How to tame the beast - surviving the need for speed!︱Cross Training Enduro

[@crosstrainingenduro]

OVER 100 FREE ENDURO TRAINING VIDS English not your first language? Subtitles in 30+ languages! Basic enduro skills playlist bit.ly/3BtOVyI Intermediate enduro skills playlist bit.ly/3HSkh4r Advanced enduro skills playlist bit.ly/3oNNeqF BIKE SETUP & RIDING GEAR Bike setup playlist: bit.ly/3sBar0i Protective gear playlist: bit.ly/34BYDTI Which bike should I buy? bit.ly/3gLTJG1 Knee protection playlist bit.ly/36fR4Cw OUR OTHER PLAYLISTS Reviews of bikes & products bit.ly/3GQCVrO All about helmets bit.ly/3sJxIgy Enduro philosophy! bit.ly/33meQeV 10 ways to hop logs bit.ly/3JqlOPx The weird side of enduro! bit.ly/3Js1ai2 Read our disclaimer first before attempting any techniques: bit.ly/2U0bgCy Become a supporter! www.crosstrainingenduro.com/cross-training-support-donations.html

[@wv4life375]

Simple answer: Age and the slow healing process. What would have been a minor injury in my 20s is now a riding season ender. I may have 15-20 seasons left in my life. Want to make sure I can enjoy them rather than watch from the sidelines.

[@jaynelson5793]

Amen Brother!!!

[@crosstrainingenduro]

Preaching to the choir! 😍

[@Ralph7029]

The pressure to prove to your buddies that you are a skilled rider is a big reason why a lot of people are riding in “the danger zone”!

[@crosstrainingenduro]

Peer group pressure and other head games lol

[@RideWithTheWolf]

Just keep it fun! After an injury I was reminded that I got the bike to have fun. Remember what your goals are and remind yourself why you love to ride soo much. I haven't been able to ride much lately and it makes me depressed. My XR400R has given me new life in my 50s.

[@crosstrainingenduro]

A very good point, David. My recent spine fracture had me reevaluating everything and I'm definitely taking less risks now.... aiming for more fun and a bit less challenge. I hope you can ride more soon!

[@RideWithTheWolf]

@@crosstrainingenduro happy trails!

[@UTPP]

I identified with lots of these points, mainly the one about riding outside my comfort zone, and getting back to the car saying 'how did I survive that!'. Cheers👍

[@crosstrainingenduro]

How did I survive that ride? lol Thankfully I've settled down a lot in my 50s and don't find myself saying it too often nowadays.

[@garthlundquist3623]

Well said Barry. If you want to be enjoying riding hard enduro terrain at near 70 like me then you need to dial it back to 7/10ths, stay in condition, and invest in a quality bike and safety gear. Avoiding injury is critical: most of my senior riding buddies have retired after suffering an injury. They now ride Ebikes. I bought a new 500.

[@crosstrainingenduro]

Great to hear, Garth! You have about 10 years on me so good to see you are still at it. I'm constantly reviewing my riding gear, fitness, and level of challenge to see if I can last the distance.

[@TheBigBraap]

Throttle Therapy, big believer of this - its helped me over the last 1-2yrs🙂

[@advveteran4894]

I actually took my 450 out for the first time (ever) the other day. I'm used to riding 1000cc adventure bikes on dirt. The 450 felt so tame in comparison to what I'm usually handling on dirt. My KTM 450 is half the weight and way more agile. My mountain biking experience really helped me adapt quickly. Needless to say, I'm hooked on dirt bikes! I'm still cautious when it comes to new experiences on the trail but I'm confident enough to at least attempt it and learn.

[@crosstrainingenduro]

Great to hear you made the switch, it often is the other way where dirt riders eventually change over to adv. I figure you've probably got more protective gear now for the dirt riding?

[@advveteran4894]

​@@crosstrainingenduro I actually wore dirt bike clothing and armor while on my ADV because I was riding that bike like a dirt bike haha! I have a set of Alpinestars SX-1 knee guards and the Bionic jacket. I also have the Tech 10 boots. I actually rode my ADV bike with all of this gear. I practiced my skills regularly at an ATV park. I now own a Triumph Scrambler and that bike is way more fun to off-road than my old Honda Africa Twin. I may spend more time on my KTM though. I'm going to pay for suspension work (springs/revalve) seeing I'm 80+ pounds heavier than what the bike can handle.

[@crosstrainingenduro]

Same here. On a serious adventure ride I gear up as if it's a dirt ride... except I just wear knee guards instead of braces.

[@randybounds2244]

I`m at the age now Barry where I worry about a crash.[ My old ass just don`t heal like it used to ] Serious about a switch to trails. Thanks, Good show Sir

[@crosstrainingenduro]

I started up trials a few years back for that exact reason, Randy... but the lure of dirt riding kept calling. 😊

[@SmokeyRooster64]

I regularly find myself riding alone so I don't dare seek thrills and adrenaline. I'm also too afraid of the hospital bills so even riding with someone I still ride extra careful. The trails I ride on are also used by lots of other people. There is always 2 way traffic and blind corners freak me out because of too many close calls with four wheelers. I avoid the 2 track trails as much as possible for that reason. All it takes is one guy on a four wheeler flying around a blind turn and I'm dead. I've discovered that a lot less people ride the harder trails and the people I do see on them are always highly skilled and they also don't go flying around blind corners. They are more fun to have a chat with, I always learn something from them.

[@cedricboivin9422]

I feel you with the 4 wheeler. Now that there is those super wide side by side, there is literally no space left in the trail.

[@crosstrainingenduro]

It's one thing I love about the slow technical tracks we ride... no one else likes them, and zero risk of collisions in first gear!

[@cedricboivin9422]

@@crosstrainingenduro Yeah but somebody have to make them in the first place 😕

[@OnMyWayBack888]

The combination of the accent, the lyrics and the great content is just awesome! I would add some extra cynicism to the pot! The more the merrier! LoL.... One of the better videos I’ve seen lately. Smack on! Keep on the great stuff coming. We love your channel!

[@crosstrainingenduro]

Thanks, I'm always trying to keep a rein on the cynicism as it doesn't translate so well in some cultures lol.

[@RodNeufeld]

I have always been pretty good at finding the balance of adventure-seeking and just stupid. Was riding with my son last weekend and I found myself at a bit of a sketchy rock climb/traverse where the downhill edge was quite steep and I was not keen on going over on the wrong side of the hill. I knew I would do it but I wanted to have my son stand and just be a bit of insurance for me should I start going over the wrong way and I did the same for him as he went up. My son is a newer rider in his early 20's, actually just started riding seriously this year and it was also an opportunity for me to show him that risks can be taken provided you calculate them and have a backup plan. I have taken some big risks and have lived a lifestyle of adventure for many years but, I have always seemed to take a moment to calculate what are the risks and what preparations have been made for when it goes bad.

[@crosstrainingenduro]

Great to hear, Rod! And awesome that you get to share the sport with your son. There are so many lifeskills we can learn from dirt riding. 'Spotting' for each is a very handy technique. kzbin.info/www/bejne/qnenaICdapx8l7M

[@bikersoncall]

I spent 6 hours building ramp number Two for my backyard course, after realizing I don't have ramp #1 overly mastered yet, I opted to not even try the new, taller ramp. Could be I'm backing off a bit on my risk taking, or maybe I'm just now starting to grow up, just in time for this video.

[@postmortemspasm]

Pumping out the videos lately mate. Good stuff

[@crosstrainingenduro]

Thanks Dadul, covid lockdowns and not much else to do lol.

[@heinschwartz7941]

Good little video....makes us all think, especially when recovering from injuries with long recovery times post-op !!

[@crosstrainingenduro]

For sure, Hein. This was all going through my mind laid up in hospital for a week then confined to home in a body brace for ages.

[@jaimemetcher388]

My tips for safely getting the adrenaline hit: 1. Cultivate an extreme lack of skill. A small stick across the trail or a dinner plate sized mud hole gets my heart racing every time. I know the time will probably come when I have to go in search of larger sticks and more mud, but I'm in no rush. 2. Go for inconvenience and embarrassment over outright danger. I ride ridiculously slowly and carefully (see point 1 above) - but solo and in remote areas. If I break down or get stuck in a mud hole, I'm faced with a very long hike out, or the absolute mortification of having to activate my PLB. I'm very, VERY motivated to not do either of those things, so all those tiny mud puddles become adrenaline-charged high stakes affairs.

[@crosstrainingenduro]

😂👍

[@thelazylizardmatt]

The other day I took on a hill climb that 30 years ago I would have balked at. It was amazeballs. Will I do it again? Hell probably, oh well.

[@Marc99999]

Listening to the voice in my head helped ;).

[@cucumberlumber1463]

Im 28 years old, and in the last year i have fractured my tibia, then healed, then started riding again, then fractured my left shoulder socket back in May. I went on my first ride two days ago since my should injury and flipped over the bars, tore my rotator cuff on my right shoulder and got my self a nice concussion. I think its time i sold the bike and gave it a rest until ive calmed down. Ive been riding dirt bikes since i was 7 years old and i have had many injuries. My body cant take anymore...

[@crosstrainingenduro]

Yeah it's tough when you just keep getting injured and rein in the beast. If you do try again, I'd suggest looking into trials or finding a group of guys doing hard enduro... slow, technical terrain. You can still get hurt but way less often and not as badly.

[@cucumberlumber1463]

@@crosstrainingenduro Yeah ive been mostly an enduro/trail rider but i do like to go to the track occasionally to build up my endurance and have some different fun but my last two injuries have been at the track. I dont think i need to be jumping anymore to say the least. Its time to just stick to trails

[@Cross-Country-Biker]

Good summary of the stages of abilities, that vary with age or just how we feel on the day, if you feel shitty about your talent you will ride nervously without momentum...bad on up and down hill. Thanks for unpacking this guy thing...

[@crosstrainingenduro]

It's all interesting stuff, hey. I only became familiar with it after riding with the Canadians. The group leaders always talked about this at the start of each week, telling the guys to stay in the comfort zone the first few days then ramp it up later if they wanted to....

[@Cross-Country-Biker]

@@crosstrainingenduro guys ponder this on mountains after tech climbs. Canadians have a point

[@jamesdenton3692]

@@Cross-Country-Biker But if we wear our ball caps all the time few people notice ,the points that is .

[@DmitriyAdv]

My strategy is to always tip over in the first couple corners of the trail. Calms that inner beast for the rest of the ride.

[@crosstrainingenduro]

We often do this in the carpark, Dmitriy... too many beers the night before?

[@DmitriyAdv]

@@crosstrainingenduro too many dodgy cross training enduro videos the night before.

[@carbonbasedlifeform8100]

I think the traction E crew, Dallas actually, said that if you want to ride into your 40s/50s and beyond then avoiding the big injury is key. I'm doing more technical trails in challenging terrain as part of that process. Call it soft enduro. One game I like to play is trying for a fast lap of a loop or moto without making a mistake with technique.

[@crosstrainingenduro]

Occasionally Dallas makes sense... very occasionally lol. Yes it's a large part of why I chose to opt for slow hard terrain about eight years ago, hoping I can avoid that big injury.

[@peterdouglas4073]

😧 definitely guilty of straying out side my comfort zone. Although I don't regret pushing the 640 into the neighbour's garage, it was definitely contributing to the risks (dam go bike). And yes I have gone for a light weight bikes as well se250 & txt250 contact gasgases. Should have bought those earlier. So easy to ride. But I am still struggling with the addiction. Pushing the sportster quickly through the bush is just fun. And when I have to rely on a walking frame to get around. I can put a chair on the side and keep going.

[@crosstrainingenduro]

Good on you for getting the 640 into the bush, Peter. I've taken the DR650 in a few times and it's about the same weight or a bit more... it's like a gym workout lol.

[@cedricboivin9422]

That video make me think of something Niki Lauda said when he was racing F1. "I'm willing to race with a 20% risk of death, but nothing more" P.S: Man, is it just me or you're on fire theses days. You do about one post a day. Keep up the good work.

[@crosstrainingenduro]

Cheers, Cedric! With covid lockdowns I have been doing crazy hours each week... at least 65 hours or more editing. Averaging two to three vids here on the enduro channel, one on the adv channel.

[@cedricboivin9422]

@@crosstrainingenduro Don't forget to enjoy it as well. It would be a shame to have such a nice job to end up in a burnout.

[@furocity]

I’m extremely cautious with a fear of getting injured but I also love motocross and doing huge jumps in particular so you can imagine the anxiety I go through when I roll up to the track. Seems to disappear when I’m on the throttle so maybe I am a junkie afterall?

[@crosstrainingenduro]

I figure we are all junkies to some extent, or we wouldn't be riding at all lol

[@tommeyer6033]

I hope Tim will be back at it soon. Your decision not to ride is similar to what kept me on a mountain bike instead of motorbikes for years. A beautiful woman (my other addiction) finally got me on a motorbike when I was 65 and I’ve been riding almost every day since then (4 years). I look at it this way, at 20 years old you’re risking the next 60 years, at 65 years, what’s really on the line? Still, I gear up like Iron Man even for a ride to the grocery store. But I’m riding hundreds of miles every week. The risk/reward ratio is always a factor. So far, my assessments and computations are working out.

[@crosstrainingenduro]

Great to hear, Tom!

[@kaosadventures]

I’m in my late thirties and am now racing again after years of not (16) 😬 but I do have a few skills as I have never really stopped riding but lately iv looked into my old sport of boxing for fitness so I don’t tire out and crash it helps heaps

[@crosstrainingenduro]

Congrats! MX or enduro racing? Fitness goes a long way to riding safer. I'm getting close to 60 now and always do some type of exercise every day so I can keep up with the other guys safely....

[@kaosadventures]

@@crosstrainingenduro I’m racing enduro I find it more enjoyable the last 2 races were 3hr races with hinterland enduro junior development club. I placed 3rd in both races but in C class looking at stepping up next year to B grade and hopefully a few sponsors to make life just that little bit more easier

[@crosstrainingenduro]

All the best! 👍

[@4x4junkie86]

my brain wants to be the same go hard thrill seeker it was in my 20's.. however, my aging body is telling my brain er no... i already know im a junkie.. ive had many addictions over the decades.. some i wish i never picked up lol.. first it was fast cars.. then it was fast bikes.. then it was dual sport bikes, then it was 4x4's and now.. im back to bikes minus the thrill seeking. just being on a bike again after all these years is thrill enough for me.

[@crosstrainingenduro]

You survived! I shudder now when I remember some of the close calls I had, especially with road riding. One of the great things about getting close to 60 is being able to chill and take in the scenery... even just a few years back I was always wanting to get close to that edge.

[@kylypsobarrozo7046]

You never stop inspiring me with your mentorship. Love from Bonito! From Pangasinan Philippines 🇵🇭. My friend Jesson has vlog named JOtv Motovlog.

[@crosstrainingenduro]

Maraming salamat Bonito, at mabuhay taga sa Australia. 😊 Pangasinan ay malapit sa Baguio, de ba?

[@davidwilson4901]

Your. Vids are excellent

[@crosstrainingenduro]

Thanks David 😊

[@nguff4127]

A few close calls will make you think twice lol

[@TheOnlyFunkyZebra]

God bless

[@yzbanger7180]

oh boi I'm a junkie, but I'm kinda stopping because I just got my new bike and don't want to hurt it and I switched from 4T to 2T and the wheelies are much harder to learn now.

[@crosstrainingenduro]

Lack of engine brake? I foun that tough with 2T wheelies....

[@yzbanger7180]

@@crosstrainingenduro yeah, 2T wheelies are hard for me

[@tightlines106]

Got my 03 KTM 525exc RFS engine up to 220km on the dirt six gear redline valve bouncing flat out last weekend why because life is short

[@huskypoop4917]

how to tame the beast ?? falling off a few times and some very rough terrain often

[@crosstrainingenduro]

That will do it lol

[@huskypoop4917]

@@crosstrainingenduro it makes a man of you ;D

[@jaynelson5793]

The older I get, the faster I was.

[@crosstrainingenduro]

😂 True dat!

[@trevorharper5151]

I just look at the trees and remember how hard they are

[@crosstrainingenduro]

And sometimes they jump out in front of you....

[@trevorharper5151]

@@crosstrainingenduro Plus the kangaroos and the emus….. I don’t like the thought of hitting an emu.

[@dirtbikesicehockey4788]

I like to ride closer to the edge of my comfort zone. It's right next to comfort food.

[@crosstrainingenduro]

😎 Extreme eating!

[@st-buttzooka]

Definitely a thrill seeker but with some common sense. I prefer to ride to the edge of my comfort zone.

[@crosstrainingenduro]

And we slide to a stop much quicker going up hills, Shaun. 😁

[@davehowe_just_an_old_dirtbiker]

Part of ..OK all of the reason I stopped racing is because I couldn't back off during the heat of the moment and I pushed my limits too far. Even now that I don't even touch an MX track but just trail ride I still find myself pushing it too far. A junkie? Probably but the older I get the slower I know I need to ride. It can be frustrating when I see an obstacle that I know in my head that I can do but my body is saying, WTF are you thinking?

[@crosstrainingenduro]

It can be a real dilemma, Dave. A guy we used to ride with was always taking crazy risks, despite being in his mid 50s. He would line up for a tough obstacle and we'd say "Are you really sure you want to do this?" but he couldn't even hear us, his inner beast was so intent lol. He was always breaking things on his bike and getting hurt then full of regret afterwards.

[@TheKitchenTechnician]

Risk-taking doesn’t favour the young, it favours the ignorant. In the words of Will Gadd, always have a margin.

[@sten6537]

Heee! Jack black. Nice

[@TheKitchenTechnician]

NEVER, ride faster than your guardian angel can fly.

[@riders.oregon4474]

My friend has a sticker under his visor that he can read that says “never go over 80%”

[@capecadet]

"...Or riding apeshit makes you forget about your inner demons." I feel called out

[@crosstrainingenduro]

I suspect a lot of us have been called out in that case... 😂

[@reubs91]

I’m Mr Safety!

[@SSYoung125]

Similar comment but I've noticed if I start feeling or getting caught up in road rage when driving my truck I need to go on a dirt bike ride and get that anxiety and adrenaline out so i can go back to driving like a grandpa

[@crosstrainingenduro]

Same here, Spencer. I want to get all my thrills and chills worked out on the bikes then drive like an old man in my car lol.

[@emilskukojs3783]

After multiple nasty falls and bad injuries im trying to settle in the comfort zone

[@crosstrainingenduro]

It's tough, Emils. I've been struggling with this for years and it's only now that I'm finally getting close to 60 the testosterone has dropped enough for me to chill and just enjoy the ride without taking too many risks.

[@mauricioacle4411]

Risk administration lesson 1.1. "Pray to God but never tempt Him".

[@crosstrainingenduro]

Amen!

[@docjohnson2874]

Well done.....good points all......if you have reached your 60's as a rider (whatever type), you have probably been injured and know what that entails....the Darwin awards await those who do not learn from experience.

[@crosstrainingenduro]

Survival of the smartest... 😎

[@riders.oregon4474]

I ride ride fast too much and pick up the bike too much with no problem, but the other day I threw out my back cutting my toenails.

[@crosstrainingenduro]

The motto is quite obvious... ride more, trim toenails less. 👍😎

[@jamesdenton3692]

@@crosstrainingenduro But then you gotta buy bigger boots .lol

[@crosstrainingenduro]

😂

[@bobromans4476]

Evel Knievel died of cancer, just sayin. This does not mean that you should try to jump 13 buses or a canyon. We all have our limits. If I don't ride off road for a month, I just don't feel right, got to have some throttle therapy every few weeks.

[@crosstrainingenduro]

Not a lot of motorbikes the psychiatrist's carpark. 😁

[@jimsec7344]

I think I might be an adrenaline junky after I somehow beat my mate riding a Honda crf150f and he was riding a bike with four times the power

[@crosstrainingenduro]

Awesome, Jim! Love it when slower older bikes beat the new ones!

[@Yeah_na]

How to tame the beast? Put a ring on his finger and a baby in his arms…

[@nickfountain8420]

Like Nancy Reagan taught us "Just Say No" to the ring!

[@crosstrainingenduro]

😂

[@justinhuffman5434]

Into your 30s? Lol

[@leslieaustin151]

Ha ha! I’m happy to ride my Serow on the road with only occasional forays onto dirt, with company. But at 75 nothing heals quickly... Les in UK

[@justinhuffman5434]

@@leslieaustin151 I’m almost 40 and I’ll hit any expert line this country has to offer. My mentor into the sport of mototrials is 79 and rides every day that’s above 35 degrees

[@crosstrainingenduro]

I can barely remember my 30s now, Justin lol. Turning 60 soon and hoping to keep doing hard enduro as long as I can.

[@crosstrainingenduro]

Awesome to hear you are still riding, Les! Anyone still riding after 70 goes into our hall of fame immediately.

[@justinhuffman5434]

Factory pros…blah blah blah. People that pay for parts and bikes are the real heroes 🥳