Hey everyone. I'll keep this as short as possible, I'd just like to see your take on the situation.

The backstory: As a hobby I downhill/freeride mountain bike, been doing it for 2 1/2 years now. I would like to say I'm pretty good, well good enough where I feel confident going off some bigger drops and jump. I enjoy pushing myself every time I go riding and in doing so I put myself in some pretty risky situations. Well in the last 9 months of taken two really bad falls that have ended up knocking me out, break multiple bones, and having to get surgery. The first crash (which happened last July) broke both my arms putting me almost completely out of commission for 2 months. This latest fall (which happen Saturday) I rebroke my one arm and also broke my foot. Surgery on my foot is likely.

Now this is where my question comes in. My dad sits me down yesterday and has a serious conversation with me about my biking hobby, this is one of the first "serious" conversations I've had with him in years (we always joke around). He asks me if once I heal up if I'm going to ride again and due to this being my passion I said yes. With almost tears in eyes (I've never seen him cry in his life) he asks me if I could please stop and sell the bikes, that I'm being extremely selfish and he is not ready to see me get seriously hurt (paraplegic, dying, etc.) doing it. He said he wouldn't be able to take the responsibility of taking care of me if I permanently injured myself. This got me thinking if I should give it up or not.

Just to let everyone know, I'm 24, am in the process of buying a house (don't live with parents), have a decent job, health insurance, my own cars, etc. Pretty much I'm independent. Just figured I'd throw that out there, it's not like I'm living off of him at all.

So what does everyone feel; am I being selfish for wanting to get back into the sport or if he is just being overprotective and over reacting.

thanks

 

yes

 

Driving the s2k must be a treat with a broken foot & arm.

 

I think that you should really take your dads advise, and look into another hobby....

The economy is complete shit right now, and a lot of companies are looking for ANY reason to fire people (My wife just got fired from her job of 5 years, for someone else's mistake) Maybe he is also worried that you could possibly loose your job if you take all this time off... maybe NOT for this reason, but eventually a company will get rid of the people that are not good assets to them (they will find another reason to get rid of you)

That, and who would want a son to be a paraplegic ? (God forbid)

He is just looking out for you man... be happy that he loves you enough to take the time and have that serious talk he had with you...

Most dads these days wouldn't give a shit, and would just be bangin the new wife

Good luck! IMO, you should give it up

 

Chevy Impala company car FTW. I broke my left foot and right wrist so driving isn't too much of a problem

 

And get better

 

Impala will never be "FTW"

 

true story

 

true true.

 

Is it the thing that you enjoy most in life? If it is, or it's up there, I say keep at it.

I love riding dirt bikes, and I'm getting into motocross more and more. Motocross is inherently dangerous, and most of the guys riding MX (especially freestyle motocross) have laundry lists of bones they've broken, concussions they've suffered, hospital visits, etc. I've had a few friends express their concern about me taking up such things. I just told them it's something I love doing, and if I can't do what I love because I'm afraid of being hurt, why do I bother doing anything at all?

Maybe it is selfish, but I'm not going to give up the things I love doing because people are worried about me being hurt.