Nope life without risk is no life.

My sons are 10 & 8 and race karts and the 10 year old races a 125 GP road racing motorcycle. I am a former motorcycle road racer myself. That copper taste of fear in your mouth when you have a motorcycle pegged in sixth at Turn 8 in Willow Springs with the afternoon wind picking up and your knee puck is scrapping the ground is when you feel alive. The shlt eating grins my boys have as they exit the track is a memory that will carry me to my grave.

My boys both played little league and both were dying of boredom wondering how people like team sports. They both kept asking me if they could quit and go race their karts ( I made them finish the season).

Your dad is being selfish for asking you to stop doing what you enjoy. You seem to be a big boy and living on your own, keep on doing it.

 

I have been riding MTB for 20 years now.
In my younger years, I did some pretty risky things. Luckily I never was injured.
My job now requires me to be healthy. To this end I don't do stupid things anymore. I still ride but I don't put myself in a situation that I can't control.
I would suggest you take the middle ground. Get a HT bike or (a XC if you must go FS). You can still have fun without going extreme.
Prove to your family that you can MTB safely.

Good luck.

 

you said you're pretty good, well you can't be to good if you keep falling down and breaking shit

i'm on the fence about this, i'm a racing fanatic, i drag race as often as i can, and i do track days as often as i can, and it scares the crap out of my wife, we had a serious talk about this because of my two boys, i know it's a one in a million shot i'd get seriously injured or killed but YOU NEVER KNOW, i tried auto cross but it just isn't the same, i know i was being selfish because of my love of the sport and the thrill, but i asked myself if it's worth having my boys grow up without a father

and OP i'm 24 too, it must be the young blood we need to bleed before we finally grow up

 

Thanks for all your input guys I'm really listening to what all of you are saying.

S2020-
I've tried XC I just can't get into it. I road bike to keep i shape and what not, but XC riding bores me to tears. Hence why I got into downhill bike (and sometimes dirt jumping). I've always been an adrenaline junkie in every sport I do. Hell when I did track in high school the only event that interested me was pole vaulting. It's very difficult for me to take it easy or not push myself because when I'm riding I want that adrenaline flow the entire time. It's like crack.

hammerhead300-
It's my main hobby and one of the few interests that I'm 100% dedicated to. All the BS with work and such goes away when I'm riding. It's the time where I'm total focused and I can just let my natural instincts take over. Giving that up would be tough.

WFO Racer-
Sounds like you got some awesome kids there. Other parents probably judge you pretty hard letting your kids do such "dangerous" sports, but it's good to see you opening up and letting them try and stick with what they enjoy. Best of luck to them.

beanseff-
It seems like your in a tougher situation with having much more responsibility than I do. I have neither a wife nor children, so me messing myself up doesn't affect anyones life except mine.

"you said you're pretty good, well you can't be to good if you keep falling down and breaking shit" The way I ride a bike is similar to driving at a track day. Because the speeds are higher and the danger is greater a small mistake can turn into a lot of damage quickly. Both times I fell were due to over shooting the landings off of two of the larger tabletop jumps at the park I ride at. So although I don't fall a lot when I do it's usually going high and fast, which equal major damage. Just to give everyone an idea this is the first jump I crashed on (the rider isn't me), it is about 15 feet from take off to the beginning of the landing. I completely over shot it and landed to flat.





Again thanks for the input so far, I know I'm going to have a couple of months to think it over but it is great to get other peoples opinions who aren't bias. Keep them coming

 

It

 

Bobby, I know how much you love the sport. I also know you don't enjoy the XC etc. I was a little surprised to hear you crashed hard on like your second run out after healing from last years injuries. Its hard to throw in the towel, especially when you love the sport so much. I would look at it from a positive/negative perspective. Here is my take on that list

+
-You are doing what you love
-The adrenaline rush
-Respect from your friends
-Possibly go pro?

-
-You can get seriously injured, either from bone breaks and subsequent hospitalization, or from brain damage
-you could die
-You cannot earn money at your job, or lose your job
-Hospital Bills from injuries
-the stakes move up when you buy a house and can't afford the mortgage


I have seriously been considering picking up a DH bike, but there's always been that fear of serious injury. I am a bit more risk adverse though. I guess the same could be said about the XC and road riding(getting hit by car) but it seems the odds increase exponentially when you're getting serious air off jumps.

At the end of the day the choice comes down to you, but consider the implications of your actions on other people and yourself. There is no right answer, only one that you choose and one you don't.

BTW, we need to do some road riding. I went on this 28 mile loop yesterday that is absolutely amazing.
EDIT: Forgot you were injured... If you can ride...

 

You are being selfish and here is the reason.

It has nothing to do with this being your passion/hobby, whatever. It has to do solely with the fact that you rely on your parents to take care of your ass every time you screw up and get hurt. Your dad was telling you nicely that they are tired of taking care of your ass every time you screw up and hurt yourself. He is probably fearful that they will be stuck with a vegetable for a son because he insists on doing something he obviously isn't good at.

People that wreck and break bones every time they do something are by definition not good. Whether its on bicycles, motorcycles, cars, running, golfing, competition eating, whatever the heck you want to do.

If you don't want to stop look into ways that you can afford to pay for your own care when you hurt yourself now, and if you turn yourself into a vegetable later. That way the burden isn't on your parents.

 

[QUOTE=heathas2k,Jun 11 2009, 08:40 AM] It

 

Are you being selfish=yes.

Is it wrong=depends.

If you become a parapalegic what will you be wearing=depends.

You are young dumb and full of come. Its all good. Enjoy life. Remember that those injuries will plague you for the rest of your life.

My sister's former boss was a big time adrenaline junkie. He was also a great businessman. He died in his early 50's from an accident on a downhill ride, broke his neck and died in about 2 minutes on the side of the mountain doing what he loved. That was not the first time he had broken his neck.

He left behind a wife and 2 beautiful kids. They have about 15million in savings. His kids would rather have their dad.

What I'm saying though, is at the end of the day it's your decision to make so do what you want to do. It does affect other people in your life, but it's your decision.

 

QFT.

It's true that you have to push yourself to improve but you are pushing yourself too far beyond your limits. Ride smarter man, common sense.