I don't know that that is entirely true. Take a guy like Travis Pastrana, for example. He has broken more bones than I even knew existed in the human body, and he's broken a lot of them multiple times. He's basically done everything but split his head in half riding freestyle motocross. He's not just very good at what he does. He's one of the best in the world at it.

Of course, Travis has been doing it for a long time, and those injuries haven't just happened boom-boom-boom, they've been over several years. Thing is, Travis pushes himself, and he does things on a dirt bike that 99.9% of other riders would never attempt at all, let alone be the first to attempt.

 

No wife, no kids, paying your own way? Man, it is YOUR life, not anyone else's.

Your parents can worry about any activity you do. Plenty of others can be lethal.

If you want to be a bit more responsible then pay for a big disability insurance policy so you won't be as much of a burden should the worst happen.

 

You're right it's not entirely true for guys like Pastrana who are world class riders who do it for a living, but if you're mountainbiking just for a hobby you need to use common sense.

 

I say even if it kills you, atleast you died doing what you love doing.... in my opinion thats better then going in your sleep or falling over from old age... Im sure alot of people disagree, and thats fine its just my opinion... but I love racing, and if I die wrecking my car doing 120... i died a happy man

 

I gotta agree there.

I'd rather live 40 years just to die doing something I love than live to be 100 and spend the last several years of my life in some nursing home getting my ass wiped by some nurse and just waiting for my turn to die.

 

I've been downhill mtb'ing for over 10 years and I've only been to the hospital twice in that time. I push myself beyond my limits but within reason. I wipe out almost every ride - I always come home with sprains and bruises and cuts, and the next time I ride I'm a better rider. I've ridden in a some competitions that I would have never even dreamed of when I first started riding.

I do many other sports as well - all produce injuries but none of them cause my parents to worry - I'm not being deployed to Iraq I'm just going mtb'ing fer chrissake.

It's possible to be an adrenaline junkie and not die at 40, just use common sense.

 

If you dont have your health, you dont have anything. I rode dirt bikes
for years, broke my ankle, my wrist, ribs, seperated my shoulder. I finally wised up. Hey its your life.

 

lol I was in the same situation as you. well I decided to pull myself out of the sport a few years ago. I was a sponsored rider and was quite competitive in the freeride world for my age ( grew up riding with Darren Berrecloth, Mike Kinrad, Geof Gulevich, Matt Hunter... etc) but I was getting hurt too much for it to be worth it. When I moved away for university I decided it was time to hang up the ol brain bucket. I still go for the occasional dirt jump sesh or I will rip some trails. but that was my decision Trust ME I still miss it everyday...

 

A lot of you guys are talking about how its your life and you should live it how you please. I would definitely classify this behavior as selfish because your parents are only worrying about your well being. Imagine what it'd feel like you watch your son lie in a hospital bed for the rest of their life or even bury your child.

 

I don't think you're being selfish in the sense that, you're eating all of your dad's food and he's getting none. He's your dad and he loves you. I'm sure he would support anything you do and has supported your riding in the past, but perhaps he's getting scared that he won't have the same son he's used to having if something were to go wrong. Perhaps in that regard, you may take it easy for a while. Maybe not sell the bikes, but don't go crazy anymore. Take him on bike rides and maybe in a few years if u decide to make this a career you can talk to him about it. I think he's just being your dad...