For anyone thinking of taking up BMX in your 40’s
This is an update on my journey into BMX and the reasons for getting into it if you think you are too old to get into BMX this may change your mind
“why did I start this”
I have been into 2 wheels all my life I have had motorbikes since I was 12 and had all sorts of bikes mainly road bikes, in my late 30’s I got the track day bug and got big into this “full on track bike” tyre warmers the works I really enjoyed it and got reasonable good at it.
At the time we were trying for a family which looked likely not to happen after 5 years we had sort of given up on it as with a lot of these things it happened we had a baby boy, I was 43 by this time.
Role on 5 years the track days had ended years ago and all the work outs that go with it went out the window I settled into the “middle aged” life with the “man boobs” and gut hanging over the belt out of breath going up the stairs basically let myself go.
We went to a sea side bike festival this summer where they had a BMX flatland show my son was now nearly 5 and has been off stabilizers for 2 years thought it was great, I sat there watching the show and thought I will never be able to do anything like that at my age sort of hits you a bit when you realize/think you are too old and unfit to even think about doing anything like ride a BMX.
My son did not let up he wanted stunt pegs on his 12” bike so off to the shop I went brought a set of plastic pegs fitted them to the bike he loved it was bombing around with his feet on the back pegs popping little wheelies.
I thought I might as well get a BMX even though I have never had one and have a go myself even if it just riding around in the garden so off I went on eBay and picked up a Haro 300 for £70 and as I am into restoring motorbikes I picked up a knackered Mirra Air a resto project.
At first I thought I would start with Flatland less chance of breaking my frail old bones I managed to do “endos” and “hops” on the back pegs in the garden much to my son’s amazement. The first few weeks were hard work I fell a few times went over the bars a few times without damaging myself in fact I was surprised at how well I “bounced” I thought I would break if I fell off the curb !! one thing was for sure it was bloody hard work the bike felt heavy and 20 mins of practice I was completely knackered … The lack of exercise for the last 5 years and extra weight made even the simple of tricks hard work …
I nearly brought myself a flatland bike I convinced myself If I had a lighter bike I would be able to do all these tricks I am glad I did not fall into that trap of “impulse” buys.
Me and the Boy went to RadBMX MK 2016 for the weekend which is mostly old School but they did have a BMX race track we spent most the weekend going around this I took my now restored Mirra Air which was fun to ride met some great people had a good weekend …
After a few weeks my son wanted to go to the local skate park so I thought why not I have never been to a skate park before why would I go to one I am 48 … it all look scary even the gentle ramp with no coping looked like a mountain. My son loved it he was riding off the gently sloping ramps (not sure what these are called) he fell off a couple of times but got back up. I had a good laugh I tried to ride up a 6-foot quarter 10 times ended up at the bottom of the ramp 10 times in a heap.
But I had the ramp bug I was not going to be beaten by some ramps so went online met a chap who has been riding for ever he suggested going to one of the old London parks he would help me out show me some lines I remember the first time it was intimidating all these guys riding around flying off ramps and out of concrete bowls but what surprised me was the age of the some of the guys they looked older me. I have been going for a few weeks now and what used to look impossible I am riding Have met a few local lads Who are getting back into BMX we ride the local parks and whenever I have a spare couple of hours in the week I am at the parks on my own.
I can ride up quarters and “hop” the bike around not brave enough yet to go over the coping I can drop in over coping and almost “fakie” I have been over the bars in the ramp trying to drop in on a damp ramp I have bruised ribs a sore wrist but I am still trying and riding every other day.
My “old age” aches and pains have gone (aching joints etc) I have lost over a stone in weight the bike that felt heavy now feels light and I am fitter and stronger than I have been in years I feel better about life in general and have almost lost that “I am too old feeling” I guess we all get when pushing towards 50 …
What has surprised me is the attitude of most the younger lads at the parks no one has laughed at me or taken the p*ss in fact it is the opposite most are helpful and will give advice and generally be polite and helpful which has restored my faith in the “youth of today” I will admit to being an old git and being negative to the youth of today.
I do get some funny looks for people my age who I think look at me as some sort of over grown kid riding a 20” bike but I don’t really care its like the people who ride or skate look at you and think fair play mate and a lot of people who don’t look at you like a crazy old fool …
I have a target of airing a quarter by the end of the year which I hope to do and this time next year be able to ride ramps in general.
One thing is for sure BMX is now part of my life and will be for many years to come … so if you want to get into this at an old age just do it … take it slow take advice and enjoy it … It has done me a the world of good and given me a reason to exercise and get back into shape ...
It is also a great leveller doesn't matter who you are of what you do for a living or how old you are we all ride ...
