Just before celebrating my birthday this past weekend I came across a great article that talks about riding when you’re getting older.
It was called Your Bike Doesn’t Know How Old You Are.
The article builds the case for that old saying that “you’re only as old as you feel”. While admitting that some decline in our athletic prowess is inevitable, how much is still very much open for debate. The author says,
…the central governor theory of fatigue…what you think and your mental attitude have as much bearing on your performance on any given day as the freshness of your legs. During my conversation with Dr. Tim Noakes, the theory’s greatest champion, he’d explained how “miles in the head” counted more than “miles in the legs” when it came to performance.
Granted this is a “roadie” example but I think you can extrapolate this bit of theory to performance on a BMX bike as well.
There’s no need to hang up the BMX bike because you’re getting older. Sure, it’s a good idea to avoid trying things that are over your head (and avoid landing on your head!) but BMX is something you can do well into your golden years.
Sure, you may have to deal with people giving you hard time for riding BMX when you should have — in their eyes — graduated to something more “appropriate”…but remember, you’re having more fun then they are. The article’s author sums it up best by saying:
Age isn’t something you need to fix, of course. But sometimes our attitude about it is. Don’t let either limit what you can do.
I couldn’t have said it better myself.
One of my favorite riding pics...slicing through a high speed turn in the Don Valley
(Michael Moran behind the lens)
cruiser revolution 
This is how I feel about myself as well being that I just turned 46 last Friday and still ride my beloved BMX cruisers most every day however, as the text suggested [not to do things over your head] so one must live somewhat vicariously. Fuck it…you didn’t ride it…if you didn’t bite it!!!
I’m 42 and have a Model C set up like my old 20″ from years past and every time I hit a skate park I dream of doing things that are way over my head.
When I was 25+ and rode almost everyday I’d go to skateparks (Leigh on Sea, Rom, Playstation) and dream of doing things that where way over my head!
My theory is, when you stop dreaming you start dying!
The main point – simply find free time to ride
I’m 42 and i find i still want to try new tricks when i ride.I’m even considering getting a 20″ again after trying some out at the local skatepark. Rise above the attitudes of other people and do what is fun for you…..i overheard a 6 year old kid say to his m
um he wanted a skateboard after seeing mine(yep i also skate) and she said he’d soon be too old for it!
Yea just get out and ride. Im 51 and just crashed at the stanley jumps the other day. but i feel better now. I just realized some tires work better in dirt than others.
Have you tried Halo Twin Rail tires? I borrowed Buddy’s ride in Austin and the Halos on his bike gripped like nobody’s business…
I just started 24″ BMXing… I look 44 but feel 24, thats all that matters… the question remains – Do you stop having fun because you get old OR do you get old because you stop having fun?
[…] just goes to show, it doesn’t matter how old you are…you can always get something out of […]