Burn out

SpeedyManiac

SpeedyManiac

New member
I can't believe it, but I think I'm actually burnt out on racing for the next little bit. Since I returned from Europe on September 21, I've ridden a grand total of 4 times (once was racing) and I haven't ridden at all in almost 3 weeks. The weather has been nice, conditions are great for fall riding, but I honestly just haven't been interested in riding. Part of it is my foot still hurts from Greece and I'm worried about it wrecking my snowboarding plans this winter. But part of it is after busting my ass for almost 2 years for the ISDE, I'm just tired. I've also just moved to a new place in Rossland (about 6km from my old place) and am enjoying being 22 and single. Last Sunday instead of riding I spent the day working on my bikes, including getting the 200 winterized. My 250 is prepped and ready to ride/race, and I could go racing this Sunday. Not too sure if I'll go racing yet, but I do think I'll go for a ride on Sunday, provided the weather is nice.


So, do you guys ever get burnt out on riding/racing? I know I'm definitely looking forward to winter and not thinking about racing for a few months. Then I know I'll be pumped for the 09 racing season!
 
I think part of it may be from injuries this year: concussion, broken nose, pulled a bunch of muscles in my lower back and broke my foot and screwed up the tendons in my right foot.
 
I know lots of former racers that have lost their passion for play riding, especially six days guys. I ride for one reason and one reason only FUN.Not to say that I'm not competitive, I'm super competitive.Now I'm not talking about you in particular but some guys need to lighten up at the end of the line who really gives a #@^ how many hunks of cheap plastic you acquired through dilligence and spending loads of cash on a childish pursuit.I really started to enjoy play riding alot more after I gave up racing.
 
I got burnt out last year Speedy. Gasgasman & myself live here in Houston and most races are 4 to 10 hours away. That plus the added cost of gas really pushed me to slow my racing down this past year. I only raced 3 times this past year vs. 10 times, and one of those was the National in Minnesota which I bombed badly. So yeah it happens to lot's of us for various reasons. It became more like a job vs. a hobby.

I think this year we are going to come out of retirement and give them hell!:D

Boom
 
PEB said:
No, I used to snowboard 100 times a year. Now I'd rather ride in the dirt.
Click to expand...


Hell If I was stuck on a snowboard, I'd rather go riding myself! :D
Fortunately I'm a life time skier whos was blessed to be born in "that time before snowboards" Come to think of it I was blessed to be born in the "time before quads too!"
Try two planking it!! Free your feet ... free your mind!!

on a little side note .. I've noticed that there are some very similar sensations between riding a motorcycle and skiing. when you think about it the attack position on a bike isn't too far off from an aggresssive skiing position. dirtbikes and skiing both have the same kind of flowing movement and share a similar body position. there have been times when i'm zipping around trees on my bike and it is a bit like skiing.
 
Skid- I spent 13 years on skis and was quite good, got on a snowboard and never looked back. Sideways is where it is at!
 
PEB said:
Skid- I spent 13 years on skis and was quite good, got on a snowboard and never looked back. Sideways is where it is at!
Click to expand...

I started skiing when I was two, switched to snowboarding at age 10 and haven't looked back (I'm almost 23 now).

I went for a fun ride by myself today. And you know what, it was AWESOME! No pressure, just rode at a fun place, rode some great trails and had a ball. So much so I might do it again next weekend.

I love racing, but I do find it wears on me. I'm pretty sure I won't be racing the ISDE next year (financial reasons) so I think I may just do races that interest me and spend more time just riding. Well, that might go out the window as I'm debating on doing the Romaniacs next year....

(I may be a little burnt out, but come spring I'm sure I'll be itching to get back to riding/racing)
 
I hear ya. I never really recovered from last years ISDE. This years season was a wash. I did a few races but never got up to speed. My hands were still giving me trouble and my mind wasn't in it. I really want to try for next years ISDE. I think Port. will be cool. It is bow hunting season right now so I am occupied from here until freeze up, the the trelles go on.

Brian
 
Over the years I've known quite a few really fast guys in their 20s who've left the sport. Off-road racing is physically, mentally, mechanically and financially challenging. Some leave to persue other interests and never ride again. Others just enjoy trail riding without the pressure of racing.

I may not be fast, but I definitely know the feeling of being burned out. I still like to compete, but find that it really cuts into family time. Therefore I usually end up just going trail riding with friends. A bad day riding is still better than a good day working.
 
The best times I've had on a bike were with friends just trailriding from my house. I don't have the time, skill, or $$ to chase points every week, and just turning 50 it isn't going to get any better. All I've ever done was a few races a year with friends and had a good time. Right now I miss it bad as I've been off the bike since April.
 
hasslbri said:
I hear ya. I never really recovered from last years ISDE. This years season was a wash. I did a few races but never got up to speed. My hands were still giving me trouble and my mind wasn't in it. I really want to try for next years ISDE. I think Port. will be cool. It is bow hunting season right now so I am occupied from here until freeze up, the the trelles go on.

Brian
Click to expand...

I may be in Portugal pre-riding for Team Canada and running media (I did that for a friend at the Romaniacs and a lot of people really liked my work so I may do more in the future) during the ISDE, but I doubt I'll race it. Since I got back from Europe I've been enjoying actually having a social life and pursuing a few other interests besides racing all the time.
 
hasslbri said:
I hear ya. I never really recovered from last years ISDE. This years season was a wash. I did a few races but never got up to speed. My hands were still giving me trouble and my mind wasn't in it. I really want to try for next years ISDE. I think Port. will be cool. It is bow hunting season right now so I am occupied from here until freeze up, the the trelles go on.

Brian
Click to expand...

Did you have hand issues after the ISDE? Even running flexx bars, my hands were mostly numb by the end of the six days. I just finally regained feeling in the last finger maybe a week ago.
 
Cant say i have ever been tired of ridding. Then again i am 16 and stupid and have nothing else to do right now anyways. Then again I did not get to try even a single race this year because i was too busy all year.

Next season will be different thoe, i am going to race Junior in the PNWMA all the races and the Quesnel 24 hour. I am going to get in shape over the winter, get a jop, and turn my bike into a race bike and get a sponsor from somewhere possibly. I cant wait to ride again seeings how its way too cold to ride now.

So I hope you the best and that I see you racing sometime next season because I need to talk to at least one other Gasgas rider.
 
I don't get tired of riding and racing, but all the preps and washing and bike maintenance does tend to get a little tiring. I live at 62°30'N, (thats at the same lat as Yellowknife, Canada) and the hours of daylight are now decreeasing at an alarming rate. Within a few months we will be down to less than 6h of daylight. The darkness really gets to me, and when I get home from work there is simply no energy left to go riding. I just creep up in the sofa playing XboxLive with my kid.(great fun too).

When we get snow we northern europeans shine up a little as it gets much lighter and also the lazy season of bike riding starts. No need to wash the bike and gear after every ride, just put them in the garage and let them dry.

Looking forward to that now. Only one race left on the dirt season, a three hour day and night run. Then it's service period, too wet and dirty for studded tires, and risk of ice rules out running summer tires, so we have time for a teardown and a good overhaul before the snow season.
 
"Did you have hand issues after the ISDE? Even running flexx bars, my hands were mostly numb by the end of the six days. I just finally regained feeling in the last finger maybe a week ago."

Yes, I had major problems with my hands. I could ride for about 10 minutes before the would start to hurt then go numb. Major pain while riding. That alone was one of my reasons for taking it easy. It was a pain that went fron my elbow, through the palm of my hand, and to the tips of my pointer, middle, and ring fingers. For weeks/ months after Chile I could barely pick up a decent size bag without dropping it. (gripping with my fingers) No finger strength and lots of pain in my palm.

Brian
 
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