[telemike]

Mountain biking, backcountry skiing, whitewater, climbing ladders and using chain saws are all dangerous things and everyone will eventually do some serious damage doing stuff like this (some would add in base jumping, big wave surfing, and a host of other pursuits).

Now, I'm old and less robust than I used to be. I have hurt so many places that I walk like a 100 year old for the first 20 steps in the morning. The latest was Monday when I went OTB to the left. I've injured my left hip badly and really hope I don't need another hip replacement (I wrecked the right hip skiing in January 2020 and got a new hip last October).

I seem to need danger in what I pursue. All my sports are not golf style but come with the risk of serious injury and death. I've had five major injuries skiing now - my right hip replaced, my right knee putting me on crutches for a month, my left thumb ruined by skier's thumb, a bad concussion from a falling branch, and a neck muscle that got severe whiplash and still hurts at times. This recent hip pain is the most serious injury I've had mtb but there's a long trail of roadrash, bruises, pulled muscles, and slices in my past.

So, why do we do these things when there are safe sports out there like golf, pickle ball, and badminton? I guess it's just part of me and part of all of us who do kinetic sports.

 

[TraxFactory]

primal wiring bro.

 

[frdfandc]

I'm 45. Right hip replaced 3 years ago, left hip feeling like the right one started to before the replacement, which is causing me to walk differently, causing my left knee and lower back to hurt from compensating. When I usually ride, I have at least one close call to taking a decent spill, if not an actual spill. I seem to like to ride right on the edge of things. Now I'm going to beat myself up by riding full rigid SS. Hope my body can take the beating. We'll see. Fortunately I have good health insurance. Hopefully I don't have to use it.

 

[Mike Aswell]

Disdain for boredom.
Willingness to push to make yourself better, even when it means occasionally pushing too far.
Because it's fun, within reason.

 

[spaightlabs]

So, why do we do these things when there are safe sports out there like golf, pickle ball, and badminton? I guess it's just part of me and part of all of us who do kinetic sports.

Those aren’t sports - those are games. They’re fun but not exciting. There is no edge of self-control or performance to be explored.

 

[blammo585]

Mountain biking, backcountry skiing, whitewater, climbing ladders and using chain saws are all dangerous things and everyone will eventually do some serious damage doing stuff like this (some would add in base jumping, big wave surfing, and a host of other pursuits).

Now, I'm old and less robust than I used to be. I have hurt so many places that I walk like a 100 year old for the first 20 steps in the morning. The latest was Monday when I went OTB to the left. I've injured my left hip badly and really hope I don't need another hip replacement (I wrecked the right hip skiing in January 2020 and got a new hip last October).

I seem to need danger in what I pursue. All my sports are not golf style but come with the risk of serious injury and death. I've had five major injuries skiing now - my right hip replaced, my right knee putting me on crutches for a month, my left thumb ruined by skier's thumb, a bad concussion from a falling branch, and a neck muscle that got severe whiplash and still hurts at times. This recent hip pain is the most serious injury I've had mtb but there's a long trail of roadrash, bruises, pulled muscles, and slices in my past.

So, why do we do these things when there are safe sports out there like golf, pickle ball, and badminton? I guess it's just part of me and part of all of us who do kinetic sports.

I got into BMX when I was 14 and I'm 47 now. I've always been drawn to doing something that seems impossible but riding away (hopefully) that other people wouldn't even know how to begin to attempt. I remember how I felt the night I finally did my first 360. After crashing and crashing and then all of a sudden you do it, and after that you're landing them almost every time. It's a crazy feeling.

 

[goldsbar]

So, why do we do these things when there are safe sports out there like golf, pickle ball, and badminton? I guess it's just part of me and part of all of us who do kinetic sports.

You'll get hurt doing those as well. Just won't be some massive kinetic injury. Your body will wear out. Fact of life only the young deny.

 

[Sidewalk]

Those aren’t sports - those are games. They’re fun but not exciting. There is no edge of self-control or performance to be explored.

“There are only three sports: bullfighting, motor racing, and mountaineering; all the rest are merely games,”

Ernest Hemingway

 

[BadgerOne]

Because the balance of our lives mostly sucks, and doing cool things as an escape and sense of achievement is awesome and provides at least a little meaning.

BTW I still have no idea WTF pickle ball is, and I hope I never do.

 

[chiefsilverback]

Life has a 100% fatality rate!

 

[wayold]

When you do things requiring focus it's a total break from the ordinary BS of your life. When you're riding (or skiing, or flying - my other hobbies) at or near the limit of your abilities I guarantee you're not thinking about anything but where you are right now. No BS about boss/wife/money/whatever. Just you in the moment. That's a gift.

 

[prj71]

We do these things because diabetes, high cholesterol and heart disease are worse and more expensive than exercising.

At 50 years old I get a pretty vigorous workout biking where my heart rate often sits in zone 4 and sometimes 5. But I ride conservatively and careful. I haven't crashed on the bike since 2015. And even then it was a slow OTB where I landed on my feet.

 

[fly4130]

I do golf as well, but only with an old group a friends on Thursdays. The weekends and other nights are for riding. 43 and going higher and landing harder than I ever have. There is only so much time left in my left to push things, gotta use what I have.

 

[spaightlabs]

Because the balance of our lives mostly sucks, and doing cool things as an escape and sense of achievement is awesome and provides at least a little meaning.

BTW I still have no idea WTF pickle ball is, and I hope I never do.

Then who is BadgerOne over on PBR (pickle ball review)?

I used to think pickle ball was a venereal disease. Then I saw some people playing it and now I am sure it is a venereal disease.

 

[Carl Mega]

So, why do we do these things

I guess I see it as "if I'm not doing things I love, what's the point?"

 

[WHALENARD]

Sitting on the couch ain't any safer.
About to turn 49 and I have no aches and pains. I more or less feel as good and as healthy as I always have. I deliberately and mindfully work towards that every single day though.

Sent from my Pixel 4a (5G) using Tapatalk

 

[chiefsilverback]

I deliberately and mindfully work towards that every single day though.

As my PT put it, up until the age of 40 you have fun to keep fit, 40+ you have to keep fit to have fun!

 

[natas1321]

Mountain biking is safer than the other sports/hobbies I use to enjoy so in my mind it was a step in the right direction as I have gotten older.

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[Mac_89]

I’m not a spiritual or religious person but when I’m out on a big all day epic surrounded by amazing scenery with fun and challenging descents to look forward to it’s like I reconnect with my soul and I’m never happier than in these moments. That’s probably quite sad to some people, but it’s the truth.

I get a different feeling from park/downhill stuff. I still enjoy it and the rush is on a different level when you're pushing your comfort zone, but it doesn't give me the same smiley, warm happiness feeling.

 

[J.B. Weld]

When you do things requiring focus it's a total break from the ordinary BS of your life. When you're riding (or skiing, or flying - my other hobbies) at or near the limit of your abilities I guarantee you're not thinking about anything but where you are right now. No BS about boss/wife/money/whatever. Just you in the moment. That's a gift.

Absolutely. Lot's of things I like about cycling but you totally nailed the reason I really love it. Well said!