[Red Bull]

I am not a pussy, ive done drops twice the size of all my friends ( 10+ feet) and have done jumps that noone around me is wiling to do. But when i am not riding i sometimes start t feel sick when i think about getting hurt .
Is it because i have never broken a bone and am worrying about what it will feel like. Like i used to skate and everytime i would sprain my ankle i would fel sick. I dot know what this, but does anyone feel similar

 

[Roasted]

I think everyone is scared. Its how you battle that fear. Thats half the rush. The feeling you describe sounds like that rush. At some point I am sure 10ft, for example, becomes commonplace and like a bump in the road. But all of us have our 10ft drops.

 

[DLo]

I am. The thought of being a gimp scares the hell out of me, as well as the idea of not being able to get on a bike for even a small period of time

 

[vogey40]

I know exactly what your talking about. I just got my first big travel bike. At first it gives you some added confidence, but now when Im doing a drop over 7 or 8 feet, or a high speed jump I get that feeling your talking about. But you do it anyway.

 

[corey_rideDC]

when "No Fear" became big as a brand I'd always see all the 'necks with giant NO FEAR truck stickers and wonder how boring life would be without fear.

 

[profro]

In the last year I started racing and riding pretty tough stuff and as a result in a year's time I broke two vertebrae and my shoulder. Its turned out well, getting "hurt" has helped me realize that its not that bad to be hurt or even be forced to not ride for awhile. In fact I think its helped me to go bigger and be faster. But being scared and taking risks adjusts as you take bigger and bigger stuff more frequently. What scares you may not scare the next guy/girl.

 

[dirtyj]

just don't think about it too much or you are going to get hurt. I broke my wrist 6 weeks ago, and went threw 7 houres of surgery and ended up with 13 screws and two plates and I look back at it all and would never change a thing. Just remimber to calculate your moves a little more precise I know I will and to tell you the truth I did it on a very small box jump 7' lip and only a 10' gap landed 5 feet past the ramp on my wrist. I've hit jumps as big as 30+ feet and never had a problem, so be careful and use your head.

 

[OGRipper]

Fear is good, it makes you pay attention. Too many people think of fear as negative. When I'm riding I have a constant push-pull between the desire to progress and self-preservation. Somewhere in the middle you find the point where you are moving forward in a way that is not reckless, even if you are going big and the people around you think you're nuts.

PS, West Hartford, represent!! I grew up there but moved out in like 1990.

 

[biggins]

i broke my arm (both forearm bones, my scaphoid, dislocation of hand and wrist, with compound at the ulnar stylus)doing something i have done a couple of times before. it hurt and was a pain in the ass and now i am left with 25% range of motion, i will never even be able to wipe with my right hand again. But would i change it if i had the chance?probably not. am i still scared of getting hurt? yeah. Do still push my personal limits?yes. now i have some screws, a big plate, some threaded pins and i had 2 pins stickin out of my arm you can see in the pic below. Also some synthetic bone to make my arm shape more natural where my srtylus was ground down.
you can watch me break my arm on this video.
http://www.ridemonkey.com/forums/showthread.php?t=100746&highlight=asheville

 

[Tarpon]

There are times when "being a pussy" is the right thing to do. I have the fear of getting seriously hurt,; the fear is not what's important, it's how you manage it. Two people I rode with this year had spine injuries (no permanent damage, thankfully) and it really makes you question the things you do. What I came away from ift with is the reassurance that path I am taking to expand my riding skills (take it easy, have fun, and don't push too hard) works for me. I see no shame in walking or riding around something that "just does not feel right" whether you have never tried it before or have done it a hundred times.

 

[Pip3r]

if your not scared then your retarded. You need to acknowledge that theres always the possibilty of getting seriously hurt, but overcome it and just deal. I cant stand young kids that have pretty much no style, can barley hit stuff but try all these tricks or whatever. Gotta learn the basics first before you realize it too late when you wind up in the hospital.
In large part, what we do is safer than most other sports because when you get hurt, 90% of the time its entirely your own fault. Aside from mechanicals or something going wrong with the terrain, if you mess up its your fault. Unlike football or even driving to work every day, where you can get seriously messed up and it could be completly beyond your own controll.

 

[dirtyj]

dam dude that looked like my wrist. I feel for you. I had a little more hard wear, but yours looks pretty bad. I don't think mine dislocaded. I also had the synthetic bone done as well. How long were you out. I'm going on 6 weeks and have about 60%. I just don't have the pulling the wrist back motion. It really doesn't hurt, but it is really stiff.

 

[llkoolkeg]

More than the fear of getting injured is the fear that you will be hurt and not able to provide adequately for your family. I know I suck and am not too proud to admit it. BFD. I like riding bikes fast and just don't do anything that I am not sublimely confident about.

 

[biggins]

dam dude that looked like my wrist. I feel for you. I had a little more hard wear, but yours looks pretty bad. I don't think mine dislocaded. I also had the synthetic bone done as well. How long were you out. I'm going on 6 weeks and have about 60%. I just don't have the pulling the wrist back motion. It really doesn't hurt, but it is really stiff.

i was in cast for a long time. i broke it on may 7. i have 4 screws, 2 threaded pins, one big ol' plate and had 2 external pins. I will never acheive 50 precent range of movement.i was in 3 different casts then a brace and went through 9 weeks of pt. The top of my radius was cpmletely broken off and my ulnar bone was broken length wise.my scaphoid is basically an out of shape mass of bone now. I have complete and utter confidence that my surgeon was the best man for the job and hey was even in Twenty Six magazine because of it.

 

[dirtyj]

thats not good. I only had the cast for 2 weeks, and now with 4 weeks out of the cast I'm able to do almost everything but put down pressure on it. I have 13 screws and 2 plates on my radius. I hope to be back on the bike by x mas. It sucks but hang in there.

 

[biggins]

oh yeah im back on the bike its just that everything was wrecked in my arm. the dislocation was one of the main issues due to the tendon and ligament damage.

 

[Brian HCM#1]

I'm a wuss when I ride, I love to ride but don't push it to the limits. I have nothing to prove and I'm just out to have fun.

 

[dan-o]

I've banged myself up exceptionally well over the years but, after reading the BB thread, I'm now more afraid of others getting hurt than myself.

Life's rewards are only achieved through risk, IMO.

 

[neversummersnow]

It's natural to be scared, but in the end you've just got to realize you cant be scared of life. Carpe Deim.

 

[OGRipper]

Yeah, Tarpon really hit it: "I see no shame in walking or riding around something that "just does not feel right" whether you have never tried it before or have done it a hundred times."

The fact that you needed to tell us all that you're "not a pussy" kinda bugs me, not about you personally but because our sport unfortuneately seems to produce that attitude. Doing crazy stuff doesn't make anyone more of a man or whatever...there are plenty of serious losers that do cool stuff on bikes...and paying attention when your brain is telling you not to do something does not mean you're a whimp. That whole macho thing annoys the hell out of me. And it annoys me equally when someone calls me pussy for not doing something as it does when someone calls me a man for doing it...

And I agree with Dan-O that rewards require risk, but only to a point - there's a big difference between financial and physical risk. You can rebound from a financial hit but there are lots of permanent physical injuries.

To me it's about pushing myself, for myself. With dh and freeride that usually involves overcoming some fear of real physical danger, but with other riding (like say a 100 mile road ride), it's about the fear of the pain and the effort required to get through it. Still fear but not the life threatening, self-preservation kind.

 

[dan-o]

OG, my risk comment was intended as a general statement regarding all aspects of life (sports, career, financial etc). I agree, it's all about personal progression within the boundries you feel comfortable with. The macho attitude is beyond stale.

 

[Fury]

I'm a wuss when I ride, I love to ride but don't push it to the limits. I have nothing to prove and I'm just out to have fun.

I race because I'm a competitive guy and I like to ride new tracks. However, I think I know my limits and I'm unwilling to push past them even if it means compromising a podium spot. IMO I'd rather have lots of fun riding whenever I want than be limited by an injury because I tried something I didn't think I could do. Fear is good, if we didn't have it we'd likely all be quadrapalegics.

 

[BigMike]

The Day I stop being scared is the day I stop Riding.


Being Overconfidant is what will get you hurt. No matter how many times you do the same jump/drop/course/whatever, it is different and dangerous every time. Being scared and overcoming my fear is a lot of what riding is about for me.

Am I scared of getting hurt? yes. Do I still ride? Yes.

 

[bikeninja]

when "No Fear" became big as a brand I'd always see all the 'necks with giant NO FEAR truck stickers and wonder how boring life would be without fear.

yeah, when the No Fear thing was big, a group of surfers from SoCal made T-shirts that had a collage of sufers wiping out on huge waves and a couple carnage shots (like the ones of Biggins wrist). on the front it said in big letters and the same font as No Fear- 'I'm Scared'
I always thought that was a great idea, especially since it seemed like all the guys w/ those No Fear stickers and shirts were posers anyway

 

[heikkihall]

Im dont like the idea of getting hurt again and avoid it whenever I think there is an elevated risk of getting seriously hurt, so yea Id say im afraid of getting hurt. But Im also fully willing to accept the consequences when or if it happens. Ive been seriously hurt many times before and it hasent scared me off yet.

 

[Kevin]

My boss is scared I get hurt, does that count?

 

[Rabie]

I'm not that worried about it. If anything bad happens, I can just sue.

 

[ROBdropGOboom]

I always have some fear in everything I ride but in different levels. I base it mostly on how sketchy the drop or trail is and adjust accordingly. If it seems too much I know I have to progress on other stuff before I hit something big or bigger. I realize getting hurt is part of the game and sometimes I will eat it and get hurt, but that's what comes with anything I ride.

 

[biggins]

i agree with the not feeling right thing. there are some things i have pinned a hundred times but when i roll up i dont feel right. Thats what happened to my arm. being a little uncertain is one thing, but i have learned to discern from my gut instinct and my mind messin with me.

 

[Jou]

I started riding mountain bikes partly because my doctor said no more MX. I still do some of coarse, but fear is natural, know your limits, and if you know your being a pussy, buck up and do it.

 

[ska todd]

People around me tend to be more afraid for me then I am. Those who have seen me ride will general attest to it. The epitome of sketch.

-ska todd

 

[Red Bull]

you're nuts.

PS, West Hartford, represent!! I grew up there but moved out in like 1990.

thats when i was born if u ever come back i have some big drops and Djs at an elementary school. Just pm me if u are ever coming...

 

[Alloy]

I started riding mountain bikes partly because my doctor said no more MX. I still do some of coarse, but fear is natural, know your limits, and if you know your being a pussy, buck up and do it.

Yeah seriously if you know your being a pussy don't sit around and talk about it all day long. Talking about it is only going to secure in other peoples minds how much of a pussy you are. Either hit the jump or don't. Either way most people don't care. Just don't hold other people up with pantywaist excuses of how you “can do it” But your not because the weather is causing your tail to damper or whatever it may be.

 

[JRogers]

Fear is a healthy thing; keeps you alive and sane. Sometimes I feel like a wuss, but the only person who should care about that is me. I may not do 50 ft gaps and 15 foot drops, but I also never have to pay hospital bills or spend time on crutches. I ride for fun; getting wrecked is not fun.

I think that, for the most part, people who don't ride don't understand the whole fear aspect of it. They might say "wow, that's crazy" or "I wouldn't do that" but they just don't understand the feeling of someone who does do it. I am scared all the time of getting hurt. On race runs and such, I am one part excited and pumped and one part scared out of my mind.

Also, you just gotta take precautions. I always wear a helmet and various amounts of armor on rides, XC or DH. I also lift weights. I do that for many reasons, but a big one is injury prevention. I make a specific point to work my back, lower back and neck as well as retain at least some amount of flexibility. Maybe it doesn't actually make much difference, but it certainly gives me peace of mind.

Kind of surprising that in 9 years of playing football and about 7 or so of mountain biking, I've never been seriously hurt. A concussion, lots of scrapes and cuts and bruises, a few stitches and such, but no broken bones (from those 2 sports anyways), no serious injuries. As of now, I consider myself lucky given all of the times when I could have been/thought I was seriously hurt. A particular 6 foot, neck snapping, head first dive comes to mind....

 

[JRogers]

Yeah seriously if you know your being a pussy don't sit around and talk about it all day long. Talking about it is only going to secure in other peoples minds how much of a pussy you are. Either hit the jump or don't. Either way most people don't care. Just don't hold other people up with pantywaist excuses of how you “can do it” But your not because the weather is causing your tail to damper or whatever it may be.

Yeah, I guess. I don't make excuses to other people but I know that 90% of stuff that I see and decide not to do because of fear, I actually could do. Very few times have I had to work up the courage to hit something and then wrecked.

Let people make excuses. Whatever. One reason I like riding alone is because of this kind of group dynamic that makes people do things they don't want to do and, sometimes, really really shouldn't do.

 

[jackalope]

I'll let you guys on a little secret about fear and getting hurt...Just suck down a pint of JD, plus 2-3 hydrocodones, and voila: You ain't skeert of nuttin, and it don't hurt when you pull the infamous human yard dart manuveur...

Actually, for me, it has been a gradual process ever since I got a big travel bike...At first, jumping off a pic-nic table was a big deal...But, I kept gradually getting bigger, especially after watching other riders hit'em...So after about a year of continually pushing my limits, I'm doing stuff that scares other people who are just watching me...6 to 8 foot drops are really no big deal anymore - not to say they're not fun, but they're just not nearly as intimidating as they used to be...But, part of my ever growing confidence was due to the unlikely fact that I NEVER crashed...Skinnies, gap jumps, big ramps, drops, etc...Always landed or rode everything out with no major incident...Thus, I started thinking I could do anything, and decided to show these local chumps how to hit a big BMX dirt jump on my trail bike...In short, it was one of most extravagent case jobs ever witnessed...Broke the rear swing arm, and pile drived myself into mother earth; thereby completely re-arranging my right shoulder...Somehow, I didn't break anything and didn't dislocate the joint - just a bad seperation (something I believe is due in large part to weight lifting)...So bad in fact, I now have a grotesque lump protruding out of the top of my shoulder (seems that the collar bone got jammed way up, and doesn't seem to be in any real hurry of ever returning to it's rightful place)...No surgery, so far, and it starting feeling better in a month or so...Point is, that crash was much needed reality check and re-affirmed something I read in a bike rag (from some DH racer guy I think): "There's nothing more dangerous than confidence"...

You've got to have confidence to pull a lot of the big stuff off, but it's a slippery slope fo'sho...So for awhile, I was afraid my big wreck would really change how I ride and I would soon regress back to my earlier days of XC racing...But instead, I started going bigger, but now with just a little caution...I'm still a little sketchy on some bigger gap jumps, but I was proud of myself the other weekend up in Pisgah when the group I was with was begging me to hit a newly made gap jump over a creek...So while it certainly woulda been nice to stroke the ol'ego and show off for the crowd, I knew there was no way I could make it...Just walked through creek and kept on riding...But I must admit, whenever I'm flying DH, I sometimes briefly think about how bad I'd get f'ed up if I crashed (at high speeds, it seems like all the armor is more decorative than really protective)...But that's what makes it fun...It's basically risk management...For example, I rarely let it go when I just on a recreational DH run...Even in practice, I'm only going 70% or so...That way, I feel like I'm minimizing my chances of eating it - especially prior to a race...On race day though, I try to let it all hang out - but I have no illusions of winning Expert / Semi-pro races, so it's still fairly controlled comparitively speaking...

So nowadays, I try to remember a few things before a big stunt:
* RELAX...Just calm down...You've done stuff like this before, and if you let it, your body will almost instinctly react properly in the air and you'll be on the ground before ya know it...

* I just envision myself landing the jump...Cheesy, but it works...

* Check out the landing to make sure nothing is in the way...It doesn't take much to distract me...

* Get in a practice run or two to get your speed/gearing right...Unless you already know how fast you need to go...

* In most cases, speed is your friend...But I'll admit, it's sometimes hard to convince yourself of that...

* There's no way possible for me to screw this up...I'd almost have to try to crash on this silly stunt...Plus, (if it's a really big stunt) I've got all this armor on, so it won't be that bad even if I have a little spill...It's cool to lie to yourself

* And like everybody else has said, if I'm not feeling it, I pass...And fortunately, no one gives me crap if I do...Not that it would really matter anyway...They can do it if it's so easy...

* Thank heavens I have heatlth insurance, disability, and AFLAC (no kidding)...Hell, it would almost be a blessing if I broke my leg and was laid up for awhile...I'd actually make money in the whole deal...


All that said, I did tell a dude the other week that he could stick a landing (about 7-8 feet to tranny) on his Liquid...Just gotta be smooth I told him...So he blasts off this thing and comes down like Oprah Winfrey being pushed off the roof of the Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream factory - thus getting folded up by the bike...Kinda tweaked his back and knocked the wind out of him for a good 15 minutes...But, being 18, he limped back to the car and appeared to be relatively OK...However, it was a rather frightening reminder what can happen anytime you're doing big ****e...Good reality check...And I'm sure I'll have one coming to me again soon enough, just hope it's my left shoulder this time so I'll have matching lumps...

 

[Tarpon]

I'm a wuss when I ride, I love to ride but don't push it to the limits. I have nothing to prove and I'm just out to have fun.

Amen brother.

 

[Roasted]

thats when i was born if u ever come back i have some big drops and Djs at an elementary school. Just pm me if u are ever coming...

good god. Now I feel old. 1990...oh man

 

[The Kadvang]

I just got out of a cast, so I really don't know. Injury sucks.

 

[mobius]

I'm not insanely getting scared of being hurt but its in the back of my mind. I ride most of the time when i am comfortable with the trail or place without armor besides a fullface and leg pads so if i go down i don't have much to protect my upper body. I have had a few big wrecks without armor and just gotten cuts and scrapes but nothing bad. I love the feeling when i come up on a new stunt a bigger drop or something like that that goes through me. It's when im scared i ride my best and after i clear the thing a few times it's not that scary anymore so you gotta go bigger.