfortable with. The macho attitude is beyond stale.

[Fury]

I'm a wuss when I ride, I love to ride but don't push it to the limits. I have nothing to prove and I'm just out to have fun.

I race because I'm a competitive guy and I like to ride new tracks. However, I think I know my limits and I'm unwilling to push past them even if it means compromising a podium spot. IMO I'd rather have lots of fun riding whenever I want than be limited by an injury because I tried something I didn't think I could do. Fear is good, if we didn't have it we'd likely all be quadrapalegics.

[BigMike]

The Day I stop being scared is the day I stop Riding.


Being Overconfidant is what will get you hurt. No matter how many times you do the same jump/drop/course/whatever, it is different and dangerous every time. Being scared and overcoming my fear is a lot of what riding is about for me.

Am I scared of getting hurt? yes. Do I still ride? Yes.

[bikeninja]

when "No Fear" became big as a brand I'd always see all the 'necks with giant NO FEAR truck stickers and wonder how boring life would be without fear.

yeah, when the No Fear thing was big, a group of surfers from SoCal made T-shirts that had a collage of sufers wiping out on huge waves and a couple carnage shots (like the ones of Biggins wrist). on the front it said in big letters and the same font as No Fear- 'I'm Scared'
I always thought that was a great idea, especially since it seemed like all the guys w/ those No Fear stickers and shirts were posers anyway

[heikkihall]

Im dont like the idea of getting hurt again and avoid it whenever I think there is an elevated risk of getting seriously hurt, so yea Id say im afraid of getting hurt. But Im also fully willing to accept the consequences when or if it happens. Ive been seriously hurt many times before and it hasent scared me off yet.

[Kevin]

My boss is scared I get hurt, does that count?

[Rabie]

I'm not that worried about it. If anything bad happens, I can just sue.

[ROBdropGOboom]

I always have some fear in everything I ride but in different levels. I base it mostly on how sketchy the drop or trail is and adjust accordingly. If it seems too much I know I have to progress on other stuff before I hit something big or bigger. I realize getting hurt is part of the game and sometimes I will eat it and get hurt, but that's what comes with anything I ride.

[biggins]

i agree with the not feeling right thing. there are some things i have pinned a hundred times but when i roll up i dont feel right. Thats what happened to my arm. being a little uncertain is one thing, but i have learned to discern from my gut instinct and my mind messin with me.

[Jou]

I started riding mountain bikes partly because my doctor said no more MX. I still do some of coarse, but fear is natural, know your limits, and if you know your being a pussy, buck up and do it.

[ska todd]

People around me tend to be more afraid for me then I am. Those who have seen me ride will general attest to it. The epitome of sketch. :p

-ska todd

[Red Bull]

you're nuts.

PS, West Hartford, represent!! I grew up there but moved out in like 1990.

thats when i was born :blah: if u ever come back i have some big drops and Djs at an elementary school. Just pm me if u are ever coming...

[Alloy]

I started riding mountain bikes partly because my doctor said no more MX. I still do some of coarse, but fear is natural, know your limits, and if you know your being a pussy, buck up and do it.

Yeah seriously if you know your being a pussy don't sit around and talk about it all day long. Talking about it is only going to secure in other peoples minds how much of a pussy you are. Either hit the jump or don't. Either way most people don't care. Just don't hold other people up with pantywaist excuses of how you “can do it” But your not because the weather is causing your tail to damper or whatever it may be.

[JRogers]

Fear is a healthy thing; keeps you alive and sane. Sometimes I feel like a wuss, but the only person who should care about that is me. I may not do 50 ft gaps and 15 foot drops, but I also never have to pay hospital bills or spend time on crutches. I ride for fun; getting wrecked is not fun.

I think that, for the most part, people who don't ride don't understand the whole fear aspect of it. They might say "wow, that's crazy" or "I wouldn't do that" but they just don't understand the feeling of someone who does do it. I am scared all the time of getting hurt. On race runs and such, I am one part excited and pumped and one part scared out of my mind.

Also, you just gotta take precautions. I always wear a helmet and various amounts of armor on rides, XC or DH. I also lift weights. I do that for many reasons, but a big one is injury prevention. I make a specific point to work my back, lower back and neck as well as retain at least some amount of flexibility. Maybe it doesn't actually make much difference, but it certainly gives me peace of mind.

Kind of surprising that in 9 years of playing football and about 7 or so of mountain biking, I've never been seriously hurt. A concussion, lots of scrapes and cuts and bruises, a few stitches and such, but no broken bones (from those 2 sports anyways), no serious injuries. As of now, I consider myself lucky given all of the times when I could have been/thought I was seriously hurt. A particular 6 foot, neck snapping, head first dive comes to mind....

[JRogers]

Yeah seriously if you know your being a pussy don't sit around and talk about it all day long. Talking about it is only going to secure in other peoples minds how much of a pussy you are. Either hit the jump or don't. Either way most people don't care. Just don't hold other people up with pantywaist excuses of how you “can do it” But your not because the weather is causing your tail to damper or whatever it may be.

Yeah, I guess. I don't make excuses to other people but I know that 90% of stuff that I see and decide not to do because of fear, I actually could do. Very few times have I had to work up the courage to hit something and then wrecked.

Let people make excuses. Whatever. One reason I like riding alone is because of this kind of group dynamic that makes people do things they don't want to do and, sometimes, really really shouldn't do.

[jackalope]

I'll let you guys on a little secret about fear and getting hurt...Just suck down a pint of JD, plus 2-3 hydrocodones, and voila: You ain't skeert of nuttin, and it don't hurt when you pull the infamous human yard dart manuveur...

Actually, for me, it has been a gradual process ever since I got a big travel bike...At first, jumping off a pic-nic table was a big deal...But, I kept gradually getting bigger, especially after watching other riders hit'em...So after about a year of continually pushing my limits, I'm doing stuff that scares other people who are just watching me...6 to 8 foot drops are really no big deal anymore - not to say they're not fun, but they're just not nearly as intimidating as they used to be...But, part of my ever growing confidence was due to the unlikely fact that I NEVER crashed...Skinnies, gap jumps, big ramps, drops, etc...Always landed or rode everything out with no major incident...Thus, I started thinking I could do anything, and decided to show these local chumps how to hit a big BMX dirt jump on my trail bike...In short, it was one of most extravagent case jobs ever witnessed...Broke the rear swing arm, and pile drived myself into mother earth; thereby completely re-arranging my right shoulder...Somehow, I didn't break anything and didn't dislocate the joint - just a bad seperation (something I believe is due in large part to weight lifting)...So bad in fact, I now have a grotesque lump protruding out of the top of my shoulder (seems that the collar bone got jammed way up, and doesn't seem to be in any real hurry of ever returning to it's rightful place)...No surgery, so far, and it starting feeling better in a month or so...Point is, that crash was much needed reality check and re-affirmed something I read in a bike rag (from some DH racer guy I think): "There's nothing more dangerous than confidence"...

You've got to have confidence to pull a lot of the big stuff off, but it's a slippery slope fo'sho...So for awhile, I was afraid my big wreck would really change how I ride and I would soon regress back to my earlier days of XC racing...But instead, I started going bigger, but now with just a little caution...I'm still a little sketchy on some bigger gap jumps, but I was proud of myself the other weekend up in Pisgah when the group I was with was begging me to hit a newly made gap jump over a creek...So while it certainly woulda been nice to stroke the ol'ego and show off for the crowd, I knew there was no way I could make it...Just walked through creek and kept on riding...But I must admit, whenever I'm flying DH, I sometimes briefly think about how bad I'd get f'ed up if I crashed (at high speeds, it seems like all the armor is more decorative than really protective)...But that's what makes it fun...It's basically risk management...For example, I rarely let it go when I just on a recreational DH run...Even in practice, I'm only going 70% or so...That way, I feel like I'm minimizing my chances of eating it - especially prior to a race...On race day though, I try to let it all hang out - but I have no illusions of winning Expert / Semi-pro races, so it's still fairly controlled comparitively speaking...

So nowadays, I try to remember a few things before a big stunt:
* RELAX...Just calm down...You've done stuff like this before, and if you let it, your body will almost instinctly react properly in the air and you'll be on the ground before ya know it...

* I just envision myself landing the jump...Cheesy, but it works...

* Check out the landing to make sure nothing is in the way...It doesn't take much to distract me...

* Get in a practice run or two to get your speed/gearing right...Unless you already know how fast you need to go...

* In most cases, speed is your friend...But I'll admit, it's sometimes hard to convince yourself of that...

* There's no way possible for me to screw this up...I'd almost have to try to crash on this silly stunt...Plus, (if it's a really big stunt) I've got all this armor on, so it won't be that bad even if I have a little spill...It's cool to lie to yourself :)

* And like everybody else has said, if I'm not feeling it, I pass...And fortunately, no one gives me crap if I do...Not that it would really matter anyway...They can do it if it's so easy...

* Thank heavens I have heatlth insurance, disability, and AFLAC (no kidding)...Hell, it would almost be a blessing if I broke my leg and was laid up for awhile...I'd actually make money in the whole deal...


All that said, I did tell a dude the other week that he could stick a landing (about 7-8 feet to tranny) on his Liquid...Just gotta be smooth I told him...So he blasts off this thing and comes down like Oprah Winfrey being pushed off the roof of the Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream factory - thus getting folded up by the bike...Kinda tweaked his back and knocked the wind out of him for a good 15 minutes...But, being 18, he limped back to the car and appeared to be relatively OK...However, it was a rather frightening reminder what can happen anytime you're doing big ****e...Good reality check...And I'm sure I'll have one coming to me again soon enough, just hope it's my left shoulder this time so I'll have matching lumps...

[Tarpon]

I'm a wuss when I ride, I love to ride but don't push it to the limits. I have nothing to prove and I'm just out to have fun.

Amen brother.

[Roasted]

thats when i was born :blah: if u ever come back i have some big drops and Djs at an elementary school. Just pm me if u are ever coming...

good god. Now I feel old. 1990...oh man

[The Kadvang]

I just got out of a cast, so I really don't know. Injury sucks.

[mobius]

I'm not insanely getting scared of being hurt but its in the back of my mind. I ride most of the time when i am comfortable with the trail or place without armor besides a fullface and leg pads so if i go down i don't have much to protect my upper body. I have had a few big wrecks without armor and just gotten cuts and scrapes but nothing bad. I love the feeling when i come up on a new stunt a bigger drop or something like that that goes through me. It's when im scared i ride my best and after i clear the thing a few times it's not that scary anymore so you gotta go bigger.

[TheInedibleHulk]

The most annoying thing about injuries is not riding during recovery. Im a bit timid when it comes to jumps and drops, relatively of course. Whenever I start feeling like a pussy for not trying somethign I remind myself that probably one percent of mountain bikers can do what im contemplating and almost all normal people wouldnt even think it was possible. I used to be a big trials rider and have since moved on to DH and jumping. It's weird for a trials rider to go off a drop at speed, we're used to spotting our landings before we take off and doing everything slow and methodical. In DH you have to just trust the bike and the trail and let it rip.

[ridecruz88]

broken bones are cool, promote DH riding (when you put all your bike companies on the cash), and chicks dig em :thumb:

[ridecruz88]

I'm a wuss when I ride, I love to ride but don't push it to the limits. I have nothing to prove and I'm just out to have fun.

ya i noticed...a lot of my friends are like that. Then you figure out its all wrong when you REALLY push your limits for the first time. Its a thrill like none other...I remember when I first did that was probly when i was 12 and i took a 6 foot drop on my raleigh bike w/ like 80mm front travel, it seeemed sooo ****in huge to me...damn good memories, i felt like the king of the world after that....then i saw new world disorder for the first time :cool:

[lovebunny]

well... im a pansy. i hate hitting things 1st, and im deathly afraid of jumps. but i do the later at least any ways because u cant progress if oyu dont. just wear armor and dont go past your limits ant ull be fine. and you gotta remember for evrything worth having theres a risk. i love flying through the mountains as fast as i can and to me thats worth the risk of hurting myself.

[Toshi]

I used to be a big trials rider and have since moved on to DH and jumping. It's weird for a trials rider to go off a drop at speed, we're used to spotting our landings before we take off and doing everything slow and methodical. In DH you have to just trust the bike and the trail and let it rip.
me, too. getting used to the speed + drops took most of this season, but now i you'd have to pay me to go back to pedal kicking to flat landings :D

[DownhillnDunkey]

Crashing is always in the back of my mind.I'm mostly afraid of going over the bars. and everytime i've crashed ive gone over them and done flips bouncing around everywhere.So my advice is to just be aware and if you have that feeling your about to go down just bail or if you KNOW you are going down and have a bit of time to react just relax your body dont stiffen up its when you make your body stiff and tense thats when you break bones.Or just wear a pressure suit..

[scrublover]

At times, yes. Esp. since I see alot of f*cked up injuries at work (ICU nurse)sometimes, I'm a bit leery of the long term effects of hurting myself. I still want to progress to bigger/faster things though. I've done a lot of stuff in the last year that I'd have not even attempted two years ago.

As I've gotton to be a better rider, there is more that I'll do. The thought of being never able to ride/hike/run again keeps me from getting too crazy, or trying things too far beyond my abilities. Definately is a help for me, riding with better riders than myself.

So maybe not scared of hurt, but just a knowledge of the consequences of what could happen *after* the big hurt keep me in check at times. Sometimes a bit too much, but I'm workin' on it.......

[thaflyinfatman]

Yeah I'd say I'm scared. It's just instinctive, if you're not scared then something's wrong with you. I have never, and probably will never try anything I don't think I'm capable of doing. I'm the kind of person who can't make myself do something with the full expectation that I'll crash, if I want to try something I'll make sure that I think I'm up to it. I'm happy to fly down the side of a hill at mach 5 where crashing could mean paralysis or death or whatever, because I make sure I'm capable of staying in control.

Fortunately for my own safety, I am the kind of person where fear is *usually* the limiting factor rather than actual ability, it's pretty uncommon that I do something new and eat it in doing so. The downside to this is that I progress pretty slowly, but I can deal with that in return for not getting hurt too often.

Some people have a really good balance between fear and ability... those people are called "pros". The innate talent to say "yeah I can do that" then go and nail it, then say "I can't do that" and not be stupid enough to try it anyway is a winning combination IMO.

[Spunger]

I'm a wuss when I ride, I love to ride but don't push it to the limits. I have nothing to prove and I'm just out to have fun.

Ditto on this one, same here! I'm pretty slow but out to have fun.

You have to respect fear 100%. Fear will kick your butt before you even step on your bike. I think it depends what sports you do to have true "fear" such as surfing, rock climbing, something where the conditions change.

While I wasn't a surfer I did bodyboard for years. There were days when I thought I was litterly going to die on a wave. I'd be out when 2-3 guys were, all older guys, in giant storm surf and I swore to myself I'd die. I'd drop in to go to the shore because I would be so scared of a wave and in the end I was like "this isn't so bad". Next paddle out I tried a huge invert off a 14ft+ wave and came up in the flats. Knocked the wind out of me, rippled my board, and dislocated my shoulder. After that accident I respect everything I fear, knowing the fear will get to me.

But it's always going to be a battle with fear and demons. I've never broke anything but my ankle and a finger and I am scared to break a arm or leg or ribs etc... Part of it is because I have no health insurance (working on that) and part of it is just because I'm a wuss.

When it comes to riding, I am just out for the ride to enjoy it, be outside, and be away from everything that bothers me. That is the real bottom line.

[360]

If i have time to think i get scared, so Djing, big drops and some northshore type stuff scare me, but when im riding dh, theres no sitting about eyeing things up, so i cant build these things up in my mind i just get on with it.

I've done plenty of things on dh courses, that i'd never have taken on if i'd actually stopped to eye them up, i like to follow people i know down courses that i havent ridden before then i know my speeds good and i can hit whatever they hit.

[Darkreaper]

Heh, you guys scare me!

I'm not quite as 'hardcore' yet, NI doesnt have many trails and I'm just starting the offroad stuff. It scares the bejeesus out of me when my bike isn;t under my control - whether that's pulling a skid, launching myself off a jump, or trying a wheelie. I just keep going at it though, it works eventually!

On a related note, I performed my first front endo dismount tonight, landed on my wallet with the bike following right behind :S Aching leg but not even a decent bruise to show for it!

[Red Bull]

i think im just really scared of braking a bone because ive never done it before and dont know what to expect. Im the kid who alway hits ( i just accidentally wrote "****s instead of hits :love: ) stuff first, like honestly, all of my friends think im crazy and fearless, and i seem to be for the most part, until i walk out on teh 15 footer. I no i can do it, there is just 2 trees at the bottom, just off to the side, that scare the hell out of me. Cuase i know i can do teh drop, i know i wont nosedive or fall sideways, i just dont wanna hit that f'in tree. If i can find the link of my video i will post it

[Red Bull]

ok, i found it...


http://albert.washcoll.edu/~jhull2/Mountain%20biking/sponshorship.mov

[BigMike]

ok, i found it...


http://albert.washcoll.edu/~jhull2/Mountain%20biking/sponshorship.mov


If you can hit that ladder drop, I dont konw why you are scared of trees in a landing, there seem to be quite a few trees in that landing!

I like your jump line :thumb:

[Red Bull]

i dunno if u can see teh drop next to it but if u can, yeah, SCARY :mumble:

[nickaziz]

That is a 15 foot drop?!

[Scurry]

What I am mainly afraid of is not being able to do what I am doing now. I guess just the fear of becoming a vegetable. I am not into hucks at all, but every once and a while a few nice drops are fun, they scare me the most though, other stuff I have more fun with. I still have yet to brake anything other than my pinkie finger though, I almopst want to brake something sometime, and I am sure I will, its just a matter of when, just so I know and wont be surprised of how much it hurts when something worse happens.

[mack]

The feeling i get frome hucking or dirt jumping is greater than anything i know, Its a feeling of severe pride and feel good. I find myself a better person when i ride allot, and jump. It better than the feeling when I ski, i dunno, i can huck 30 ft ski jumps and do 360's and all that crap, but its totally different with mountain biking, snow is fake, dirt is realit, when you crash, i means more.

every one is scared of getting hurt, but for me, i wouldnt be complete with out it.

[mack]

hey Red Bull, where in west hartford is that drop? ill come over therea and hit it, also, i know this killer 13 ft. youd like in Burlington. BTW, thats not 15 ft ;)

I would like to hit it though, PM me.

always up for riding, assuming my bike works. :mad:

[k9handler]

fear keeps us going...but the pics posted in this thread scare me!

[BMXman]

I'm not scared of getting hurt. I worry more about my family...If I end up paralyzed or somthing of that sort...who's going to take care of them? Crashing and all that stuff doesn't scare me...it's the aftermath of the crash and what it could possibly put my family through that worries me more....D

[ChrisRobin]

I'll speak for the mature crowd:

Crashing is part of it but I try to avoid it if I can. I have two thoughts going through my head if I see something that I want to do but a little too scared or worried about it:

-Breaking my bike/parts: a lot of people here on RM have nice stuff...it would be a shame to ruin those things.

-Getting hurt and not being able to work: I'm on my feet all day walking around, dealing with customers. I don't need to be on crutches or in a cast or be at home lying in bed.

I like to go fast that's why I normally stay low to the ground. It's not that I don't want to take unnecessary risks, I just have a lot of other stuff in life to pay for and take care of.

[Red Bull]

hey Red Bull, where in west hartford is that drop? ill come over therea and hit it, also, i know this killer 13 ft. youd like in Burlington. BTW, thats not 15 ft ;)

I would like to hit it though, PM me.

always up for riding, assuming my bike works. :mad:


I know thats not 15 feet, thats 9 ish depending on where you land. ( the actual drop- like you must clear it is about 8 ft ish...


Send me a pm if u wanna ride, lately i can only ride on sundays cause im on my varsity hockey team...

[ghettorigged]

I guess I'm lucky. I have broken quite a few bones and done some pretty big stunts in my small mtb experience, but I have a great group to ride with that never give me crap about going around something I don't feel good about. I get the occasional, "yeah, but you did that OTHER thing and it was MUCH worse" but then they let it go and we just ride. Am I scared? Heck yeah, I get scared of some of the dumbest crap, but you know, it's not worth it for me to try something I don't feel right about. I ride to have fun. If I am riding scared, it's no longer fun, so there's no point in riding.