Starting riding again
Don’t call it a come back.
Many Ride On members are older riders who had time away from riding as their life has taken them down routes that meant bmx had to take a back seat.
Other members visit the group to catch up on th older scene but many themselves may have not yet “got back on it”.
Coming back to BMX after some time in the wilderness can be daunting, confusing, and downright scary.
I know from personal experience that making the decision to ride again and the process re-learning bmx was a pretty big deal for me.
I’d reached a point in my life where Bmx felt pretty distant, it kind of felt like part of my past rather than my present and future.
I’d hit 40 and life, family, job, and kids had taken its toll! Now don’t get me wrong here. I was fairly content BUT there was a growing nagging feeling that something big was missing from my life and if I didn’t address it then the hollow feeling that had appeared in my later 30s would grow and possibly turn into something more sinister.
So after weeks of mulling over thoughts like..”should I start road biking?”…..”should I get a mountain bike?” My wife was the one who reminded me that I’d be patching over cracks by trying to substitute what it was that I really wanted to do. And that was to start riding Bmx again.
So here’s a few thoughts and things Ive learned along the way during my personal journey which itself involved many years in the wilderness of non riding.
Confidence and fear.
OK. Let’s get this out of the way straight away. When you first get back on it you’re probably going to brick it!
BMX is scary.
You may have forgotten this and you’ll certainly have softened up around the middle somewhat so you may not feel like the all conquering, invincible rider you used to be.
Gaining confidence is key to enjoying bmx. If every time you ride you’re constantly bricking it then it’s not much fun. Equally you’ll probably have the monkey on your back in the form of “the rider you used to be” (more on this later) which can frustrate and deflate your enthusiasm.
So be realistic, start with nailing the basics again and generally rolling around having fun. One of the best things about Bmx is that it’s full of incremental gains. Those tiny steps forward that may seem small to an observer, will feel epic to you as the the rider, and they can put a smile on your face for the rest of the week. So celebrate every tiny step forward you make and enjoy the process of doing so.
Bike
Don’t be tempted to re-create the bike you rode 10-15 years ago by sourcing old parts and doing what some people call “a build”. Modern bmx parts and technology have evolved something stupid over the last decade so take advantage of this. Modern bikes are lighter, stronger, have better geometry and will save your old knackered back a lot of pain!
Find out where your nearest core Bmx shop is (please don’t spend your money on internet only brands) and drop them a line. 100% of the Bmx shop owners I know are genuinely nice dudes and will really go the extra mile to give you advice and help if you’re a little bewildered by modern Bmx frames and parts.
Riders
If you’re an older rider chances are that BITD you rode as part of a crew. It’s also a good bet that this crew has possibly disbanded, moved on, or life has taken them in a different direction. So that leaves you riding on your lonesome.
Now one thing that has not, and will not change in bmx is this. If you want to learn tricks then you’re probably going to spend significant amounts of time practicing on your own to get them nailed.
So re-learning your old Jedi ways might require some solitude.
However, reach out, find other riders. They may not be in the same postcode as you any more but finding like minded people to ride with is one of the most rewarding things in bmx. Obviously there’s a ton of older riders on Ride On so you may find people nearby that way, or you can attend one of our Sessions to get other riders. Or you may even fancy getting to know the local crew (more on this later) in your area. But make the effort to find people to ride with. It will make your riding sooo much more enjoyable.
Pride
OK, so let’s get this next one out of the way here and now.
Forget the “rider you used to be”.
He’s gone, he got old, and fat, and Bmx moved on without him at a frightening pace.
Instead focus on the rider you’re GOING to be and enjoy the progress along the way.
Your body is older, you may have responsibilities at work, home, to family and simply taking the “Im just gonna send it” attitude is probably not going to work out so well as it did when you we’re a teenager!
Getting bogged down trying to become the “rider you used to be” will only make your come back to bmx shitty and miserable.
Trying to re-learn every old trick you did and hit lines as burly or technical as you’ve hit in your youth is pointless. You have nothing to prove, and no-one to prove it to. So as you return to bx allow your riding to evolve. Yes, re-learn the key skills (these will come back with time and practice), but free yourself to ride and develop in new ways.
Find Time.
Life get’s pretty busy as you get older. Family, kids, work all require time. So finding time to ride becomes a challenge in itself.
But try and find time to ride (even if its once a week in a shitty car park) on a regular basis and you’ll really feel the benefit. I found myself riding at weird times of the day (such as 7am sessions on a Sunday morning) just to make Bmx fit in with my life. So get a regular time/day session in your week and start to make it routine. You’re riding will progress quicker if you’re out each week for at least 1 session.
BMX is hard
A great rider I know once said “if it was easy, everyone would do it”.
BMX is hard, certainly to master anyway. So if the passage of time has clouded your memory somewhat and you find yourself shocked at how shit you are don’t worry. It’s not you being shit its Bmx being hard!
Find tricks that come easy and focus on those to build your confidence.
The kids are alright
Here’s a mistake that I made. I didn’t think “da kids” would want to ride with me and thought I’d have nothing in common with younger riders. This is horse shit.
Bmxers are bmxers. They’re pretty much the same dudes whether they are in their teens, 20’s, 30’s, 40’s, or beyond. Yes they might have different lives but they’ll still be happy to shoot the breeze about which ledge at the park grinds the best or which take off is the easiest to hit!
So make the time to chat to and ride with riders of all ages, it’ll make it easier to become part of your local scene and/or crew.
I also think it’s important that older riders aren’t seen as a freak show or circus act, and by embracing the wider riding community you can go a long way to becoming “just one of the crew”.
Mental Health
Here’s a scary fact – 9 out of 10 suicides in the UK are male.
We also know that men in the 40-50 age bracket make up the largest portion of these deaths.
Getting back on your bike isn’t a magic wand and I’m by no means an expert on Mental Health issues. But I do know that having a purpose, regular exercise, being part of a community and feeling connected all play a big part in your mental well being.
For me personally, BMX gives me all these things and keeps me happy and well.
So there you go. I hope that anyone still on the fence (like I was for some time) who may weighing up whether they have in them to ride again finds these thoughts useful. And when all is said and done…..whats the worst that could happen?
