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[Closed] Getting older - and changing attitude to gnarr

johnhe · 2021-08-31T17:14:59Z

So I’m 53. I had one specific year about 5 years ago where I broke my shoulder skiing and my elbow mountain biking in the same 12 month period. Just afterwards, I was laid off twice. I’m now in a great job, but we are a small start up company, and me having major time off work would be incredibly difficult for the business. At the time of my second broken bone, I took a deliberate decision to stop “going bigger”. Before that, I was always wondering if I could do a slightly bigger drop-off, or a slightly steeper trail, or a slightly faster lap. So now where I am is incredibly frustrating. I used to be one of the more technically capable riders in my group of friends. Not the best, but one of the most capable and more adventurous. But now I’m starting to balk at obstacle I’ve cleaned in the past. My gnarr aspirations are not getting bigger and bigger. But reducing a little. Looking at the future logically, I guess folks can’t normally keep on doing bigger and bigger features. But I find this very very frustrating. How do other people cope with getting older? And having to be a little more down-to-earth about their gnarr-shredding expectations?

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jedi

Posts: 10249

Full Member

😆 that made me smile

Posted : 07/09/2021 5:08 pm

TheBrick

Posts: 4954

Free Member

40. What I ride MTB wise has changed. More bike park and winch and plummet now than it was when I was in my late 20s when it was a lot more trail / xc on a ridged bike. Faster speeds now to higher consequence.

Biggest issue for me is time on my bike. I don't feel as comfortable as I was due t less time on the bike. Even though I was riding rigid and xc / trail I was pretty loose on it and kept up well. Confidence from familiarity. Now I ride mtb once a month so just don't feel as in tune. I am defiantly more fearful than I was on a BMX as well but similar issue. Prob ride once a week on that but find that need more regular but shorter sessions to feel good on.

So yes I am more cautious but I think a significant amount of it is due to lack of practice at the moment.

Posted : 07/09/2021 5:36 pm

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