Returning to old hobbies.

rednekk98 wrote: I wonder sometimes about modern equipment and kids and sports these days. Ski helmets were prohibitively expensive when I was a kid, you might build a jump and ski patrol would eventually knock it down. I can't tell you how many kids these days I see attempting backflips. It's shocking. I might have known one person who did one once growing up, I see kids try it (and often fail) every single day. I suppose the head-trauma risk is lower, but it seems to lead to taking bigger risks. I suppose that instead of learning their lesson with a concussion it's from a long rehab after a injured extremity. Then again, they still sometimes knock themselves out and poop their snowpants despite the helmet.

  It's all about pushing yourself and having fun with friends. It's progression of self and sport that has me hucking flips. One upping your buddy, pushing each other to give'r. It's what makes park riding fun to me. Tossing flips your first time in a groomed park is retarded and people shouldnt do it. But learning them in the back country with  good landings and powder then taking them to the park is what it's about.  What I wish they had 10 years ago is the air bags they have now. Kids 18 and under hucking double flips into an air bag. Pretty much fun and adrenaline have people doing what they do in extreme sports. It out weighs regret or injury.

I wonder sometimes about modern equipment and kids and sports these days. Ski helmets were prohibitively expensive when I was a kid, you might build a jump and ski patrol would eventually knock it down. I can't tell you how many kids these days I see attempting backflips. It's shocking. I might have known one person who did one once growing up, I see kids try it (and often fail) every single day. I suppose the head-trauma risk is lower, but it seems to lead to taking bigger risks. I suppose that instead of learning their lesson with a concussion it's from a long rehab after a injured extremity. Then again, they still sometimes knock themselves out and poop their snowpants despite the helmet.

FE, how old were you in 1990? Totally rad styling there.

Yeah, all we did was 'jump' our bikes.  We had a side street that had a pretty decent grade to it.  We could get our bikes up to around 20mph and hit a ramp we made with plywood and 2x4s.  Wasn't until my brother hit the ramp wrong and basically went face and forearms into the blacktop.  Serious roadrash, lips mashed into his braces.  Looked like Tyson used him as a heavy bag using sandpaper gloves.  This even stopped him from using a ramp he made in our back yard where a cable spool was used.  Many a crank were bent back in those days using that...

If they had those bikes when I was a kid I would never have made it as crazy as I was.
I remmember when we took our old bikes, knocked the legs off a picnic table for a 'ramp' and jumped cars and stuff, a lot of 'strawberries' and nasty bruises. NO ideas or dreams of these BMX styled 'trick' bikes.

I did look at 'mountian cross' out here for awhile, 24/26in bikes on a BMX track for us 'older' types. My 'dream was a 24in base bike, 26in front wheel, actual motocross style bars and long seat, suspention both front and rear, figured 1 fast lap per race, doable......then.

I still ride my high end mountian bike as exercise, a $700 custom job made by a bike shop here in town. And the dirt roads and sand on the roads sometimes make for some interesting 'tricks' just to get to the pavement 3 miles away.

Edited by oldsoldier - 14 January 2013 at 10:57am

Sweet legwarmers.

Great way to end a video

My friends keep bugging me to get a bike again...

R/C electric helicopters are getting dirt cheap as well. They are fun to fly around the house or the office.

Years ago i used to cycle A TON but injured a knee and totaled my bike then turned 16 and went crazy buying and fixing up cars and eventually motorcycles wich i STILL love to this day.