When do you decide to dab or walk

CarlS

CarlS

Member
Thought I would start a new thread rather than highjack the Butt-Pucker R-rated RR thread. but it got me thinking about how my mind works and at what point the panic alarm in my brain send the signals to my body to quickly dismount. Sometimes triggered by the technical difficulty or the penalty for failure but mostly the combination of the two. For example: a short story about riding the North Umpqua Trail in Oregon a fears ago which I believe has permanently wussified my brain. The trail follows a shale cliff along the river's edge and a fall from certain parts of the trail would result in few to no bounces before you landed in the shallow river bed. Penalty= likely death
So we rode it as an out-back and on the way out I managed to ride this one sketchy narrow section, but then of course on the way back one of the roots sticking out of the embankment looked like it was going to stab me so I went wide and started to go off line and OFF THE CLIFF! Somehow at the last second I was able to dive and grab a small tree, but my bike went over the edge. Lucky it came to rest only a few feet from landing in the river. It took me about 45 minutes of hiking to retrieve it. So anyhow, ever since then I'm just not as excited to ride exposed cliff edge type trail. I tend to bail out sooner these days and take the walk rather then pay the penalty.

NUT river.jpg


NUT bike fell.jpg
 
Damn, that's some tough trauma. I dab or walk when I'm stuck behind a rider doing the same, else I would've been at least as fearless as you were before your trauma. Seatpost down, flat pedals, standing for extra balance, a bit of a higher gear and a decent amount of momentum that's sustainable...

I heard stories about that river. One about a bike someone found in down river, which was pretty much shot except for the chris king hubs. Thread turned into a CK hub owner party, talking about other things, such as their experience in races that involved fording creeks/streams that killed BBs and hubs, but not CK brand ones.
 
If I have any doubt at all in my mind when approaching a technical section or death-defying exposure, I will just walk it. Some days I'm really on it skills wise, others, I'm just mentally lazy.
Some of the trails I ride regularly have short, rocky, technical, sections that I attempt early on the ride. If I make it, I'm good to go. If I bobble in any way, I know to just back off for the day and take it easy.
I was on the Butt Pucker ride and the epic singletrack you ride before you reach the exposed section has you primed for pretty much anything. :D
 
Have your kid tell you how much of a sissy you are after he does it. That worked for me at sycamore last weekend.
Seriously, I used to be scared of steep downills on my Moto. I have a buddy that I ride with that would rip it down to the bottom just to watch and laugh. He also led the rides so I had very little choice but to follow. Took me several years but am now proficient at it. I thank him often for pushing me past my fears.
 
Similar to Rossage I pretty much know what kind of day I'm having and if there's a split second of doubt I will walk. With me it is he who hesitates crashes.
 
skyungjae said:
http://i.imgur.com/TmYGl92.gifv

When in doubt... walk it out...
Click to expand...

Dang that guy even failed at dabbing and walking. His right foot was still clipped on and...

It's often that a little speed makes things easier compared to going super slow. I get decent practice on SART. Pedal strikes are the main threat, followed by handlebar strikes for me.
 
I try to reason with myself, what do you get if you chance it and make it, a warm fuzzy feeling that you did it? If it's sketchy with high consequences, I'll walk. Also, with a still fresh memory of my last fall/injury intact, and how I could have bought a new bike with the money spent on doctor bills, and how long it took me to get back into shape after being off the bike for 2 months... just not worth it. But sometimes I just have to try it, but not severely techy stuff with cliffs/dropoffs....
 
I walk whenever I hear my wife's voice in my head- it usually says, "Don't be an idiot!" :-)

Riding alone usually, and not always close to home, I always err on the side of caution.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Let talk about how many injuries each of us has incurred before we figure this out. There are some days I blow through sections of trails then a week later something tells me not today. My motto is live to ride another day. When I am riding Liz she try's to encourage me to ride something...every time she does that I stop and walk it. I have to listen the my inner voice which for the most part is a total coward.

Dean
 
Pretty much the same as others, just depends on the day I'm having. Getting hurt isn't worth it so I'm definitely not too proud to walk. Seems most of those tough sections are just as dangerous on foot though. I've had several spots that I've walked only to come back another day and feel confident and ride straight thru.
 
Same thing here, somethings I'm feeling it and something not, last week @sycamore I got stuck on a rut and fell on the softest (it this a word?) dirt ever, but walked almost everything afterwards..
 
I dab when I am about to fall over. I walk when the consequences outweigh the reward.

This is generally a function of age. The more one has been injured and has recovered from injury, the more cautious one gets. Also, we have learned how to balance peer approval against our egos. It takes most males to the age of 50 to do this.

I think it also depends on consequences at home (or work) for getting injured. What are your responsibilities? How much hell is there to pay? Insurance also figures into the formula - will an injury send you into bankruptcy, or are you appropriately covered? This is not a conscious though, but I am willing to bet, if you've shelled out over $4000 for a minor injury (dislocated shoulder) it sits in your head the next time you are encouraged to "man up." Again, all of those factors compound over time. Cam McCaul or Logan Binggeli might shrug off a broken femur, but that will compound with the next injury to lead to more cautiousness, while the less-oft injured younger riders push the limits of tricks and daring.

Not gonna lie - my ego would enjoy some props on this website or directly from friends for "sending it" "ripping it" "riding like a boss" "mad skills" "dude's fast" "shows no fear" etc. but alas, I have learned to roll off the throttle and live without such validation. :|

Thankfully, I receive my validation from my stunning good looks, extraordinary wit and sage wisdom. :oops: :lolno:
 
What's the age cut-off for walking/dabbing vs riding? Is there a formula?

Let y = number of young guys you hang out with that find it rideable (YOLO factor)
Let S = spouse's level of care on scale of 0-10 (a 10 if they care so much that they couldn't live without you)
Let s = severity of penalty of failure on scale of 0-10.
Let U = total monthly cost of utility, house, car, credit card, etc. bills in 100s
Let P = size of penis in inches

Rideability = P - U - S - s + Y
 
Varaxis said:
What's the age cut-off for walking/dabbing vs riding?
Click to expand...

It's a moving target. Take your current age. Add 1 for each sports-related injury requiring one month or more of rehab, add 2 bonus points for injuries requiring a hospital stay and more than three months of rehab. Add 3 for an understanding and supportive spouse and 5 for each kid under 16 years old. Add 1 point for every 20 employees who report to you. Add 1 for every $1000 you've shelled out for bike-related injuries. Add 5 if you have an elevated risk factor such as blood thinners, Crohn's disease, one kidney or a herniated disk. Add 5 if you have a spouse, kid or other dependent with a chronic health or handicapping condition. Add or subtract points for your current level of job security. Add a point for every $100,000 of debt. That should get you your factor.

Subtract points for extraordinary balls and/or skill. Subtract 10 if you use STRAVA.

50 - you can walk your bike if you are on the side of a cliff or facing a 20' drop.
60 - you can walk your bike around nasty rock gardens or greasy roots
70 - just walk
80 - Please - just sit down. We will be there shortly

BTW, on that scale, my score is over 100. No, really! :o :thumbup: :shifty: :shh:

EDITOR"S NOTE - I didn't see Varaxis' scale while formulating mine. His is funny, mine is fo' real.
 
Varaxis said:
Interesting formula. I bet some 7 year olds would be nailing those rides. ;D
Click to expand...

Hmmm, good point. My scale is exempt for those riding less than 26" wheels. They are allowed to walk their bikes at will, especially if they have a douchebag dad yelling at them.
 
All good points folks...hilarious and at the same time valid. I broke a clavicle on Bear Mountain and saw 4 Drs, none of whom wanted to treat it with more than routine office visits that put money in their pockets. I could have been treated by a shaman and had the same physical result but with a better mental attitude. The bone never healed, but I can ride just fine as is; luckily my days of brachiating are a million years ago. I haven't had to land on my right shoulder since the injury, so I can't tell yet if it affects my riding or any other aspect of my life since I haven't gone mosh pitting or played full-contact hockey since. My real problem, and my wife can testify, is that I'm not very cerebral. The fun factor takes over my mind, and I regress to the impulsiveness of a 4 year old who can still fall out of trees and bounce back no problem.
 
My super wide bar has made me walk few times. A new trail in my backyard called Insidious had me walk a drop 3 times before I finally sacked up & did it. Once I did it, I was like what the heck that was a piece of cake. I don't walk much, but nothing is worse when you come up to a tough feature & the guy you're following crashes!

Plus, I can make any double jump into 2 single jumps:)
 
I have always rode cautious as I have a responsibility to those I ride with. When riding with a group nothing ruins a ride more that someone seriously injured. This does not apply to local parks and bike parks as help and other people are nearby, but remote rides that I mostly do with groups. Extraction in remote areas can be a two day ordeal. There are a few things to think about answering this question.

Dean
 
herzalot said:
Varaxis said:
What's the age cut-off for walking/dabbing vs riding?
Click to expand...

It's a moving target. Take your current age. Add 1 for each sports-related injury requiring one month or more of rehab, add 2 bonus points for injuries requiring a hospital stay and more than three months of rehab. Add 3 for an understanding and supportive spouse and 5 for each kid under 16 years old. Add 1 point for every 20 employees who report to you. Add 1 for every $1000 you've shelled out for bike-related injuries. Add 5 if you have an elevated risk factor such as blood thinners, Crohn's disease, one kidney or a herniated disk. Add 5 if you have a spouse, kid or other dependent with a chronic health or handicapping condition. Add or subtract points for your current level of job security. Add a point for every $100,000 of debt. That should get you your factor.

Subtract points for extraordinary balls and/or skill. Subtract 10 if you use STRAVA.

50 - you can walk your bike if you are on the side of a cliff or facing a 20' drop.
60 - you can walk your bike around nasty rock gardens or greasy roots
70 - just walk
80 - Please - just sit down. We will be there shortly

BTW, on that scale, my score is over 100. No, really! :o :thumbup: :shifty: :shh:

EDITOR"S NOTE - I didn't see Varaxis' scale while formulating mine. His is funny, mine is fo' real.
Click to expand...

OK, so does this include all injuries from all sports over a lifetime? because that is a tough one to add up. I just guessed and then added bonus points for my skiing injury where I went way too big and missed landing transition and exploded both my heel calcanius bones on impact. I spent 6 months in wheelchair and they said I may not ever walk again. but anyhow, all added up I'm only at the 60-70 range. :lol:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top