You ever get the feeling that the Vultures are circling?

There are two "RIP" markers on an MTB trail I ride that's barely a mile from my house. One even includes a picture of the rider. Exactly what happened to them while riding this particular trail I don't know but yeah, it messes with you and it really makes you think. Anything can happen...

The way I see it, when your number is up, its up, no matter where or when or why or how, and there is nothing you can do to stop it. So in the meantime I have fun and don't think about it.

Of course the vultures are circling.
They're always circling.
Doesn't mean they'll get us today.
But eventually...
Let's put it this way.
There's only one way out of this life.
Trouble is coming for each of us.
Just a matter of when.
Have a great day! 💕
=sParty

BadgerOne said:

The way I see it, when your number is up, its up, no matter where or when or why or how, and there is nothing you can do to stop it. So in the meantime I have fun and don't think about it.

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Uh huh. I had an old climbing ranger in Yosemite tell me that. It’s why he never wears a helmet. Says he saw people fall 50 feet and walk away, others fall 5 feet and die- so a helmet is irrelevant…

complete and utter bs.

hopefully there’s a warning period where you find yourself crashing more before you go into that tree. You can correct your behavior if you pay attention, oh and believe you have the ability to change your future.

stopped doing jujitsu after a chain of injuries. I stopped motorcycling when I realized I wasn’t as attentive as I needed to be. you can course correct if you notice in time.

Yeah, the vultures almost got my bestie one day while riding in August. He wouldn't let the EMTs take him to the hospital. I drove him to the Emergency entrance and a nurse and I dragged him in. Dehydrated and spent the night in the hospital. They said he would be dead if I had taken him home as he requested.

The only time I saw Vultures circling (actually, California Condors) was when I hiked out of the Grand Canyon in '91. I was about a mile and a half from the top, out of food, water and energy. My left hip flexor had stopped working, so I had to grab the leg of my shorts and lift in order to make up the steps- I was gassed an d could only go about 10-15 steps before pausing because the hike goes from about 600' above sea level to more than 5500'. As I paused, I saw a Condor fly past, then join its buddies as, I imagined, they waited for me to keel over. Once I had made it to the top, it was like someone pressed a reset switch- I felt fine, but tired.

Pfft! Tall BMX'r, they are performing drills for when you eat the planet.
Annnd, your bike is an enabler...

Remember, your bike loves you!

Sometimes I get a bad feeling out there. It's almost like I can smell and taste blood. Sometimes when it happens, I sense it is riding related, and I take things back a half a notch. Other times I sense it is animal related, in which case I give a few hollers and keep my eyes peeled. There are rides where I get to the end and feel like I dodged a bullet big time.

Mike's hungry again... Damn vampires!

eri said:

Uh huh. I had an old climbing ranger in Yosemite tell me that. It’s why he never wears a helmet. Says he saw people fall 50 feet and walk away, others fall 5 feet and die- so a helmet is irrelevant…

complete and utter bs.

hopefully there’s a warning period where you find yourself crashing more before you go into that tree. You can correct your behavior if you pay attention, oh and believe you have the ability to change your future.

stopped doing jujitsu after a chain of injuries. I stopped motorcycling when I realized I wasn’t as attentive as I needed to be. you can course correct if you notice in time.

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"Luck favors the prepared". There is definitely value in trying to postpone your number being called, usually by not doing stupid things and winning stupid prizes, and listening to your gut. You can certainly hedge your bets. My point was more that once the universe pulls your straw, that's it.

ElTortoise said:

There are two "RIP" markers on an MTB trail I ride that's barely a mile from my house. One even includes a picture of the rider. Exactly what happened to them while riding this particular trail I don't know but yeah, it messes with you and it really makes you think. Anything can happen...

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Two memorials on my "home" trail as well. I was there when one happened and rolled up on it right after the crash. Brain hemorrhage after crashing on one of the jumps.

The trail isn't particularly gnarly, but seems to break a lot of people and bikes. Seen lots of riders new to the trail walking out and heading to the local ER and even a couple of local riders life flighted out of there (spleen and vertebrae). Some trails definitely require a little more respect than others I guess, but you can probably get a major injury on most any of them.

while the vultures watch and I ride,..."And there in the quiet tranquility of space, reached out my hand, and touched the face of God."

BadgerOne said:

"Luck favors the prepared". There is definitely value in trying to postpone your number being called, usually by not doing stupid things and winning stupid prizes, and listening to your gut. You can certainly hedge your bets. My point was more that once the universe pulls your straw, that's it.

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I still see a lot of riders using ear buds and lightweight headphones. I stopped doing that when people using the local paths started to be targeted more frequently. I even saw someone giving a statement to the police after they were attacked- had a mark on his cheek that looked like it was from a ring on a finger. I would rather hear someone coming from behind or the side than be blindsided.

There is absolutely no benefit to thinking this way, but it is bad for you to worry, so don’t worry and be happy.

Seriously, most people worry to much, it’s not good to worry, it just makes you ill. I treat more people for anxiety than anything else; insomnia is also high on the list.

If I saw buzzards, I’d assume it was road kill.

I like to warm up with some mellow distance to get myself centered and purge any doubt of my riding skills. For me just diving into some high speed steeps is usually a rough, and uncomfortable feeling.

Tall BMX'r said:

I like to warm up with some mellow distance to get myself centered and purge any doubt of my riding skills. For me just diving into some high speed steeps is usually a rough, and uncomfortable feeling.

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Don't fear your inner V8!

eri said:

I stopped motorcycling when I realized I wasn’t as attentive as I needed to be. you can course correct if you notice in time.

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I stopped motorcycling when I realized that no one else on the road was as attentive as they should be. Texters and screen fixated drivers all over the roads now. Sold all my road bikes too. If I get hurt on a trail on my mountain bike it's my fault.

Vultures remind me of spring. I like vultures.

Xylx said:

ITexters and screen fixated drivers all over the roads now. Sold all my road bikes too.

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Me too. Last thing I want is to be run over by some room temperature IQ moron on their phone.