This seriously is what me and my friend do, after a certain point of looking at it if you're scared you just gotta send it and handle the rest on the way down. No going back so go forward when you send it.
After breaking my wrist, and getting a plate and 9 screws in my wrist, this finally gave me the confidence to go back to the bike park and hit the jumps which I've been so afraid to do.
It’s been two months now since I’ve found your channel. It’s been a solid 13 years since I rode a bike. Your videos are inspiring. You and a few other youtubers you ride with have convinced me to buy a mountain bike. You’re killin it guy, keep it up.
and never forget, sometimes it's ok to just not do it. ride away and choose the easier and safer lines. it's ok, your manhood is secure either way. mountain biking is not your job.
Hey seth, I just want to say thank you. Its that random luck of stumbling on a random youtube video. I always wanted to get into mountain biking, but I had no money, and no motive. I've been binging your videos for a month now and have learned so much about mountain biking. Watching your videos made me want to get a job and work up to a new bike. Today I finally bought my new mtb, and I have none other to thank but you.
I can't stress enough how much that spoke to my heart. Almost 2 years ago i finished studying with an absolute big success. I totally dominated my course of studies. After that i got into training as it is typical for teachers in germany. In this training period of 18 month you will endure extreme stress and will have to go thrue 11 examinations which all require an insane amount of dedication, planning and improvisation. In my case many of these examinations have gone terribly wrong with sometime even very inobjective criticism getting the best of me. At the end of last year i burned out and went into therapy. At that point i was nothing but a useless piece of grief and depression. After 3 month i decided to get up and finnish my training, which has been very hard on me again. Now i have 9 days left until my final exam, which will determine if after 6,5 years of studying i will get a degree and a job or absolutly nothing. And at this point I am totally wrecked with no energy, creativity, mental stabilty or rationality left. I'm just so afraid of this exam that my mind and body completly stopped working. I totally feel as if I'm about to race down that cliff and crash to death. This video was the most motivating thing that has spoken to me in a while. The hard part will now be to not watch another video (and then some more) but to actually get my ass up and get some work done.
@@fritz2513 Ich habe das Examen nicht bestanden und dann das Referendariat direkt abgebrochen. Ich wollte einfach nicht mehr, dass diese Leute über mein psychisches Wohlbefinden und meine Zukunft bestimmen dürfen. Ich habe dann eigenständig eine Programmiersprache gelernt und mich auf Stellen als Softwareentwickler beworben. Nach drei Monaten hatte ich Erfolg und konnte ein Trainee Programm machen. Jetzt bin ich Vollzeit Softwareentwickler. Auch ein geiler Job.
41 year old male here. I'm finding that gradually expanding the 'envelope' of difficulty / perceived risk is key. You can't just tackle stuff like this and expect to nail it at the first attempt. Fear causes your body to do the wrong thing at the worst time. The steps outlined in this video are spot on. Control the fear by analysing the problem & break it down. Go in with a plan. Stick to it. 'Brief' the obstacle and think your way through it before you do it. That includes escape routes. And don't beat yourself up for not tackling something that made you feel uncomfortable. As the aviation saying goes: “you start with a bag full of luck and an empty bag of experience. The trick is to fill the bag of experience before you empty the bag of luck.”
This was probably one of the most honest AND informative videos you've done yet! It really takes some courage to admit you're scared as F on stuff and how one goes about overcoming that. I've had my confidence rattled from bad crashes, and I always return to the scene of the crime to move past it and bury it. GREAT piece and GREAT job finding the mojo, Alex!
Seth, I'm just getting into MTB (now that I've moved to AZ from DC) and found your channel. Regardless of subject matter related to MTB -- this is hands down one of the best produced "UA-cam" videos I've seen. From concept to publishing, this is a tight 7 minutes with great story telling and direction. You should be proud you created this content. Definitely a highmark for the medium. Well done!
This is like the third time I've watched this video and I still tear up a little every time he finally clears that line at the end. Mountain biking, man. 's a hell of a drug.
not done any mountain biking but from a surfing perspective this resonated with me. I went on my first ever surf trip a few months ago to Portugal, which on a given day has surf more than twice the size I'm used to at home. The trip was going well and I was enjoying the surf until this one morning I woke up to waves with 10+ foot faces. To me that was, and still is, huge. So I make the long paddle out and chill in the line up for a bit before this real slab comes along and I go for it. As I'm paddling for the wave I look back and see this monster rearing up behind me and I get this flash of fear. I'm getting scooped up to the lip of the wave and as I'm popping up, about 12 feet in the air, I hesitate. That brief hesitation resulted in me getting sucked over the falls and pile-driven into the breakwater. The wind was knocked out of me, I was at least under 5 feet of water, didn't know which way was up, and was being thrown around like a rag doll. I was probably only under for 15 seconds but after that impact, I came up gasping, and was pummelled by another 2 waves before I made it back to the outside. For the rest of the week I barely caught any waves, even after it got smaller. I was just not performing how I knew I could. Then I realised it was because, deep down, I was afraid of eating it again. After that I forced myself to commit to the drop. I'd paddle for every single wave until I was able to fully commit again. There's often no trick to overcoming fear, it just takes time, and a lot of stubbornness, but anyone can do it.
Antonio F. We do get similar waves during big winter swells here (8-10 foot faces or on rare occasions bigger), but generally it's closer to 5 foot in winter, and 1-2 foot in summer. The topography around the coast of Portugal seems to create much faster, hollower waves year round (4-6 foot in summer and 10 foot plus in winter). I love your country by the way - great surf, great food, great people :)
I lost traction on a fast rolling path through some pine trees, I hit my shin so hard that it causes a DVT (blood clot) which was followed by a clot in my right lung. It's been a long road back to recovery. I haven't lost my nerve, I'm just more mindful of the consequences of taking bigger risk and ride trails that are a little less technical, because I'm 50 now and recovery times take so much longer as you get older. I still love going fast and getting some airtime and grabbing my skateboard and hitting my local park, the day will come when it all hurts too much to do these things, it ain't here yet, but it's beginning to hurt more and more the next day
Usually I go to the place several times and turn around or go around, until one time I just send it. And after landing and the mandatory "how tf did I survive that" I start thinking for how much longer I'll be able to get away with it
Same here. I finally took a fall at big bear just 2 days ago 😂😂😂 luckily I still have my teeth bc I have a full face helmet, and didn’t break any bones but I lost my air at impact and bruise up my legs, ribs, right arm, and my right shoulder. I’m so much more conservative now 😭
I realise this a couple years old, but as a new subscriber I just saw this and really appreciated what you and Alex put out. As an older rider and late comer to the sport, you can feel afraid of what you haven't done before. Im doing it because I enjoy it and to show my kids and grandkids that the possibilities are endless if you don't let fear get in the way of trying something new. Thank you.
And don't predetermine the number if run ups you need, because you might find out after a few that there's way more to it. We could go on and on. A lot of horrible advice in this vid, that will put some people in wheelchairs.
I'm not a really good rider so my scary line isn't that scary for everyone,but i'm gonne tell ya 'bout it : It was a big jump on a pumptrack,a rocky one,i mean it wasn't made of dirt (I'm French excuse my english) And it wasn't a table,it had like a round shape to it,and i was quite scared to jump it 'cause i'm doing dead saylor quite often. I took all the speed I could on the pumptrack,and I jumped it,without casing,perfect.Then I was happy,and THEN...There was a really big berm,in metal,incoming,I never thought I would crash on that,but cause of my speed,i litterally jumped it,fall of the side and broke my arm. I wasn't expecting that,but now I'm riding again this berm all the weekend,and I'm not angry of myself anymore,I learned from it. Now i'm analizing my line ya know. Hopes everyone will learn without having to broke something !
This video made me emotional--I love how you connected it to life in general, because it all comes back to our character. I like how Alex is now not only better but also wiser & braver. Excellent video!
Indoor Cycling Bike Review Just avoiding everything that scares you is a great way to never progress. Cleaning something you are afraid of is an amazing feeling and I'd rather experience that and crash a few times then avoid all the scary stuff.
Indoor Cycling Bike Review If you think like that you will newer progress and you will Not gain any confidence. You need to take risks and Crash to become a better mountain biker.
This video is not just MTB riding advice, but a practical philosophy lesson aplicable to all sorts of situations in life. Just as important, if not more, than technical or riding tutorials. It's awesome that you post stuff like this!
Seriously this is how I overcame my fear of rollercoasters. My friends brought me to an amusement park with the most rides in the US and the second tallest roller coaster in the world. I was scared to ride the 10 foot tall ride there and by the end of the day I was riding 300+ feet roller coasters. I was in the queue line for the 200 foot ride and I was like “fuck it”. I hopped in real quick and got strapped in. Once I was strapped in I was like “oh fuck why did I do this”. Then I completed that bitch no problem.
I just got into MTB for a couple of months. Currently recovering from a broken left collarbone whilst doing a slight downhill section.. Going in too fast and got my technique wrong on the left sharp turn and landed on my shoulder. I will not give up and once I'm recovered. I will ride, improve myself and visit the crashed site. Thanks Seth & Alex!
Glad to actually see a comment like this. I just got into mountain biking and had no idea how easy it is to fuck yourself up. I've always been a skater kid and not much into bikes and the thing that messes with me is on a bike you really can't ditch it when things go south. Good thing I take trails pretty slow at the moment
These are the kinds of videos which bring out the better side of the YT community. I saw some comment about a guy going head-first into a rock (which he would've died, if he didn't have his helmet on), and I saw a bunch of people asking if he was ok, telling him to get it checked out, and looking out for the guy.
Ive come to think of crashing as a normal part of MTBing. Although i stay well within my skill level and have trouble at times getting out of my comfort level and that holds back my riding. Great vid, thanks!
Thanks for this Seth and Alex. Much respect for Alex's humility and courage to show the emotional side of what happens when things don't work out the way we wanted them to. I'm an older rider and without going into personal detail I'll just say that most of us will have to deal with big crashes at some point (whether on a bike or, metaphorically speaking, in life in general) and there will be a loss of confidence if they are big or frequent enough. It can be scary and cause you to question yourself, but the only way through it is through it., as Alex demonstrated.
True! First time I ride in at a mountain trail I was alone and did 5 trails, it was easy. But then I kept thinking about how dangerous the last 2 could be if I got off trail as these two are right by the river. I been riding for 3 months now and I am more afraid that ever, I have to get off my bike every time.
Such a powerful video Seth thank you so much and also congrats to Alex for going past his fear! It reminded me when I was still a firefighter a few years ago and I made a few mistakes on fire scenes and then the pressure from my coworkers got to my head where I lost confidence in myself, I almost gave up on my life at that time. Today, I am so grateful for it because it led me on a journey to find my purpose and now being on a mission to clean the woods from trash and improve our connection to our Planet and with each other! Again, thank you Seth for this inspirational video, I wish I had seen it back then!
Thanks Seth, I had a big crash earlier this year and because of low confidence it has resulted in a few more crashes simply because my confidence has taken a blow. This video is awesome and inspiring. I had to go back to the place of my big off and conquer my fears. Thank you so much to you and Alex for taking the time to make the video and for being real, Regards David
Alexander, I feel your pain here! I've suffered double-digit dislocations over the last decade after getting my shoulder torn up in football. Finally had a major reconstruction and am back to full strength this year. Been getting back into mtb and bought myself a new bike for Christmas!! Excited to keep it going
Seth and Alex, one of your top videos. The way Alex “got back on his horse” and conquered that obstacle was amazing. Proud of you, bro! Thanks for putting this video together, Seth.
This has got to be one of the best, most inspiring mtb videos ive ever seen! Bravo! I love when Andrew triumphantly cleaned the rock roll! I too have been dealing with a slew of bad luck with injuries on the bike. This is definitely a video I needed to see.
I did this three foot rock drop (which isn't that high for most riders) but it scared me so bad. My friend eventually convinced me to do it and I ended up feeling like superman when I landed.
Still better than me, if i can't roll it i walk it. Would love to be able to do drops like that someday, but i feel my SR Suntour XCT fork would just snap if i tried (It already has noticeable slop in it that i can feel under hard braking on pavement)
your fork wont snap lol , i did some 6ft drops with my old xc hardtail , just learn to pop a little manual off a curb really while and move you way up to 2 steps , 3 steps 4ect , you will be doing big drops on the trails in no time
drumandbassob0007 I don’t know if you know what the suntour xct is then. I had a bike with it and I sold it within a week because the overall bike was bad and the fork was very squishy and flexy. I wouldn’t trust it on anything more than about 1 foot
About a year ago I was riding a scooter and I tried to drop in on a mega ramp for my first time I hit something (it was concrete) I went over the handlebars and snapped my wrist, shattered my kneecap and broke my leg wich scared the living hell out of me I was lying there with my wrist bent sideways and my leg looking like spaghetti I have never tried to ride a scooter again but am now into uci mtb racing
Dude. You almost made me shed a tear. I was SO happy for Alex and could feel his elation inside my soul. I've been lucky to have not been in his situation yet but I am getting older and after 30+ years of mountain biking I can feel my brain trying to slow me down a little. My sense of self preservation is much stronger than it used to be. This scenario makes me think of my wife's experience. When we were first married, like 6 months in, she broke her neck in a mountain bike accident. She still rides but it was seriously traumatic and still to this day causes here to lock up and break down into tears if things get too crazy on the bike. We do now ride the trail system on the property where it happened but she couldn't ride there for years. Actually, she didn't like to ride anywhere where she knew the trail. If she'd seen it before her brain would flag all of the difficult spots where there was room for error and just about stop her dead in her tracks. If she had never seen it and didn't know what was coming she would ride it like a pro. Crazy how these things can mess with you. Thanks for sharing. And an extra special thanks to Alex for being willing to admit the challenge was real.
Congratulations Alexander!!!! I totally fist pumped for you on conquering that. You showed me that I need to just overcome my challenges. Good shit man.
Had a bad ride. Tire pressure all wrong. Wet trail. Overly confident as I had ridden the trail a hundred times, but not in the last 5 years. Wound up landing on my head breaking my helmet and my wrist. All I could muster was riding to work. Bmx racer, xc mountain bike racer, and now reduced to a bicycle commuting schlep. It took my oldest son discovering the joys of mountain biking while working in Florida for me to get the nerve up to get on a trail. I still have some issues, but have found myself again thanks to him. Like you said, friends. He's never pushed me or trash talked me. We've been there for each other through wreck and ride. Right before I deployed he broke his collar bone at Kolo Bike Park. If the shoe is on the other foot when I get home I'll be there for him.
BaDumTsss maybe just make sure you have something with a reliable connection to emergency services. I don’t know if the phone emergency services quick button uses the normal cell signal but if it does get something else obviously. I think some GPSs have it.
Leo Castro I'm thinking about a sketchy blind 15 foot stair gap that leads straight into traffic that I've always wanted to bomb. 😂😂😂 I got hit by a car there too
LOL - the Music Intro, along with sun rays poking through the dark clouds is EXACTLY how it feels after conquering something!! I enjoy your videos Seth - it's obvious you plan out what you're going to say and do a great job making them!
I know im late but this really helped me, i busted my ass a while back, i jumped off a set of stairs, came completely off the bike, arms and legs straight out in front of me and dropped 6 feet straight down onto my tail bone and slid in the same position for 8 feet on concrete, even after i was healed up and ready to ride, i could hardly ride the bike i was so scared, after watching this i did exactly what alex did and went back and cleaned the stair case damn good, and just like him my mojo was back, thanks seth for putting out amazing videos, you got me into biking and then back into it again
My local bike trail really fucked me up but I was to far into MTB to back out so I kept riding and crashing ....but its fun ( the riding part not he crashing haha) I kept riding the same trail learned the lines and now I ride every weekend still crash every now and then but Im getting better and the trail is becoming more fun.
Sometimes I have to talk to my bike and say bitch I own you and you are about to do what u tell you to do; then it reminds me that it's not the one who's made of flesh
just like crashing a motorbike, always go back to where it happened. then go back again and again and again until you dont get butterflies when you show up
Having done a lot to my body including broken patella(knee cap), multiple concussions, dislocated finger, separated shoulder and other twists and sprains etc..., my shoulder dislocations and 3 surgeries have by far set me back mentally worse than anything. Good on Alex for overcoming that because I know how hard it is and it's way harder than people think.
I know that feeling... Broke my left collar bone last July and my right shoulder blade 10 days ago... funny fact is that I have not had a single crash between these 2 incidents... Conclusion when I crash, do it hard :) Bad luck...
Has happened to me but i got a near death experience if it wouldnt for the full face helmet. On a downhill track i got to high on a berm and i flew with my head into a rock im still having vision problems, but im going back this year and then school starts one day later, and im 12 and im worriyng a bit about vision in the future.
I love this Channel. I think it was the single biggest source of inspiration that got me into Mountain Biking (which changed my life). Thank you for existing Seth.
I watched this video because I worry about motorcycle racing. We have racing lines, if you follow them, and commit. It will be amazing. You might crash, or go down, but finding your mojo, getting back on the horse when you go down. Proving to yourself, that you can do this. Helps a lot. Having friends and riding buddies, that pressure you in the right way. Showing you and building your confidence, and abilities will only make you better. Thank's Seth.
Scariest thing I've ever done is clearing my first step-up... Well trying anyways. I was warming up on an amatuer moto-track and clearing all the table's and stuff there and feeling pretty good, so I decided to take it to the pro track. The jumps were all feeling way too big for my 250 2 stroke but I kept pushing and trying to make it work, and then I came up to a massive step-up I'd been rolling over the past couple laps. I sorta surprised myself and just hucked me and the bike at it and hoped for the best. I came down hard into the face of the step up, bottomed out my suspension and sprained my ankle bad enough I had to go on crutches. But sending it wasn't the scary part; landing and getting thrown up off my bike while still holding the bars and somehow landing was XD
I fell three times this year. The first time I broke a clavicle due to going OTB. The second I performed a jump and then I was going with some speed in very dry terrain which made me drift and lose control of the bike. I fell with all my weight on the ribs cracking one or two. The third time I so happy because I fell on rocky section and didn't broke anything 😁😁
Last year I went on my first 3 foot jump and hit a rock at the top and went otb. Now I'm terrified to jump again. I know it sounds small but I'm a beginner.
I am a road and track rider. I watch your videos so that I might be able to help my risk averse son who is very keen on riding off-road. I get him to watch these videos and we discuss and to overcome his fears when we next ride the trails
I found a broken table that was in a perfect ramp shape so me and my friends moved it to a downhill slope and made the gap around 25 feet and you jump it right on to this perfect natural landing right between two trees that are 5 feet apart and I took run ins and sent it the one time I hit one of the roots went sideways and crashed over the roots but it was so fun and made me better knowing that I could get up from that with just a scar on my back
I have broken my neck by going to the biggest mountain in my area with a bike and it was like 3 rocks in a row like 7ft drop each rock and on the second rock my bikes front end gave way and I went over the handle bars down 7ft and slipping another 7ft and breaking my neck and leg and got a dislocated shoulder and and broke my nose
Great watching you young guys, gets the old adrenalin going. I'm 75 and still go to the gym but get no adrenalyn rushes as you get. Did skydiving, karate, marathons tons of 10 k's and knees are shot, but my eyes greatly enjoy watching you crazy guys and I love seeing this sport grow. Have fun and stay healthy and safe and greatly enjoy how you help each other.
Good for you Alexander, I have been in a similar situation after a motorcycle accident where I completely 180’d my leg from the knee down that has resulted in irreparable ligaments in my knee. Getting back on the horse is the hardest and most confronting thing I have done. Overcome, improve and advance.
This clip reminded me of a similar scenario my riding buddy experienced, going head over handle bars. we haven’t ridden in some time but watching this has given me a new sense of purpose as to why I ride. Can’t wait to get back on the trails. Thanks for sharing!!!
As a newer rider, this is great stuff. I want to say that I think feeling the rhythm of the trail and being connected with your bike are also very important in general. I always feel much more confident when I'm riding with a little speed and flowing with the trail.
Get Stickers Here!
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Seth's Bike Hacks will Seth reply -probably not
Seth's Bike Hacks can you help me to buy a best bike
Stackersss!
Seth's Bike Hacks
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I jumped over a pond
My man's seth's becoming a life coach
Seth life hacks
@@Jason-lb5sn best two comments ever
no
Well said you deserve a hearted comment
Life heks
That victory scream made me so freaking happy for you.
I almost cried
Yeah man, that was awesome
I dropped a tear when he celebrated
Yes
"I got it! YAAAAA!!! ......what a feeling
Yes I have. but I followed different steps.
1. Send it
HAAHAHHAHAHAHAHHA
That is the Leroy Jenkins method
1. Send it
2. Keep sending it
3. Die
4. Get back up and try to send it again.
5. Repeat forever
This seriously is what me and my friend do, after a certain point of looking at it if you're scared you just gotta send it and handle the rest on the way down. No going back so go forward when you send it.
JUST SEND IT!
Alexander: I think I’m well to ride my bike again
Seth: let’s ride 200 miles to key west
Y e s
I think that was Alex’s idea
Lol. Dude, 200 mile ride isn't that hard.
@@ryandavids1129 yeah sure
Woah! I felt Alex's breakthrough in my heart man! Great tips for riding and life too Seth!
“He was well enough to at least road ride a little.” So we decided to ride 200 miles.
I freakin love you guys😂
Yeah lol
4:29-4:33 my eyes actually watered up, man. YES! YEAH!
After breaking my wrist, and getting a plate and 9 screws in my wrist, this finally gave me the confidence to go back to the bike park and hit the jumps which I've been so afraid to do.
DuMmc
Nice 👍
You may still want to not do that
Raj Kandhari I have a plate and it sucks
If this isn’t fake great for you
It’s been two months now since I’ve found your channel. It’s been a solid 13 years since I rode a bike. Your videos are inspiring. You and a few other youtubers you ride with have convinced me to buy a mountain bike.
You’re killin it guy, keep it up.
I hope your endeavors have gone well.
its insane how good friend you are to him and how friends you have man.
DUDE I JUST HAD A WRECK THAT SENT ME TO THE ER AND IVE BEEN NERVOUS ABOUT GETTING BACK OUT!!!!! Thanks so much
and never forget, sometimes it's ok to just not do it. ride away and choose the easier and safer lines. it's ok, your manhood is secure either way. mountain biking is not your job.
James Brant for Alexander it is
+James Brant
Well said.
AKA be a pussy
I agree but it’s more than that. There’s always an internal struggle that tell me that redemption is the only way to move past that crash.
Hey seth, I just want to say thank you. Its that random luck of stumbling on a random youtube video. I always wanted to get into mountain biking, but I had no money, and no motive. I've been binging your videos for a month now and have learned so much about mountain biking. Watching your videos made me want to get a job and work up to a new bike. Today I finally bought my new mtb, and I have none other to thank but you.
Jeremiah what bike did you get?
Owen It's not a bank breaker, but I got a Co op Drt 1.2
I can't stress enough how much that spoke to my heart. Almost 2 years ago i finished studying with an absolute big success. I totally dominated my course of studies. After that i got into training as it is typical for teachers in germany. In this training period of 18 month you will endure extreme stress and will have to go thrue 11 examinations which all require an insane amount of dedication, planning and improvisation. In my case many of these examinations have gone terribly wrong with sometime even very inobjective criticism getting the best of me. At the end of last year i burned out and went into therapy. At that point i was nothing but a useless piece of grief and depression. After 3 month i decided to get up and finnish my training, which has been very hard on me again. Now i have 9 days left until my final exam, which will determine if after 6,5 years of studying i will get a degree and a job or absolutly nothing. And at this point I am totally wrecked with no energy, creativity, mental stabilty or rationality left. I'm just so afraid of this exam that my mind and body completly stopped working. I totally feel as if I'm about to race down that cliff and crash to death. This video was the most motivating thing that has spoken to me in a while. The hard part will now be to not watch another video (and then some more) but to actually get my ass up and get some work done.
Hope the exam went well man, hard work always pays off eventually
It's been a year the luck of the Irish is with you, hope you did great
Henrik wie geht's dir jetzt? Hast du's geschafft? Würde mich sehr interessieren von dir zu hören.
@@fritz2513 Ich habe das Examen nicht bestanden und dann das Referendariat direkt abgebrochen. Ich wollte einfach nicht mehr, dass diese Leute über mein psychisches Wohlbefinden und meine Zukunft bestimmen dürfen. Ich habe dann eigenständig eine Programmiersprache gelernt und mich auf Stellen als Softwareentwickler beworben. Nach drei Monaten hatte ich Erfolg und konnte ein Trainee Programm machen. Jetzt bin ich Vollzeit Softwareentwickler. Auch ein geiler Job.
Yo we have the same name
41 year old male here.
I'm finding that gradually expanding the 'envelope' of difficulty / perceived risk is key. You can't just tackle stuff like this and expect to nail it at the first attempt. Fear causes your body to do the wrong thing at the worst time.
The steps outlined in this video are spot on. Control the fear by analysing the problem & break it down. Go in with a plan. Stick to it. 'Brief' the obstacle and think your way through it before you do it. That includes escape routes. And don't beat yourself up for not tackling something that made you feel uncomfortable.
As the aviation saying goes:
“you start with a bag full of luck and an empty bag of experience. The trick is to fill the bag of experience before you empty the bag of luck.”
Ok
This was probably one of the most honest AND informative videos you've done yet! It really takes some courage to admit you're scared as F on stuff and how one goes about overcoming that. I've had my confidence rattled from bad crashes, and I always return to the scene of the crime to move past it and bury it. GREAT piece and GREAT job finding the mojo, Alex!
You guys were awesome support... love Alex at 4:30... "got it don't touch" lmao!
I think doing it all by himself was pretty important to him in that moment
I have been in that exact spot in Colorado I am soo exited to know that I have been by the place he has been😁😁
Me to I live in grand junction
COLORADO SQUAD!!
@@Realyoolee me to
Seth, I'm just getting into MTB (now that I've moved to AZ from DC) and found your channel. Regardless of subject matter related to MTB -- this is hands down one of the best produced "UA-cam" videos I've seen. From concept to publishing, this is a tight 7 minutes with great story telling and direction. You should be proud you created this content. Definitely a highmark for the medium. Well done!
This is like the third time I've watched this video and I still tear up a little every time he finally clears that line at the end. Mountain biking, man. 's a hell of a drug.
not done any mountain biking but from a surfing perspective this resonated with me. I went on my first ever surf trip a few months ago to Portugal, which on a given day has surf more than twice the size I'm used to at home. The trip was going well and I was enjoying the surf until this one morning I woke up to waves with 10+ foot faces. To me that was, and still is, huge. So I make the long paddle out and chill in the line up for a bit before this real slab comes along and I go for it. As I'm paddling for the wave I look back and see this monster rearing up behind me and I get this flash of fear. I'm getting scooped up to the lip of the wave and as I'm popping up, about 12 feet in the air, I hesitate. That brief hesitation resulted in me getting sucked over the falls and pile-driven into the breakwater. The wind was knocked out of me, I was at least under 5 feet of water, didn't know which way was up, and was being thrown around like a rag doll. I was probably only under for 15 seconds but after that impact, I came up gasping, and was pummelled by another 2 waves before I made it back to the outside. For the rest of the week I barely caught any waves, even after it got smaller. I was just not performing how I knew I could. Then I realised it was because, deep down, I was afraid of eating it again. After that I forced myself to commit to the drop. I'd paddle for every single wave until I was able to fully commit again. There's often no trick to overcoming fear, it just takes time, and a lot of stubbornness, but anyone can do it.
Rhidian D really im from portugal are our waves really that big compared to yours?
Antonio F. We do get similar waves during big winter swells here (8-10 foot faces or on rare occasions bigger), but generally it's closer to 5 foot in winter, and 1-2 foot in summer. The topography around the coast of Portugal seems to create much faster, hollower waves year round (4-6 foot in summer and 10 foot plus in winter). I love your country by the way - great surf, great food, great people :)
Them waves are for girls
Thanks for sharing. Nice story
@@illhaveanother4365 i dought u even surt😂
I lost traction on a fast rolling path through some pine trees, I hit my shin so hard that it causes a DVT (blood clot) which was followed by a clot in my right lung. It's been a long road back to recovery. I haven't lost my nerve, I'm just more mindful of the consequences of taking bigger risk and ride trails that are a little less technical, because I'm 50 now and recovery times take so much longer as you get older. I still love going fast and getting some airtime and grabbing my skateboard and hitting my local park, the day will come when it all hurts too much to do these things, it ain't here yet, but it's beginning to hurt more and more the next day
Holy shit that sounds bad
You should get a tricycle
My nigga you mean bruise?
beautiful video. I'm sure many can relate. I know I can...
Usually I go to the place several times and turn around or go around, until one time I just send it.
And after landing and the mandatory "how tf did I survive that" I start thinking for how much longer I'll be able to get away with it
Same here. I finally took a fall at big bear just 2 days ago 😂😂😂 luckily I still have my teeth bc I have a full face helmet, and didn’t break any bones but I lost my air at impact and bruise up my legs, ribs, right arm, and my right shoulder. I’m so much more conservative now 😭
I realise this a couple years old, but as a new subscriber I just saw this and really appreciated what you and Alex put out. As an older rider and late comer to the sport, you can feel afraid of what you haven't done before. Im doing it because I enjoy it and to show my kids and grandkids that the possibilities are endless if you don't let fear get in the way of trying something new. Thank you.
Pro Tip : Never have too much commitment because sometime you're just not prepared, experienced or trained enough to do scary lines.
And don't predetermine the number if run ups you need, because you might find out after a few that there's way more to it. We could go on and on. A lot of horrible advice in this vid, that will put some people in wheelchairs.
I'm not a really good rider so my scary line isn't that scary for everyone,but i'm gonne tell ya 'bout it :
It was a big jump on a pumptrack,a rocky one,i mean it wasn't made of dirt (I'm French excuse my english)
And it wasn't a table,it had like a round shape to it,and i was quite scared to jump it 'cause i'm doing dead saylor quite often.
I took all the speed I could on the pumptrack,and I jumped it,without casing,perfect.Then I was happy,and THEN...There was a really big berm,in metal,incoming,I never thought I would crash on that,but cause of my speed,i litterally jumped it,fall of the side and broke my arm.
I wasn't expecting that,but now I'm riding again this berm all the weekend,and I'm not angry of myself anymore,I learned from it.
Now i'm analizing my line ya know.
Hopes everyone will learn without having to broke something !
What's a dead sailor?
@@ferox3334 it's when you get scared while you're in the air and go stiff.
Good piece of advice and good English! :D
Good on you mate!
Just get on and give er’ bud!
-IFHT Films (how to be a Canadian)
Steven Daniels I actually use that a lot, I love it so much
Greatest line ever
oo
Steven Daniels BEST GODDAM LINE EVER!!!
Steven Daniels he’ll yeh I like you fuse me c to
This mountain biking video gave me the confidence I needed to risk all my assets in the stock market. Thank you Seth.
This video made me emotional--I love how you connected it to life in general, because it all comes back to our character. I like how Alex is now not only better but also wiser & braver. Excellent video!
It happenes to everyone
Indoor Cycling Bike Review you'll never learn like that
Indoor Cycling Bike Review Just avoiding everything that scares you is a great way to never progress.
Cleaning something you are afraid of is an amazing feeling and I'd rather experience that and crash a few times then avoid all the scary stuff.
Andrew Givens yes
Indoor Cycling Bike Review If you think like that you will newer progress and you will Not gain any confidence. You need to take risks and Crash to become a better mountain biker.
2 weeks ago I attempted a jump and broken my collarbone. I fully regret my decision.
Ehh I just scream “send it” and go for for it
Iamkieren bones mend, hit send!!
Iamkieren Without a doubt, that is the best way to get the job done.
JustinBieber pal your literally called Justin beiber
Iamkieren send et
THATS WHAT I DO!! Haha
You should have way more subscribers for how great your videos! Well done dude!
This video is not just MTB riding advice, but a practical philosophy lesson aplicable to all sorts of situations in life. Just as important, if not more, than technical or riding tutorials. It's awesome that you post stuff like this!
I do it like this
I'm scared
I think YOLO
I do it quickly to the point of no return
I think "holy fuck why did i do this"
I complete it
Same boi
Broke my collar bone like that
I go to stage 5 and then try to turn back and then f up
Seriously this is how I overcame my fear of rollercoasters. My friends brought me to an amusement park with the most rides in the US and the second tallest roller coaster in the world. I was scared to ride the 10 foot tall ride there and by the end of the day I was riding 300+ feet roller coasters. I was in the queue line for the 200 foot ride and I was like “fuck it”. I hopped in real quick and got strapped in. Once I was strapped in I was like “oh fuck why did I do this”. Then I completed that bitch no problem.
I do the same but after thinking "holy fuck why im doing this" I think "Wait but I was YOLOing it" and I continue to YOLO it😂
I just got into MTB for a couple of months. Currently recovering from a broken left collarbone whilst doing a slight downhill section.. Going in too fast and got my technique wrong on the left sharp turn and landed on my shoulder. I will not give up and once I'm recovered. I will ride, improve myself and visit the crashed site. Thanks Seth & Alex!
You should invest in some training wheels
Glad to actually see a comment like this. I just got into mountain biking and had no idea how easy it is to fuck yourself up. I've always been a skater kid and not much into bikes and the thing that messes with me is on a bike you really can't ditch it when things go south. Good thing I take trails pretty slow at the moment
Watching him overcome his fear made me happy
Must be really hella scary if Seth deems it 'sketchy'
Moocream nah it shows you that even hitting it sketchy doesn't make you fall.
Makes you think it's harder to fuck up.
IMNOTA don't ruin the joke
I crashed today pretty hard, and this video really helped me
These are the kinds of videos which bring out the better side of the YT community. I saw some comment about a guy going head-first into a rock (which he would've died, if he didn't have his helmet on), and I saw a bunch of people asking if he was ok, telling him to get it checked out, and looking out for the guy.
The unmoderated f bomb version was better :D
IceCreamTrucker thanks for your support!
Ive come to think of crashing as a normal part of MTBing. Although i stay well within my skill level and have trouble at times getting out of my comfort level and that holds back my riding.
Great vid, thanks!
Thanks for this Seth and Alex. Much respect for Alex's humility and courage to show the emotional side of what happens when things don't work out the way we wanted them to. I'm an older rider and without going into personal detail I'll just say that most of us will have to deal with big crashes at some point (whether on a bike or, metaphorically speaking, in life in general) and there will be a loss of confidence if they are big or frequent enough. It can be scary and cause you to question yourself, but the only way through it is through it., as Alex demonstrated.
You have no clue how much this helped I finally went on a double black thanks to you with only a scraped knee
Tip: don't think about it too much
The more you think about it the more worried you'll become
You learn from your mistakes.
That's true if it's within your capabilities. I had that frame of mind when pole vaulting a small bank and ended up dislocating a shoulder.
Exactly, I think the idea is be aware of what you capabilities are and be confidant in them
We would always say don't psyc your selfout
True! First time I ride in at a mountain trail I was alone and did 5 trails, it was easy. But then I kept thinking about how dangerous the last 2 could be if I got off trail as these two are right by the river. I been riding for 3 months now and I am more afraid that ever, I have to get off my bike every time.
YESSS WAY TO GO ALEX!!!!!!!
thanks i needed this
Such a powerful video Seth thank you so much and also congrats to Alex for going past his fear! It reminded me when I was still a firefighter a few years ago and I made a few mistakes on fire scenes and then the pressure from my coworkers got to my head where I lost confidence in myself, I almost gave up on my life at that time.
Today, I am so grateful for it because it led me on a journey to find my purpose and now being on a mission to clean the woods from trash and improve our connection to our Planet and with each other!
Again, thank you Seth for this inspirational video, I wish I had seen it back then!
Thanks Seth, I had a big crash earlier this year and because of low confidence it has resulted in a few more crashes simply because my confidence has taken a blow. This video is awesome and inspiring. I had to go back to the place of my big off and conquer my fears. Thank you so much to you and Alex for taking the time to make the video and for being real, Regards David
Once again making an example of Alex!
Steven Daniels the dude’s a perfect example of a phoenix.
Steven Daniels how to know who Alex is, watch Seth’s bike hacks 😂
Klawz lol. And to think that Alex was the uninvited guest in their first Moab trip.
😂 lmao
Scariest ride ever is gone off UA-cam I think
Seth thanks Mate, some great life skills. Loving your channel!!!
Alexander, I feel your pain here! I've suffered double-digit dislocations over the last decade after getting my shoulder torn up in football. Finally had a major reconstruction and am back to full strength this year. Been getting back into mtb and bought myself a new bike for Christmas!! Excited to keep it going
Seth and Alex, one of your top videos. The way Alex “got back on his horse” and conquered that obstacle was amazing. Proud of you, bro! Thanks for putting this video together, Seth.
This has got to be one of the best, most inspiring mtb videos ive ever seen! Bravo! I love when Andrew triumphantly cleaned the rock roll!
I too have been dealing with a slew of bad luck with injuries on the bike. This is definitely a video I needed to see.
Steve Henderson his name is Alex.
Steve Henderson a
I did this three foot rock drop (which isn't that high for most riders) but it scared me so bad. My friend eventually convinced me to do it and I ended up feeling like superman when I landed.
Still better than me, if i can't roll it i walk it. Would love to be able to do drops like that someday, but i feel my SR Suntour XCT fork would just snap if i tried (It already has noticeable slop in it that i can feel under hard braking on pavement)
your fork wont snap lol , i did some 6ft drops with my old xc hardtail , just learn to pop a little manual off a curb really while and move you way up to 2 steps , 3 steps 4ect , you will be doing big drops on the trails in no time
MTB The World lol i can only do a 1 ft drop
MTB The World Hell yeah man, I know the feeling! It feels effin great to conquer your fears and just hit that shit like a boss!
drumandbassob0007 I don’t know if you know what the suntour xct is then. I had a bike with it and I sold it within a week because the overall bike was bad and the fork was very squishy and flexy. I wouldn’t trust it on anything more than about 1 foot
About a year ago I was riding a scooter and I tried to drop in on a mega ramp for my first time I hit something (it was concrete) I went over the handlebars and snapped my wrist, shattered my kneecap and broke my leg wich scared the living hell out of me I was lying there with my wrist bent sideways and my leg looking like spaghetti
I have never tried to ride a scooter again but am now into uci mtb racing
ALPHA- TANGO should’ve skateboarded
I do now along with mtb
damn dude sounds gnarly
Holy crap that must have been a bad fall
i wish i had friends like this. this is awesome!
Dude. You almost made me shed a tear. I was SO happy for Alex and could feel his elation inside my soul. I've been lucky to have not been in his situation yet but I am getting older and after 30+ years of mountain biking I can feel my brain trying to slow me down a little. My sense of self preservation is much stronger than it used to be. This scenario makes me think of my wife's experience. When we were first married, like 6 months in, she broke her neck in a mountain bike accident. She still rides but it was seriously traumatic and still to this day causes here to lock up and break down into tears if things get too crazy on the bike. We do now ride the trail system on the property where it happened but she couldn't ride there for years. Actually, she didn't like to ride anywhere where she knew the trail. If she'd seen it before her brain would flag all of the difficult spots where there was room for error and just about stop her dead in her tracks. If she had never seen it and didn't know what was coming she would ride it like a pro. Crazy how these things can mess with you. Thanks for sharing. And an extra special thanks to Alex for being willing to admit the challenge was real.
I'm feeling bad for Jesus..
MTB Jesus was resurrected!
He used Lords name in vain before he crashed 0:21 Jesus is way, truth and life. You got to know Him, dont use His Holy name in vain.
@@samuel-z3o We weren't calling your "Magical" nerdy knowledge
Samuel Osaulenko sometimes you can’t help it you freak out
Samuel Osaulenko yes
Scariest thing ive ever done is stealing a cookie from my brother
DoubleWTap xD death sentence for me
Hahhhahahahahhahahaha
DoubleWTap xD that must have taken months of planning
Georg Sarlin it takes lots of planning ya know
sweatedasp 10581 yeah i know, i'm a professional cookie robber
I look for bail out spots in case. that helps with the mind messing crap going thru your head..
Congratulations Alexander!!!! I totally fist pumped for you on conquering that. You showed me that I need to just overcome my challenges. Good shit man.
Had a bad ride. Tire pressure all wrong. Wet trail. Overly confident as I had ridden the trail a hundred times, but not in the last 5 years. Wound up landing on my head breaking my helmet and my wrist. All I could muster was riding to work. Bmx racer, xc mountain bike racer, and now reduced to a bicycle commuting schlep. It took my oldest son discovering the joys of mountain biking while working in Florida for me to get the nerve up to get on a trail. I still have some issues, but have found myself again thanks to him. Like you said, friends. He's never pushed me or trash talked me. We've been there for each other through wreck and ride. Right before I deployed he broke his collar bone at Kolo Bike Park. If the shoe is on the other foot when I get home I'll be there for him.
It's always good to have friends or you could end up like me 5 miles away from the trailhead with a concussion and no cell connection.
I find riding alone therapeutic.... Hope I won't regret it one day
BaDumTsss maybe just make sure you have something with a reliable connection to emergency services. I don’t know if the phone emergency services quick button uses the normal cell signal but if it does get something else obviously. I think some GPSs have it.
I was just thinking of a sketchy line at highland and then this notification came up.
Leo Castro I'm thinking about a sketchy blind 15 foot stair gap that leads straight into traffic that I've always wanted to bomb. 😂😂😂
I got hit by a car there too
The best advice is to say fuck it and hope for the best.
Person thats how u die
That's literally the worst advice.
Person that's exactly what I do
Some people don’t get sarcasm
Dear Soap people like you
LOL - the Music Intro, along with sun rays poking through the dark clouds is EXACTLY how it feels after conquering something!! I enjoy your videos Seth - it's obvious you plan out what you're going to say and do a great job making them!
I know im late but this really helped me, i busted my ass a while back, i jumped off a set of stairs, came completely off the bike, arms and legs straight out in front of me and dropped 6 feet straight down onto my tail bone and slid in the same position for 8 feet on concrete, even after i was healed up and ready to ride, i could hardly ride the bike i was so scared, after watching this i did exactly what alex did and went back and cleaned the stair case damn good, and just like him my mojo was back, thanks seth for putting out amazing videos, you got me into biking and then back into it again
My local bike trail really fucked me up but I was to far into MTB to back out so I kept riding and crashing ....but its fun ( the riding part not he crashing haha) I kept riding the same trail learned the lines and now I ride every weekend still crash every now and then but Im getting better and the trail is becoming more fun.
Sometimes I have to talk to my bike and say bitch I own you and you are about to do what u tell you to do; then it reminds me that it's not the one who's made of flesh
just like crashing a motorbike, always go back to where it happened. then go back again and again and again until you dont get butterflies when you show up
Some can only be tried once, in ones life :D
Having done a lot to my body including broken patella(knee cap), multiple concussions, dislocated finger, separated shoulder and other twists and sprains etc..., my shoulder dislocations and 3 surgeries have by far set me back mentally worse than anything. Good on Alex for overcoming that because I know how hard it is and it's way harder than people think.
Epic when Alexander made his decent. Amazing to share it on video. You guys being there for your friends is awesome.
I know that feeling... Broke my left collar bone last July and my right shoulder blade 10 days ago... funny fact is that I have not had a single crash between these 2 incidents... Conclusion when I crash, do it hard :)
Bad luck...
You should drink a glass of milk
Omg Seth I love you videos first viewer
scariest thing i ever done was bike down a road where not that much use and suddenly a car came and missed me by a few inches
Has happened to me but i got a near death experience if it wouldnt for the full face helmet. On a downhill track i got to high on a berm and i flew with my head into a rock im still having vision problems, but im going back this year and then school starts one day later, and im 12 and im worriyng a bit about vision in the future.
sweatedasp 10581 get that checked out kiddo i could save your life
Karen St Louis we got to a doctor very soon
And they said it was fine
Karen St Louis and it has got better so
I love this Channel. I think it was the single biggest source of inspiration that got me into Mountain Biking (which changed my life). Thank you for existing Seth.
I watched this video because I worry about motorcycle racing. We have racing lines, if you follow them, and commit. It will be amazing. You might crash, or go down, but finding your mojo, getting back on the horse when you go down. Proving to yourself, that you can do this. Helps a lot. Having friends and riding buddies, that pressure you in the right way. Showing you and building your confidence, and abilities will only make you better. Thank's Seth.
Hey Seth. What happened to the nate hills video?
Scariest thing I've ever done is clearing my first step-up... Well trying anyways. I was warming up on an amatuer moto-track and clearing all the table's and stuff there and feeling pretty good, so I decided to take it to the pro track. The jumps were all feeling way too big for my 250 2 stroke but I kept pushing and trying to make it work, and then I came up to a massive step-up I'd been rolling over the past couple laps. I sorta surprised myself and just hucked me and the bike at it and hoped for the best. I came down hard into the face of the step up, bottomed out my suspension and sprained my ankle bad enough I had to go on crutches. But sending it wasn't the scary part; landing and getting thrown up off my bike while still holding the bars and somehow landing was XD
I fell three times this year. The first time I broke a clavicle due to going OTB. The second I performed a jump and then I was going with some speed in very dry terrain which made me drift and lose control of the bike. I fell with all my weight on the ribs cracking one or two. The third time I so happy because I fell on rocky section and didn't broke anything 😁😁
Last year I went on my first 3 foot jump and hit a rock at the top and went otb. Now I'm terrified to jump again. I know it sounds small but I'm a beginner.
+RandomTwiggster Im also a biginner but right I'm using a round country bike and I need to get a Downhill mountain bike
I have watched this a dozen times, I still get goosebumps when he rolls out of it! Awesome
I am a road and track rider. I watch your videos so that I might be able to help my risk averse son who is very keen on riding off-road. I get him to watch these videos and we discuss and to overcome his fears when we next ride the trails
I found a broken table that was in a perfect ramp shape so me and my friends moved it to a downhill slope and made the gap around 25 feet and you jump it right on to this perfect natural landing right between two trees that are 5 feet apart and I took run ins and sent it the one time I hit one of the roots went sideways and crashed over the roots but it was so fun and made me better knowing that I could get up from that with just a scar on my back
Pause @ 0:22 there is a pattern made out of rocks that looks like a full face helmet near the middle of the screen.
@Angus O'Brien So u say that but don't like my comment?
I don't see it
@@hellopinkgirl0588 It's in the middle of the nearest group of trees.
@@ploperdung smh asking for likes
I literally just got back from the fucking hospital for having to much confidence.... rip Colerbone
Maybe dont be dumb?
Hugeseemly what an ignorant comment
I'm just sayin
Frost I have 6 screws and one plate in my right
I have broken my neck by going to the biggest mountain in my area with a bike and it was like 3 rocks in a row like 7ft drop each rock and on the second rock my bikes front end gave way and I went over the handle bars down 7ft and slipping another 7ft and breaking my neck and leg and got a dislocated shoulder and and broke my nose
Great watching you young guys, gets the old adrenalin going. I'm 75 and still go to the gym but get no adrenalyn rushes as you get. Did skydiving, karate, marathons tons of 10 k's and knees are shot, but my eyes greatly enjoy watching you crazy guys and I love seeing this sport grow. Have fun and stay healthy and safe and greatly enjoy how you help each other.
Good for you Alexander, I have been in a similar situation after a motorcycle accident where I completely 180’d my leg from the knee down that has resulted in irreparable ligaments in my knee. Getting back on the horse is the hardest and most confronting thing I have done. Overcome, improve and advance.
Take the fat ripper bmx to a mtb trail for a video / test. Like if you guys think it’s a good idea
When you lose your vergentie 4:36
Cody McClellan English 💯
Your what
This clip reminded me of a similar scenario my riding buddy experienced, going head over handle bars. we haven’t ridden in some time but watching this has given me a new sense of purpose as to why I ride. Can’t wait to get back on the trails. Thanks for sharing!!!
Seth you and you're crew make the best videos ever. Thank you. You guys are the real deal.
The reason I started mtb’ing was because I no longer had the balls to skate 😂
I switched to bmx from skate
@FDF gaming #1 more extreme, but not harder
@FDF gaming #1 ah, yea, I see what your saying and completely agree
Is anybody else wondering how there standing like that on that steep rock hill
When I was chased by a 4 nowhere dog's
They almost got nearly killed me
Daamn that must be bad
Same I went to get bread and milk from my cottage ( not where I live) and was chased by a few dogs!
Right on Alex !! Gave me goosebumbs when you yelled out in VICTORY !!!! YAASSSS !!!
As a newer rider, this is great stuff.
I want to say that I think feeling the rhythm of the trail and being connected with your bike are also very important in general. I always feel much more confident when I'm riding with a little speed and flowing with the trail.
Seth this helped a lot but when I tried the line I broke my forearm