Is 40+ cruiser class a freak show?

[mike pardon]

40 year old men that should know better, going through mid life crisis's, trying to be like the young uns. With all the enthusiasm and non of the skills.
Its going to be a rimmingly good 2008 season

[xtremepervert]

I hope that in another 40 years time they have an 80+ class, & we are all still racing then!!! At last years World Masters Athletic Champs they had two 95 year olds racing in the 100 metres!

[spillers#1]

Bit like men who do trackdays with all the enthusiasm and none of the skills 

[Humps00]

an 80+ class

I'm almost in that class already Dave!!  Old men on new bikes, getting an adrenalin fix doing something they really want to do.  Can't see the problem really, though there's quite a few 'significant others' who don't share the dream.  For some reason they can only see the carnage of broken bones and time off work.  In the immortal words of Nike advertising - "just do it" !!  Humps

[Zippy]

Look on the bright side, by the time your 80 half the significant others will be dead. 

Mind you so will half of us. 

[dialledbikes]

I had an interesting conversation recently.  A lad about half my age was telling me that whenever he went to Rom there was some 50 year old skater there who just carved around the same bowls, not doing any tricks, just carving/skating.  The young lad didn't see the point.  I told him the old geezer obviously still skated because of the "feeling" it gave him (not because of what he could do on a skateboard).

The old school and 40+ classes will always be seen by the masses as the old farts/stiffs classes, but the people who race those classes don't give a toss because of the feeling it gives them (us).

[wussy67]

well put mike totally agree, i"ve been training all winter and feeling really good getting my jumping skills on, then i fell off at wrexham and broke my wrist, then last week i fell off at hartlepool (wind caught me) and broke my finger, never seem to learn, we don"t bounce like we used to hope i don"t fall off at burnham 

[thecrooch]

well put mike totally agree, i"ve been training all winter and feeling really good getting my jumping skills on, then i fell off at wrexham and broke my wrist, then last week i fell off at hartlepool (wind caught me) and broke my finger, never seem to learn, we don"t bounce like we used to hope i don"t fall off at burnham 

Thats my favourite quote at the moment when people ask me why ive bought so much body armour!! - go quicker more cofidence and when i dont bounce i have a reasonable chance of getting up and getting back on the bike.  that and i dont have to explain to my boss why i cant come to work because ive fallen of a 'kids' bike!   Dainese Evo Jackets - gotta love em!

[RATTY]

Old Farts!!! Mid Life Crisis!!! No Skills!!!  Broken bones!!! Stiffs!!!

Yep, that sounds about right,

but who really gives a shit,

we enjoy doing it, we love the sport so why not???

[HEYWOOD BMX]

  Go for it.I just hope that I can join you all when I`m 40.




 PS Mike`s comments about the kid knocking the 40 yr old skater made me laugh.I`m friends with a guy who was a pro vert skater in the 80s/90s.He used to have his trucks welded `cos he couldn`t carve.Aired like hell though!

[Zippy]

Someone asked me yesterday when I thought I'd give up. I laughed and said I hope I never give up. When it stops becoming fun then I'll give up, when it's a effort to go racing then I'll give up. But at the moment it's a great laugh, I've met some great people and I get to be competitive with a lot of other competitive people. It's the people I race with and chat to on here that make it so much fun so fingers crossed we'll be here in 10 years time wondering if in our 50's we should know better.

[dialledbikes]

hope i don"t fall off at burnham 

Russ, feel free to fall off in any motos we're in together this season (don't hurt yourself though).  It's the only way I'm gonna finish a race in front of you! 

[Lee Alex]

Sounds like it wont be a freak class but a class full of oldish boys having the crack.

Good luck to you all!

[mike pardon]

Bit like men who do trackdays with all the enthusiasm and none of the skills 

Your damn right there buddy!! Got myself a gsxr1000k3 and a cbr600rr and I am living the dream

[Caddy555]

ThIs statement I beg to differ?

40 year old men that should know better, going through mid life crisis's, trying to be like the young uns. With all the enthusiasm and non of the skills

Why with the respect you have obviously got Mike would you rock a boat that you are part of now with 'remarks' like this?

Utter respect to you for your training and fitness and of course your skills on a bike (they go without saying) but the 'Mid Life Crisis'?? Hey I have been through this ten  times over BUT who gives a S**T because at the end of the day of the Kelvin, Laurence, Tuffs, Of course Liam P (Sorry Pete)  et AL they are the future of BMX racing in the UK, what ever any body thinks? and whether the 40 + dreamers are there or not, they are enjoying it it 150%.

40+ all you guys get stuck in Kev R, Tony Slater etc etc keep on trucking boys because as UB says 'Keep It Real' you know what i mean ( Flats do rule).

No detriment at all to you Mike because I have seen you race and win. (Utter Respect for a 40 year old)'

This problem I have is that you get to 39 and HEY your gone,dead, forgotten B*****ks you do what you gotta do whatever it takes to enjoy your life, even if it means riding a kids bike with bigger wheels at what ever age!!! Billy Fieldhouse  a prime example at 50+ I rest my case, the guys enthusiasm for this sport is beyond any figure, even by a millionaires standards.

I am expecting a lot of flack from this, but I am a big boy now living in the real world with a grand daughter.

Cheers for your time guys,

Paul.

[LucyLastic]

I'd never get bored of watching Mike racing no matter what age he is, he's a legend 

I think if you can do a competent race then go for it.  I won't race because I'll fall off on the first jump and would be a laughing stock.

[Caddy555]

You are missing the point, we know he's a very good bike rider and more than capable of giving of giving a 19+ rider a ver y good run for there money on any type of BMX track however  technical!!

40 + is NOT  a FREAK show, you go to E 

[LucyLastic]

You are missing the point, we know he's a very good bike rider and more than capable of giving of giving a 19+ rider a ver y good run for there money on any type of BMX track however  technical!!

40 + is NOT  a FREAK show, you go to E 

My point is if you can do a competent race then age shouldn't matter.  My 'not getting bored of Mike' is a side comment because I've known him since he was 14, he used to come racing with us.

[Caddy555]

Sorry Gents the fingers went a bit berserk!

40 + is not a freak show and this is NOT a 'slagging off' of Mike Pardon' at all, far from it.

Go into Europe and tell them once you are over 40 you are past it or in the 'Olde English' word 'F****d and see what responce you get?

No madam I look forward to 40 + next year even if I don't  compete (dream as I my) its going to be very interesting?

Once again Cheers,

Paul.

[bof]

ThIs statement I beg to differ?

40 year old men that should know better, going through mid life crisis's, trying to be like the young uns. With all the enthusiasm and non of the skills

Why with the respect you have obviously got Mike would you rock a boat that you are part of now with 'remarks' like this?

Utter respect to you for your training and fitness and of course your skills on a bike (they go without saying) but the 'Mid Life Crisis'?? Hey I have been through this ten  times over BUT who gives a S**T because at the end of the day of the Kelvin, Laurence, Tuffs, Of course Liam P (Sorry Pete)  et AL they are the future of BMX racing in the UK, what ever any body thinks? and whether the 40 + dreamers are there or not, they are enjoying it it 150%.

40+ all you guys get stuck in Kev R, Tony Slater etc etc keep on trucking boys because as UB says 'Keep It Real' you know what i mean ( Flats do rule).

No detriment at all to you Mike because I have seen you race and win. (Utter Respect for a 40 year old)'

This problem I have is that you get to 39 and HEY your gone,dead, forgotten B*****ks you do what you gotta do whatever it takes to enjoy your life, even if it means riding a kids bike with bigger wheels at what ever age!!! Billy Fieldhouse  a prime example at 50+ I rest my case, the guys enthusiasm for this sport is beyond any figure, even by a millionaires standards.

I am expecting a lot of flack from this, but I am a big boy now living in the real world with a grand daughter.

Cheers for your time guys,

Paul.

Well said caddy  see you on the gate

[THIRSTYKIRSTY]

BOFFSTER

WAT YA RACIN REGIONLY LIKE

RUSS

[bof]

russ that is a very good question, I think it will have to be the faster cruiser class whatever that is, i presume 20 and cruiser are seperate. What are you riding.

[spillers#1]

Bof are you going to burnham you old freak   so we can race the other freaks   Fck me what is all that about

[bof]

I sure as freak am  Luxury caravan booked im hoping to be at gate practice friday night. I cant wait but feeling a bit ashamed being a freak and all.

[THIRSTYKIRSTY]

WELL MR BOFF

LAST YR I RACED OPEN CRUISER(BORING),,ONLY 4 OF US AT HARTLEPOOL

SO THIS YR IM RACIN UP IN CRUISER BRUISER ,,,LOADS IN THERE AND GONNA BE SO BEIFICIAL ,,IF YA NEED COACHIN JUST ASK

RUSS