Downhill, freeride, dirt jumping, BMX. Am I too old for complete experience of these styles at 28 ? Have no prior experience, but think to jump in. I did extensive reading on this topic, forums, blogs and reddit mainly, it usually starts off with how it is never too late, but when I scroll to bottom, there are horror stories like chronical aches, bones never healing properly, repetitive stress injury and other things I don't want in 30s and 40s.
8
-
34My mental image from just reading the title was someone riding around on penny farthing, shaking a walking stick and yelling about kids these days– ojsAug 25, 2020 at 8:51
-
1@ojs, you mean something like this: i.kym-cdn.com/entries/icons/original/000/019/304/old.jpg– user39927Aug 25, 2020 at 11:32
-
5Ask Ned Overend how old is too old.– Adam RiceAug 25, 2020 at 13:35
-
3I think the mentality can change around this time. In my 30s I am no longer doing the crazy solo stuff I did in bouldering in my 20s. I am much more careful.– Vladimir F Героям славаAug 25, 2020 at 19:28
-
1Gustaf Håkansson at 65 was deemed too old to compete in a race across Sweden. So he decided to ride it on his own, and arrived to the end 24 h before the actual competitors.– DavidmhAug 27, 2020 at 7:40
|
Show 3 more comments
4 Answers
I'm 65, and doing 60-70 miles a week on local roads, trails and hillsides. I'm not a kamikaze biker anymore, but it's still wholly worthwhile. Injuries just take longer to heal, and I'm not so patient anymore.
You're only in your 30s and you're wondering if you're too old? Find a safer sport, buddy.
Ironically, I'm wondering when I'll be too old. Not even close, yet.
-
1
-
1Most important is the age where one starts doing strenuous and vigorous and also potentially dangerous exercise after spending the years before mainly as a couch-potato or an office-chair person.– CarelAug 25, 2020 at 17:17
No, age will not restrict you. You're not as young as you used to be, but in a good way: you won't have physical limitations of age, but you'll be more observant and thoughtful about what works for you and what doesn't, and less likely to take a "walk it off" approach to injury.
Age-related losses have not set in. In short, you're fine. One problem, though, is that people charge into a new activity and overdo it. That's not an age thing; that's a human thing. I'd strongly recommend joining your on-bike training with off-bike strength and conditioning, and maybe even emphasize it over on-bike work for the first couple of months. Your body can strengthen and be well-adapted for when the on-bike work starts in earnest.
Whatever discipline you choose, run its drills relentlessly, learning form over speed. Speed will come, but (sigh...) it royally sucks to have to go back and unlearn something you've committed to muscle memory incorrectly.
Rest enough. "Enough" will vary depending on activity, but a muscle that didn't recover has more chance to be injured and is less capable of saving you in an "oh, poop" situation, allowing more severe injury.
Learn to wrench on your own bike. Not that you have to, but there's a peace of mind that comes from being able to figure out what's going wrong for yourself instead of waiting for a looming verdict from the bike shop about how much cash you're about to give them.
Some of those disciplines use armor. That's a good idea.
Use sunscreen, listen to your parents, and don't talk to strangers. Those are just generally good advice.
Sorry, that got wordy. That's basically an excerpt from the speech I give the kids on my MTB team at the start of every season.
-
1
-
Yes, agreed. I hope I didn't make it seem otherwise. I meant to get across that physically OP is young, but with mental maturity to make good use of it. But, yes, no one is as young as they used to be; that's a temporal fact. :-) I'll edit that to be clearer.– AndrewAug 25, 2020 at 16:41
It depends a lot on your previous life style. Whether you have been practising sports on a regular basis or led a rather sedentary life. Anyway it will not be something that you are going to enter at full speed. First you'll have to acquire the necessary riding technique, skills and bike handling knowledge.
It would be comparable to skiing where you won't go to the top of the most difficult track and try to go down without ever being to basic instruction. Begin slowly and with enough caution and see how far you can reach. Also adhere to a local cycling club that has a 'dirt' section. Most have instructors to guide your first steps.
-
3First and foremost good health insurance, 2nd an understanding boss and significant other in case you need time home for recovery.– mikesAug 25, 2020 at 10:31
At 28 years of age you are still quite young and actually many freeride pros are in their 30s. Well sure maybe they started MTB & BMX when they were 10 or 15 but you still have at least a decade to make progress!
Here is my personal anecdote: I had done lots of mountain biking, wheelies etc. when I was 10 - 20 years old but then other stuff got on the way. But when I was 28 I wanted to get back into MTB for the thrill and exercise. This was my progress, I hope you find it useful on what to expect:
2016, Full suspension XC bike: General MTB on local trails.
2017, Full suspension XC bike: Same stuff as last year, bought a full face helmet and did few visits to bike park later in the season. I was terrified but excited :D I also rented an enduro bike and was happy to find extra suspension and stiffness (29" 9mm QR wasn't that great!).
2018, Enduro bike: Enduro & Downhill, max. 3 - 5 meter long jumps. Bought body armor and had my first crash the same day, broke 4 bones but got back to MTB in 3 - 4 months. Naturally I drove a lot slower the remaining season. I also bought knee-pads and good shoes after the crash.
2019, Downhill bike: Downhill & Freeride, max. 5 - 8 meter long jumps.
2020, Downhill bike: Freeride, max. 10 - 15 meter long jumps (but not that high on the sky yet and no tricks).
My friend started at the same time and we've driven about the equal amount and is maybe 1 year more advanced than me, but he hasn't crashed yet. Some people advance slower and others faster but some people try to advance way too fast and take extra risks. That may cause a 1 - 2 year long set-back or even put the hobby to an end.
-
1