Midlife crises - Death drop

busta gonad

I have been biking for the last couple of years and getting more confident, i like a challenge - the thing is there is this drop local to me, about 8ft off a small crag to a sloping transition, the local downhillers send it with ease i am told, i'm the wrong side of forty and my girlfriend tells me to grow up and it will end in tears " you don't bounce like you used to".

I'm so psyched i really want to do it, but am i deluding myself, afterall Gee makes this stuff look so easy! should a balding middle aged man who has let himself go a little, even be contemplating this stuff.

Koiler

you're never too old!

maybe practice on something smaller to make sure you've got the technique sorted then hit it.

just make sure someone is around to call an ambulance

unixnerd

I'd contemplate it a bit more if you have a little body armour. Something to protect the hands, knees and elbows maybe. Start with something a bit smaller and work your way up to it slowly.

Anonymous

busta gonad wrote:

afterall Gee makes this stuff look so easy!

Thanks!
I've been riding for years though, starting off relatively small, and building up like koiler mentions.

You're never too old!

welshkev

my mate runs a holiday company in the alps and he had a guy there last year who was 62 i think. i've seen pics of him hitting things i'd think twice about! he was fully padded up and he was going for it....

i say do it

cee

nothing to stop you...

8ft is a decent sized drop off for sure...

start smaller...build up...

if you question it on approach....don't hit it.

know you are going to nail it

Anonymous

I love the story about a guy in his late 60s who'd hired a mountain bike in the Alps, then went missing. They found his body wrecked at the bottom of a ravine, and his bike in a tree, 15 feet from the ground, and several hundreds of feet above where his body was.

Sad, yes, but epically wesome!

cee

yeehaamcgee wrote:

I love the story about a guy in his late 60s who'd hired a mountain bike in the Alps, then went missing. They found his body wrecked at the bottom of a ravine, and his bike in a tree, 15 feet from the ground, and several hundreds of feet above where his body was.

Sad, yes, but epically wesome!

if your gonna go......go with crack-thwack-thump-oohyah-ahhh-oo-ee-crack-thump-thwitoing

---

thud!

unixnerd

I love the story about a guy in his late 60s who'd hired a mountain bike in the Alps, then went missing. They found his body wrecked at the bottom of a ravine, and his bike in a tree, 15 feet from the ground, and several hundreds of feet above where his body was.

Was the bike alright ;-)

Anonymous

I have no idea if the bike was all right, it wasn't mentioned in the news.
Great way to go though eh?

busta gonad

Guffaw, You guys are evil

Can't even use the bike as a get out clause, it's more than up for the job.

I really should do it, i think my technique is good to go, visualize - , land gracefully, tea and medals.

busta gonad

Cee great advice

Gee you gonna win the nationals this weekend! lol

Anonymous

you're the first one to twig!
(cue crazy forum rumours)

Happy Harry

Koiler wrote:

just make sure someone is around to call an ambulance

Yes, but just as importantly: get someone to video it - please?

chedabob

I'd be more worried about the bike :P Cuts mend and bones heal, but a snapped headtube is forever

cooldad

Don't worry about anything. I'll look after your girlfriend

butcher of bakersfield

Age is all in the mind..



Only you know if you're up to it.

capoz77

if it really is that gnarly vs your skill level and has a 80% chance of ending up with broken bones is it worth the short term 5 second high you'll get from the jump itself and the longer term "i did it" feel good endorphin rush afterwards?

You'll get the same feel good endorphin injection from some sweet fast singletrack. Save your bones for later life.

Anonymous

capoz77 wrote:

if it really is that gnarly vs your skill level and has a 80% chance of ending up with broken bones is it worth the short term 5 second high you'll get from the jump itself and the longer term "i did it" feel good endorphin rush afterwards?

HELL YES!

It's mountain biking as we know and love. Doing stupid things on bikes for the thrill and satisfaction of it.

stevet1992

I know someone well into their 40's that has just recently chucked themselves down the Alps in the Mega-Avalanche ! Never to old to do what you love

Louis84

Christ busta Gonad listen to yourself man! What would your 21 year old self say to you now huh? Think about that. what would he do?.....he'd SLAP you. The mrs is only trying to beat you down, don't stand for it! she's just jealous. You do it my son! Then you have truley deserved the right to sink some beers and tell everyone how great you are.

Raymondavalon

I had a similar phrase of mind just over two years back, aged 46
It did result in tears.. but I was fortunate enough to heal up very well.. my only recommendation is to wear safety gear when pushing yourself to new limits when you you don't bounce like you used to

A photo is worth a million words...



A lovely compound fracture with repair work that now gets security staff attention every time I walk through a metal detector at the airport.. :roll:
However I am 100% healed and still push a little past my limits from time to time, but fortunately I only end up with cuts & bruises

cycle monster

Call the ambulance first, get the driver to take the video for us and wrap a double duvet around your body armour for good measure. Do enjoy it - don't do it alone.

capoz77

Raymond how on earth did you do that?!

Raymondavalon

capoz77 wrote:

Raymond how on earth did you do that?!

Short version:

Being a dumbass

Long version:

Did a high speed manual while descending a steep drop on some singletrack, lost the balance point, went too far back, bailed, cartwheeled and stopped.
I thought I was fine until I stood up, that's when the bone came out the bottom of my and was in the side of my shoe! I reacted and pulled my foot back over the bone. I then took my shoe off and managed to get a photo or two before the ambulance arrived and took my sorry a$$ to hospital



Cannot fault the NHS, this occurred on a Saturday and I was discharged from hospital on Monday afternoon.
As I said, I was fortunate to heal up very well and rode the same bike down the same hill 91 days after the break.

ianton2

Please have someone do the video when you jump...I am 40 plus and would love the additional motivation...

Anonymous

I'm only a few years off 40 which I try to deny to myself. I've only got into this in the last few years and I refuse to stop because of a number.

Besides I believe it's more healthy to have an active outdoor pursuit. So long as you survive all the bumps and breaks. I'd hope to still be out and active long after I get my bus pass .

Anyway, at the rate it's going I'll probably be about 40 by the time I can cope with 8 foot drops .

cobby1970

Don't let age come into it, if you want to do it and feel you can do it then go do it, but as previously stated "make sure you're not alone"

Good luck old boy

nick1962

Just recently done my "death drop"-.....less than 4 feet though but I am 47 and a half
Discussion on hucks going on on the Freeride page
http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtop ... t=12715461
perhaps raymondavalon's cautionary tale may temper any over exuberance.

Frodo1095

Nice pics Raymondavalon , looks like the inside of my leg, except I did mine playing rugby and it was how I ended up getting into mtb'ing in 1992 as a way to build up the strength in the leg again.

.blitz

busta gonad wrote:

Ithe thing is there is this drop local to me, about 8ft off a small crag to a sloping transition

F*ck that, just ride round it

A 'good' ride is one you can walk away from. A 'great' ride is one you can walk away from and use the bike again.