Any Old School Riders Burned Out on Trials?

[Patrick]

I've been riding almost 8 years now and it has truly been an obsession for almost the entire time. However, I had a back injury last October which took me off the bike for 8-9 months. I slowly figured out I had more time to do other things and getting back into trials hasn't been THAT important.

Anyway, I've been on two rides in the past week and well..... I didn't have that much fun. It's hard to believe that after all this time, you could "grow out of it", but who knows..:(

Anyone else experience this? I might just start riding once every couple weeks for exercise. Motivation is hard to come by, especially once progression ends.

thoughts?

[studi]

Sounds like ur not challenged, find some tournys if possible.

[lucky13]

:dunno:

11 years and I'm still happy to link a few moves in a section, sidehop handlebar height or trackstand on something sketchy and just breath/think.

I've come to terms that progression will end at some point, but I don't know when that is.

Besides, (blasphemy) riding isn't everything. It's just one way to experience joy. It should be mixed and balanced with other things in life, or you may just end up a trials nerd.

[WhiteRavenKS]

yes.

i think getting the 24 bike helped me a bunch. i dont go out to ride trials bikes much any more, i do that on my fasty bikes. i do really still enjoy going and hanging out with good people though. i dont mind that my sidehops are 8 inches below where they used to be and my taps are a foot away from where they "should be" because when i go ride i do shit that i want to do now. once you let go of the mentality of "damnit, i used to be able to _____" then things get a lot more fun again. i dont ride every day like i used to. i've maybe got out a dozen times max this summer and mostly for take-it-easy rides for about an hour. so yeah- it isnt THAT important to me anymore but i still really enjoy it and i cant see myself just quiting any time soon.

when you look back on things it's just riding a bike. cant take that too seriously i think. i might get pissed off for about 10 seconds if i cant make a sidehop on some day that i used to grease every try. but then i realize that not that many people could make that move anyways. so whatever.

[[BMF] Chris]

after ridng for 5 years i burnt out once i moved back to memphis about 2 years ago, sold my bike (your old coos) and sat bikeless for about 6 months, and every day i just got the itch to ride more and more. so eventually i bought a monty ti in feb. i was so excited to be on a bike again but i forgot with all that down time i had lost my skills. the first 2 weeks i was really upset and regreted buying the bike. after those 2 weeks though i really started to enjoy riding again. and have been riding weekly since then. you will always learn new tricks on a bike, you may not ever add 10 inches to your side hop, but there are endless was to do any move. lastly, riding trials is only part of why i enjoy it, the rest comes from all the great trips ive taken and all the crazy mo fos i either met at comps, or group rides. ive met so many great people in this sport its crazy, for every 1 asshole ive met, ive met 20 guys willing to let a stanger stay with them only because we both hop on bicycles. just look at the texas crew, probably one of the best crews ive ridden with in the US, trials is an expirence, not just a sport.

[darkside]

...
:werd:

Except I probably ride more than that Kevin.

I've had a couple times in the last few years where I thought I was just about done riding trials, but group rides always bring me back in. You have to be able to enjoy the riding, not get frustrated when your skills fluctuate. Also, I try to vary my activities (trail riding, dh racing, rock climbing) so I never feel like I'm doing too much of one thing.

[eastside]

I've been riding and competing since 1996. I started trials in 1995. There were times I was pretty fed up with trials, but I stayed with it. The key I think is to find new riding spots and keep your self entertained. I am having the most fun the past few years riding trials and doing shows. I have a fun group to ride with and thats a key factor. If I am having a bad day I just learned to cope with it and not get agravated. Just enjoy what you do. You'll get over the peak....

[Patrick]

thanks for the replies. we'll see. I like the idea of goofing on a 24, but I can also do that on a short stock, so that might be the ticket to having fun again.

i think I'll keep riding lots of pumptrack and fast stuff, and then do group rides every week or so for shits and giggles. I also want to try other sports like kayaking and start taking more DH oriented trips to places like Whistler and what not.

since I started riding in Texas in 99', there is only one rider that still stays on the bike and thats Weyman. everyone else has kind of moved on

[tpmcneal]

Eastside, can you share with me about your demo setup? I am looking to build a new one and wanted some advice. My email is tpmcneal@southernco.com

[Edge]

I've been riding almost 8 years now and it has truly been an obsession for almost the entire time. However, I had a back injury last October which took me off the bike for 8-9 months. I slowly figured out I had more time to do other things and getting back into trials hasn't been THAT important.

Anyway, I've been on two rides in the past week and well..... I didn't have that much fun. It's hard to believe that after all this time, you could "grow out of it", but who knows..:(

Anyone else experience this? I might just start riding once every couple weeks for exercise. Motivation is hard to come by, especially once progression ends.

thoughts?

I think getting back into it in August when it's 98 out has a lot to do with it. It's hard for me to get motivated here lately, especially this summer. I think I finally realized that my progression has stopped and I'll never be able to compete at the level I want to compete at. Maybe turning 40 is fucking with my head too? Who knows.

[THEDEMOLITIONMAN]

I've been in the game for a while now as well and back in 05' I got a herniated disc..L5. I got this while attempting to do a side up and I was down for almost two years.Every now and then, I feel like selling all my bikes and getting back into my true passion, surfing.After a while, with stretching and a lot swimming, my disc didn't hurt me anymore and I was able to ride.I found myself holding back from doing bigger moves and just chillen a lot.For a while, I was letting my injury and the past memories of it, run the show.It took me a while to get into the mind set of "just going for it".




THEDMAN

[umby]

My first competition was at motorama in 99, after that I rode almost everyday year round. Then I started college, luckly two top pros lived 10 minutes away so I began riding with them and improving more and more. My junior year i sprained my ankle when riding in a comp in Madison, CT. It was not even that bad, with in 3 weeks i could ride relatively pain free, but somehow it changed something in my head and i started doubting myself when riding, and riding alot less. By my senior year of college i rarely rode. Ive been out of college for a year now and havent touched my bike since last thanksgiving. I have thought about going riding, but i need to fix my bike first and just dont care enough it seems to go find a derailleur hanger (thats all it needs). I do miss trials, and hope to start riding again in the near future, i just always seem to find something to do instead, its sad.

[AndyT]

new place revived me.

[aki]

I think it's everything from injuries, stuck at certain levels and like Andy said, location. Sometimes I didn't want to go ride cause I just didn't feel like hitting the same spot over & over. Other days I didn't mind...

Being bikeless for two months is already driving me crazy.

[umby]

When i lived in CT for college finding places to ride was never really and issue with so many good spots with in a 30 minute drive. When i moved home to MA i was only a short drive from several good riding spots, still just had no interest. I have recently moved into boston, tons of urban spots all over, and still don't find the time to ride. I guess part of my reason for not riding as much as i used to is that the people i rode with alot have stopped riding trials for the most part. and my priorities have changed i guess

this thread is sparking some interest in riding again however...

[THEDEMOLITIONMAN]

When i lived in CT for college finding places to ride was never really and issue with so many good spots with in a 30 minute drive. When i moved home to MA i was only a short drive from several good riding spots, still just had no interest. I have recently moved into boston, tons of urban spots all over, and still don't find the time to ride. I guess part of my reason for not riding as much as i used to is that the people i rode with alot have stopped riding trials for the most part. and my priorities have changed i guess

this thread is sparking some interest in riding again however...

To bad you gave it up man, I remember you being a solid, kickass rider. I think the last time I saw you ride was at Motorama 04', in the new dirt arena. You guys had like 3ft to get up that huge cement cylinder and you were able to get up it.

I live in Arlington, always in Boston riding..

THEDMAN

[umby]

To bad you gave it up man, I remember you being a solid, kickass rider. I think the last time I saw you ride was at Motorama 04', in the new dirt arena. You guys had like 3ft to get up that huge cement cylinder and you were able to get up it.

I live in Arlington, always in Boston riding..

THEDMAN

Yeah it has been a few years huh... I miss motorama, always was a good time. 2004 was a fun year, I was actually happy with how i was riding that year for the most part.

[afrobot]

Marriage got me down , made me grumpy , and has now motivated me to get out of the house more. Just because my ups ,sidehops ,and gaps have diminished, hasn't burned me out. Riding the same spots will do that. New spots and new lines have got me going again. The Hope disc has made me more confident on nose moves.

[THEDEMOLITIONMAN]

Marriage got me down , made me grumpy , and has now motivated me to get out of the house more. Just because my ups ,sidehops ,and gaps have diminished, hasn't burned me out. Riding the same spots will do that. New spots and new lines have got me going again. The Hope disc has made me more confident on nose moves.


Marriage seems to be the end of riders, my good buddy Max. We've ridden together for over 10yrs now and then he got married. Now we might ride about once every 2 months, if that.His wife is always giving him a hard time about being responsible and bikes are for kids:rant2: .
I'd rather die on my bike, then get married..I usually don't let the woman know that, until about a few months into the relationship.

THEDMAN

[DangerousDave]

new place revived me.


I agree that moving can be a big help for motivation. New riders, new terrain, etc

[AndyT]

New riders... :rofl:


:wtc: :wtc:

[GAZZZAloddi]

I rode for 5 years...then I had to sell my bike for some reason.
I haven't been riding for 2 years. A few weeks ago I started trials again.
Already rode 5 times this summer! Yeah. Love it.

I still think time to time: "Shit, I can't do this or that anymore".
Then you try hard and eventually manage to do some of the olden tricks.

There were a few things that motivated me:
1. I started riding 300cc sport quad and the trials experience helpled me a lot with handling it
2. I saw the "DJ memorial ride" vid. Dunno why, but the guys inspired me loads
3. A friend of mine got himself a Monty mod. I was to show him a few riding hints. We ended up riding for like 5 hours!

There are many other things to do in this life: girls, motorbikes, XC and trail riding, cars, music, wanking, etc.
But I think we should never say "that's it, I am off" and sell our bikes. Let it stay in the garage for a few months. You will get back on it one day. No doubt.

[GAZZZAloddi]

Oh and by the way, my future wife is always pushing me to get out and ride! And she rides with me sometimes.
The proper woman :)

[free_rideman]

To not feel like riding is normal in my opinion. I have felt this way many times and have seen others lose interest from time to time. At the end of the day I am sure bikes are not are first reason for living. Like someone else said, it is the experience that riding involves that keeps us at it.

And with that said it is more important to experience riding instead of trying to "reach" it at a certain level. Those goals are not going to be there forever. You can't go around and keep on experiencing that killer side hop that you did.

Sometimes we should be happy that we can go out and ride. Some people can't even do that.

[Edge]

Marriage seems to be the end of riders, my good buddy Max. We've ridden together for over 10yrs now and then he got married. Now we might ride about once every 2 months, if that.His wife is always giving him a hard time about being responsible and bikes are for kids:rant2: .
I'd rather die on my bike, then get married..I usually don't let the woman know that, until about a few months into the relationship.

THEDMAN

I must have gotten lucky, been married 5 years riding 6. I've never been hassled for riding or for any of the road trips I go on. She actually encourages me to spend time with my riding friends.

[redworm]

I rode in a comp this weekend that made me never want to ride again, especially when I got beat by someone who only a year ago I doubt would have even ridden in my class. I am getting burnt out aswell but I still dont see myself quiting, just find a new spot with all your favorite kind of moves and one good ride can completely revive you.

[Xoo]

I must have gotten lucky, been married 5 years riding 6. I've never been hassled for riding or for any of the road trips I go on. She actually encourages me to spend time with my riding friends.
Good Job!!! Sounds you have a healthy amount of room (independance.)
Settling down is for the birds people live too long these days to become locked down because of marriage and kids. Gotta keep active and the wife and family can't be your only social outlet.

[Edge]

No kids, only pets. The wife likes to run, I like to ride. Works out really well. She knows that riding makes me happy and that is what is important to her. It works to both our advantages.

[stefan]

trail is not only about mesured height or distances

it's also about feeling and having fun : I'm quiet bad actually and still do small obstacles after so many years ; but i like the feeling of balancing, controling the bike and my body and doing something special
i like to try new moves and possibilities even with if it is only on the pallets in my backyard
i stoped trying to go big and enjoy more trying to go manifsto style

[stocktrials]

i'm starting to feel lost.. not really motivated, I do enjoy hanging out at comps and on rides but more for the social aspect.

I haven't really got much better in the past 9 months or so, I guess that I'm reaching that point where, staying motivated to progress, is just so damn hard. ARGHHH

[mxeddiejo]

My motivation suffers from lack of other riders in the area... and right now, the heat/humidity (110 heat index). Couple that with my tennis elbow problem and it gets very discouraging. The good news is that I'm training my future riding partner. My son (nearly 4) just went for his first bike ride on Sunday at a parking lot. He told me he was going to do some trials and attempted to ride over a parking block... training wheels and all. He actually made it all the way over before he fell. Then, he said he was going to jump up a 3' wall and just ran right into it. That was one of the best days of my life and all I was doing was hopping around on my back wheel and watching him. We got home and he climbed into the bed of the truck, grabbed his bike and said, "how we gonna get this baby outta here!" Sure, he's got a few years to go (strength), but if he takes to trials... I'm set.

Jeff, I hope you don't back off anytime soon, because I'm determined to make some Texas comps while all you guys are still makin' it happen. Just suffering from the typical financial burdens that make 8+hr trips nearly impossible. My work schedule is a mess as well.

[Edge]

I'll never get out of trials. If I can't ride I'll always put on some comps for the social/party side of it. Hanging out with everyone seems to always be more fun than the ride itself. Besides, I still have this voice in the back of my head that tells me I can still win.

[Hooha]

Bikes have sustained me for a long time, 10 years riding trials and many years before that riding XC and BMX, i'm content in the knowledge I will die a cyclist... Having a wife and kids now just makes the less frequent group rides/road trips all the more memorable, but even a kerb can still entertain me if i'm perfectly 'onest.

Trials as therapy?

[RomanC]

No kids, only pets. The wife likes to run, I like to ride. Works out really well. She knows that riding makes me happy and that is what is important to her. It works to both our advantages.
I am in a similar position. I think if you are clear about your hobby before the marriage there is no reason you should get hard time about it later on.

[Edge]

Makes things a lot easier and more fun. She even encourages me to buy bikes/parts when I need/want them.

[Patrick]

some good replies in here.. ..stefan, free rideman, mikeC, etc.

I guess a key point that I've read is that you should just enjoy getting out and not worry about what you used to be able to do or why you can't jump as high anymore. just have fun balancing and tooling around

[bouncingbabyboy]

thanks for the replies. we'll see. I like the idea of goofing on a 24, but I can also do that on a short stock, so that might be the ticket to having fun again.

i think I'll keep riding lots of pumptrack and fast stuff, and then do group rides every week or so for shits and giggles. I also want to try other sports like kayaking and start taking more DH oriented trips to places like Whistler and what not.

since I started riding in Texas in 99', there is only one rider that still stays on the bike and thats Weyman. everyone else has kind of moved on

Where are you in Texas? Ema Long motorcycle park in Austin is some sick trail riding. I have seen guys out there with moto trials. If you are looking for something fun to ride on a DH bike that's where I would go.

One of the guys I ride with gave up trials, but can still hit ups on his downhill bike that I can't comprehend. Do you ever really give up trials? You might change bikes, but...

White water kayaking is great sport. You don't need to give up trials for that. What rivers are good for kayaking in Texas? Get yourself a little playboat. Then you can play anywhere. It's like trials in the water.

[Patrick]

Ema Long is a sick trail... One of my favorites in the state. We've held biketrials comps out there before too..

As for kayaking, there is some good stuff in the hill country, and I'm planning a trip to Cali with non biking friends next year so that should be a good change of pace.

agreed that you don't have to stop trials to pick something else up

[WhiteRavenKS]

some good replies in here.. ..stefan, free rideman, mikeC, etc.

I guess a key point that I've read is that you should just enjoy getting out and not worry about what you used to be able to do or why you can't jump as high anymore. just have fun balancing and tooling around

spend a couple hours not doing anything up more than like wheel height. it sounded boring as hell to me at first but i ended up spending a week doing that at one point. after that it seemed silly to me that it had been years since i just tried to get creative on parking blocks and picnic tables again.

i think getting more into the gravity racing side of things has helped me in general too. i've always liked it but i never tried to actually get better at that until early last year. challenging myself on other bikes has made me appreciate what i can/could do on a trials bike. i see my good friends just railing turns that i blow up every time and cant understand it. but then they see me up something over bar height fairly easily and they dont get that at all. it's just different strokes for different folks. riding fast has also helped me with riding trials. plowing into rock gardens and sketchy corners no-brakes is way gnarlier than anything i'd do on my trials bike. so when i get back on my trials rig i have a different perspective of "oh that gap isnt so bad, this up isnt so tough" and that alone is keeping my trials riding at a level it shouldnt be given how much i still ride.

[perkins]

I have been riding trials for about 11 years... and stopped around '03. I didn't have anyone to ride with and it was boring to ride by myself. I just couldn't get motivated. I ended up spending all of my time riding street, but I had a really good bmx rider to ride with every day. We would push each other every day. It was a good time, but he went off to college and I ended up moving shortly after. Street was fun and all, but I was at the point where I had a lot of stuff dialed... but if I wanted to push it to the next level, I was going to either make it or get really hurt trying. I got my old Capriolo running and started riding trials again. It was the best thing for me. Taking two years off really helped. I was excited to ride again. I went out and bought a MBK and built it up... makes a huge difference having a "real" trials bike. I found some great natural areas to ride near my house, bought a saw, and started clearing new sections to ride. Even cutting down dead trees and clearing brush motivated me to ride... I couldn't wait to clear a section so I could ride it. I even cleared about two feet of snow from one section of rocks just so I could ride it a few weeks earlier in the spring. I'm hooked on trials again and it feels great. I go out each day and try something new... and something that scares me. I push myself really hard, but it's a great feeling when you doing something new or scary... I think that's what has been helping me lately. As far as getting married... I'm getting married at the end of September. We plan on having a bike related wedding cake topper and I'm going to ride down the isle... I'm so glad that I found a girl who loves the fact that I ride a bike... and the wedding stuff was her idea, so that's even better. So yeah... take a break, get a new bike, find a girl who likes bikes, and scare yourself... then you'll be good to go again!

[Patrick]

sam perkins? tis an old skool name from the topica days no? schwinn homegrown and what not?

[Solomon Grundy]

I'm not old school with trials by any means. But I've been MTBing since 87. A couple of years ago I really started feeling burned out on riding. XC, freeride, dh all started to feel more like something I was forcing myself into doing, rather than just enjoying myself. I've always been amazed by trials riders Hans, Libor, and more recently Leech, Morley Wilkins. So I started working on what always seemed way beyond my abilities. Broke my XC bike in the process so I ended up with a dedicated trials rig. I still suck, but I am able to do things I never dreamed of and I can still see progression coming. I am stoked to get on my trials bike, and riding in general is fun again. Trials saved me from burn out.

[lucky13]

:hsugh:

[uownme]

thanks for the replies. we'll see. I like the idea of goofing on a 24, but I can also do that on a short stock, so that might be the ticket to having fun again.

i think I'll keep riding lots of pumptrack and fast stuff, and then do group rides every week or so for shits and giggles. I also want to try other sports like kayaking and start taking more DH oriented trips to places like Whistler and what not.

since I started riding in Texas in 99', there is only one rider that still stays on the bike and thats Weyman. everyone else has kind of moved on

hey fuck you, i still ride bicycles too.

[[BMF] Chris]

hey fuck you, i still ride bicycles too.


your like 14, theres no way you can be considered an "old school" rider

[Patrick]

Aaron, you don't really don't give a shit about trials anymore, hence not being included in those "still around"!!

you're like a Steve Hile or a Kamil

[uownme]

Chris;414127']your like 14, theres no way you can be considered an "old school" rider


:hsugh: no need to put down others just cuz you have feel bad about your womanly love handles.

[perkins]

"sam perkins? tis an old skool name from the topica days no? schwinn homegrown and what not?"

Yup, that's me. Schwinn homegrown... man, I guess I am old school. As bad as it sounds, that was one of my favorite bikes... probably the best all around bike I have had. Not bad for a 2.9 pound xc frame... there are still certain lines/tricks that I did on that bike that I haven't been able to do in years, so I know what you mean about being a bit frustrated with not being able to do the same moves that you could do years ago. Get yourself a good all around bike... my Capriolo does the trick for me... and have fun with that for a bit.

[bouncingbabyboy]

Okay, I worked in a bike shop in Tulsa the year the homegrown came out. I got jazzed about trials watching Hans No Way Rey. I guess I would be old school if I had any skills at all. I can bunny hop a little better than the guy on myth busters.

[bouncingbabyboy]

Ema Long is a sick trail... One of my favorites in the state. We've held biketrials comps out there before too..

As for kayaking, there is some good stuff in the hill country, and I'm planning a trip to Cali with non biking friends next year so that should be a good change of pace.

agreed that you don't have to stop trials to pick something else up

Check it out, kayak trials http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JB5iJq7EHAw

[manimal]

work and web design sorta killed my bike time.. plus everyone I knew that rode trials up and left in one year.. so I never had anyone to ride with.. eventually I just sorta let the bike collect dust.

this year I bought a CK hub for my rig, in hopes that it would have sparked more interest. but I found I was way too out of shape.. so now I'm building up an XC bike, and starting the process over.. ride some trails, get back in shape, then go at trials again..

I still watch vids and keep track of results in comps and stuff, I love the sport and always will.. but sometimes you just have to step away from something, and re-examine/remind yourself why you went at it in the first place.. which was to have fun and act like a kid on your bike doing sweet moves...

I've only ridden maybe 3 times this year tops.. on my curb, but I still call this place home, and this is my sport..that'll never change..

[Matty]

Sometimes I get fed up off trials but if I give it a little break and watch a few video's then I soon get back into it. :):) I think its just because I can ride tomuch sometimes and just want to do something else for a change :p

~matty

[David Weyman]

since I started riding in Texas in 99', there is only one rider that still stays on the bike and thats Weyman. everyone else has kind of moved on
I'm obsessed with bikes. But I've slowed a lot over the years. It's hard to drop from expert to sport mentally, you feel kinda goofy and old after doing it. Like that old dorky guy who used to hang out when we rode BMX in Austin 24/7; I don't wanna be that guy! The social aspect of comps keeps me coming back, the campouts, smoking reefer and drinking with buds. Otherwise you gotta ride some BMX and other stuff on the side. We just did 8 miles on the Blanco this morning, Patrick, you and Jeff should come down and Kayak while the water is up and flowing, you'd be a natural at it.

Aaron, you're old school to me!

[chronic]

Oh and by the way, my future wife is always pushing me to get out and ride! And she rides with me sometimes.
The proper woman :)
You have a keeper. I hate riding with my old lady.


I've been riding five years. And it seems to come and go. Last year I really lost interest in riding and just focused on my car. This year I am really dedicated. Not like in the beginning, riding obsessively everyday. But really trying to beat personal goals.

I dont think I'll ever just lose the ambition to ride. I'll always piss around.



When I feel I am starting to tap out, I'll get a mod.