Ask Ping!
Friday, July 22, 2011 | 9:35 AM
ODI dates back to the 1980’s as the leader in grip manufacturing. Focusing primarily on the bmx and mountain bike industries through the 90’s and early 2000’s, ODI re-entered the motocross scene when they developed the patented lock-on grip system that eliminates wire and glue. Continuing to advance the way riders hold on to their bikes, ODI has worked closely with the teams they support such as Troy Lee Designs to create the product that is now being used by some of the top teams in the industry.
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Hello Mr. Pingereeee,
I was a flagger for a few years at the Lakewood national and one year was wandering through the pits (before the unwashed masses were allowed in) when I came upon the Suzuki pits and there in quiet contemplation stood "The Man" staring at a perfectly-prepped RM-Z450. And ever since that moment I wish I had asked him "don't you just want to throw your leg over that thing and show Ryan how it's done old-school style?" but lacking adequate stones, I never did. So here's the question: Do team managers ever get on the bikes and ride around with their riders? Do they scope-out the tracks for better lines, gates, ruts, etc.? There are some very accomplished ex-racers who have been or are now team managers (you included). Do you guys ever get out there and mix it up or instruct by example, or do you stay off the bikes and behind the fence?
Ex-Flagger
Zo, don't be scared.. grab za trophy girlz and kizz er.
There are a few that do. I heard a rumor last year that Searle was being a whimp in the whoops at the KTM test track so Casey Lytle, an animal in the whoops in his day, threw on a helmet and skimmed the whoops to show Tommy how it was done. He went through them in tennis shoes and shorts! I know Erik Kehoe still rides a little bit, but I’ve never seen him suit up when he’s out with his guys. I took the opposite approach. I rode with the TLD guys all the time. I found that they pushed a hell of a lot harder when they saw me in front of them then if I was just standing there with a stop watch and waving a towel. I also walked the track before the first set of motos at every national we went to. I could see good and bad lines better on foot than those guys could while they were trying to run quick qualifying times. I would report back with the guys about what I saw and what to look for on their parade lap. I think there are some guys that should ride with their riders more; Nathan Ramsey, David Vuillemin and Mike LaRocco come to mind. Those guys are much more valuable working with their young riders on the track than sitting behind a desk ordering parts. But that’s just my opinion.
PING
Ping,
Just listened to the off-week Podcast where Weege told you guys about "Ultimate.” Growing up racing at E-town, I was always like ‘WTF is up with this creeper?’ The folklore is he was severely burned at an early age so that's why he wears a complete fire retardant suit, including face mask.......It doesn't matter if it's raining or 105 degrees in the middle of August, he never wavers from his protective suit. Here's a shitty black and white picture of him.
Here's to you, Mr. dirt bike flag waving guy.
That was a pretty interesting and weird story. If you missed that podcast you should go back and listen to it. It’s about jobs in the industry so it won’t ever become outdated. Weege’s story about working on the boardwalk in Seaside Heights is classic. Every time I look at him now I just see a guy in a red and white striped shirt and old-timey hat trying to get people to throw a quarter onto a plate that has been greased down with Pam cooking oil. Weege was a carnie!
Anyway, we all know flaggers that have been doing it forever. There is a guy I see at every southern California supercross since back when I was racing and he can tell me stories of how I swapped out and almost hit him during different main events. He remembers everything about every race he’s ever worked. They are true fans and you have to tip your cap to them. So, here’s to you, Ultimate… thanks for all those years of kicking ass in an old, white jumpsuit. You are the Ultimate.
PING
Ping,
I saw the press release that says Kevin Windham is not doing anymore nationals this summer because he is “Burned out.” He needs to go “charge his batteries,” or whatever. These racers that think riding a dirt bike is exhausting should get up with me and work construction six days a week for the past fifteen years. These guys don’t have any idea what “burned out” means and it drives me crazy when they talk about how hard it is to stay motivated to ride bikes. I’d love to be able to ride bikes every day! I’d like to check in with them in ten years and see how burned out they are then.
Rodney
Sacramento, CA
You pompous ass. You have no idea what it’s like to be a professional racer and no idea of the workload and stress that these guys are put through day in and day out. It is physically and emotionally draining and something that most people will never fully understand. I don’t know what the life of a carpenter is like but I’m sure it sucks at times. Still, there are plenty of guys without jobs, or with jobs that suck way more than yours, who would call you a pussy for complaining about what you do. Until you walk in another man’s shoes, you should shut your whiny pie-hole. And that goes double since you obviously didn’t have the talent to make a living riding bikes yourself. Man, you piss me off. I hope you hammer your thumb the next time you try to hit a nail.
PING
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hahaha angry Ping I love it!!!!!!!!!!!!
Wrong, Ping. I raced as an amateur for many years, and I am not naive enough to suggest that it is even remotely as difficult as a pro national, but being on a metal roof for 8 hours with 130 degree surface temperatures is brutal. The man is just trying to make the point that you don't whine about being a professional athlete because you are at the very least tarnishing the daydreams of some while completely crushing the hopes of others. Dungey is positive and keeps weekend warriors going throughout the week, while Windham has huffed and moaned for the past ten years. This sport means a great deal to a lot of people, so get the burr out of your britches.
you should shut your whiny pie-hole
Classic!
Hey Rodney, maybe you should sit the next few rounds out.
Question 1: Straight forward very honest answer.
Question 2: Much respect and very well put.
Question 3: Ping ripped you a new one, as deserved!
Haha one of the reasons I love friday, write/ride on Ping!
Never cal into question ones riding ability when talking opinions, that was quite a low shot. While I would never call Windham a whiner I am sad to see him go.
OK physically we all know that motocross is a demanding sport, in the heat getting all huckabuck (lol). But I swear people only see or care to see what is put out in front of them in the media. (I think part of it may be FELDS fault in SX for not allowing better media coverage). But there is a TON more to racing then what we see everyweek at these different tracks. You take a guy like Windham who is one of the best in the sport and people say he wines?
With being one of the best in the world comes the travel/the media appearances/the sponsor responsibilities/his own family issues/training/testing new products and I can go on. All of what I have just mentioned Kdub has been doing all of his professional career. So I can imagine how burnt out he can be and when your not winning it makes it worse because you dont have as much fun and feel the pressure a little more from your sponsors (not matter how much they tell you it's ok). So just because YOU feel your job is "harder" based on the physical things you have to go throughfactor in all the other stuff I said before downing KDUB. DEUCES!!
DV gets on the bike, he likes riding 2 strokes!
MX racers are babies compared to construction workers!!! Working 6 days a week is way more demanding than what these whiners do!!! Get over yourself Ping a ling!!!
LOL love the last one!!
Yeah no, anyone saying being a roofer sucks way worse and all this clearly hasnt raced at the professional level. I usually dont get caught up commenting or going on mx message boards because of the same reason all the guys I 'try' to race with every weekend. This people, im sorry, have no idea what they are talking about. They havent 'been there, done that' Ive raced as a professional since 05 and have been doing numerous nationals since I turned Pro. I also work a 40+ hour job as a body man. Fixing dents and painting cars in a 120 degree paint booth hanging over the side of a bed to paint the inside, or doing a rhino liner with a full suit and face mask is hard work. But id rather honestly, have my life the way it is now, racing what I can where I can and training every night after work along with working on my bikes then to be a factory rider right now. Granted, Windham, along with a lot of others have tons of money so once they are done, they are done. No more working. So I can understand your side of things in one way... But racing at a professional level, at the level a man like Windham does, is harder than anything you guys do. He gets up every morning and trains his ass off because if he doesnt he will get smoked... And goes racing basically every year since he was 3 or 5 or whatever..Trust me, that gets very tiring. Ive been racing since I was 7 and its draining. I used to go south during the winter and just race year around and I cant do that anymore and Im only 26.. I need my winters to be able to relax and let my body catch up. And I didnt even mention the traveling these guys have to do every week. Getting on a plane every single week is pretty draining in itself. So guys like this roofer, should shut the hell up, Id like to see him do what any of these guys do year after year. He has no pressure on himself being a roofer. He can go be a roofer and get out and drink beer because he doesnt have to be in shape..These guys have the pressure of performing every weekend or they loose there job..
Rodney, you wouldn't make it through one week of the grind that these riders and race team members deal with. Why does a guy like Windham race anymore at all? He doesn't need the money. Every time they ride they risk their life. Is your life really that dull and boring? Does it really bother you that bad that the guy needs a break or maybe might want to even retire someday? Rodney, stop living through other people and get your own life.
I understand the temptation to think that someone making a living playing a sport has it made, but I'm with Ping on this one. These guys don't just jump on a bike and ride; they dedicate their lives to it (at least the ones who plan on getting anywhere). Diet, grueling workouts, travel, endangering their lives, a-holes ragging on them on the Internet.... They push themselves to a limit the average Joe will never experience. And how many have even made it as long as Windham? Another way of looking at it is that if you've "work(ed) construction six days a week for the past fifteen years," then you haven't developed your skills to a point where you can branch out and put yourself in a better position. (And normally, I wouldn't bash you for that, Rodney, but since you started it....) Guys like K-Dub have sacrificed and developed their skills so that they are among the best in the world at what they do. You're not walking into the semi and taking his place! The same way you're not going into the operating room and grabbing the scalpel out of the surgeon's hand - and he's rewarded accordingly. Plus, in the case of these riders, all of us and many more follow their careers faithfully and are entertained by them. I’m pretty sure there isn’t much of an audience for your average roofer. I hate to break it to you, but this, as they say, is life.
I've found that I can get burned out on anything after a while. I've done construction, including roofing, concrete, sheetrock, framing, commercial electrical and pipeline protection, among many others, so I know that pain. I've worked with movie stars as a professionial stunt man, and done live shows. I've traveled to Europe, Asia, Canada, Mexico and all over the United States. Anything you work hard to do wears you out. Even sex with a beautiful woman gets old after a while. That's why you change them from time to time, to reset your burnout clock.
One should not feel ashamed that he is in some "glamorous" endeavor and gets tired. One should not judge another man when that man is exhausted from his "glamorous" career. Motocross is a really hard life if it's done right, and you only last so long at a high level. At some point, you have to come to that heartbreaking crossroads where you must venture out to create a new life, a new chapter. Leaving motocross is like leaving the love of your life, but it helps to ease the pain if you're burned out.
I've always thought that there should be some kind of facility, some kind of halfway house, where ex-motocrossers can stay, to receive counseling and prepare them for a new life outside of motocross. Maybe even job skills training as well. Leaving motocross can be so devastating because there's nothing that compares, nothing will ever measure up to it.
ok for one kdubs been racing longer than anyone on the circuit at the moment and hes
STILL a top rider against all these 18-25 year olds which in my book is enough to really do whatever the hell he wants and two i have been doing construction for 8 years or so and ive never worked on a site that was anything close to when i raced redbud or any other track (putting into account lichtle R.I.P) plus you can get off the roof and get a drink you cant stop half way through a moto or your training its commitment point blank ive never had to train once to put a roof on a 4 story roof also i want to see you go out there and do what they do you wouldnt last a week ill go finish your work then go riding when im done and you can go WHINE and sit in the corner with your hammer and pound some sense into your head......by the way ping keep it up i still love watching you and mcgrath rip on the dirtscooters you two have a very unique style (its the oldschool stroker style) braaaaaaappppp ping ping ping braaaapppp
Maybe the guy had talent but his worthless parents would not by him a bike at 4yrs old and take to a race.
People(Liberals) complain always about how much CEO's make. People do not realize being a "Pro" athlete or top of the food chain Executive or business owner requires living your work 24/7 for many many many years. It does not end at 5pm when you throw your tool belt down and leave all the problems behind while you go have a beer.
Now that was well said ping,,,,,,I grant you an official attaboy. well said sir.
Reason#32885 that js7 needs to race the nationals: so that they can showcase what a rider goes through during a week to prepare for race day on "Bubba's World" instead of what Sorby does when he's getting paid to do nothing. No doubt in my mind that it's tougher than being a carpenter in an average US climate.
Pong, you are a grade A arsehole. Where do you get off insulting someone else´s opinion. Not everyone agrees with everything you say, which, believe me, is not very difficult, but I have yet to hear anyone being rude to you.
Learn a few manners you dick, and if you were half a man you would apologize to Rodney. Don´t think you will though.
Haha classic! Ping your the man! I think ol' rod needs to get out of the sun! You go wad yourself up as many times as these guys do and get up and want to do it again day in and day out and see how you feel then. Go hammer somethin!
Hey, we all know it's hard work. But at the end of the day, YOU RACE DIRT BIKES FOR A LIVING!!!!!!!!!! Not only that, but you're making waaaaaaay more money than Rodney the carpenter. It's a job and when you make something your job, it gets old and tiring after a while. But I can guarantee, you will not find one factory racer, who after framing houses in the 100 degree heat everyday AND the 20 degree cold in the winters (remember racers don't work in the cold, do they), that would choose framing houses and the pay that comes with it, over being a factory racer. Sorry, I'll take the hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of dollars to work my ass off from sun up to sun down racing dirt bikes versus the $40,000 a year framing houses. Racing the same f'n dirt bikes that I did for free AND paid to do all my life because I loved it so much.
Ping, I like what you have to say most of the time, but until your b**ch ass works as a framer and you walk a mile in his shoes, you need to shut YOUR pie hole. You f'ing b**ch ass nerd.
Cool, I worked at that pier in Seaside Heights about 10 years ago.
Great stuff Mr. Ping.....lol....your the man...
I am an engineer and type on a keyboard for a living. It gets as hard as any job does. Muscle tired is just one way a person can get run down. While the guy on the roof can probably violently kick my butt in any endurance test he can think of, that doesn't mean I don't get clinically depressed due to the strain of my job just like he does at his. Human limitations are where you find them.
Pompous? Reach deeper into your thesaurus of put downs. How about "Prickasarus Maximus" or just "Jealous Dweeb". I would love to take the rest of the summer off as well, but I didn't get it done like Kevin did, and cannot afford to. Kevin clearly is more successful than a room full of lazy fat engineers and a sunny roof of dumb sweaty strongmen. He deserves to structure his life any way he wants. Well done Kevin! Drink a cold one for me!
KDUB,,Racing the outdoor nationals and raising like 6 kids at the same time.. Of course he is burned out! I would be too! lol
If you guys don't think that it can't be a total grind, you are not seeing the big picture. Especially for the top riders. It's one thing if you have no real sponsor obligations or what not and that is still an enormous amount of work and a rediculous amount of travel, but a guy like KW or RD or whatever, you are fitting in training, traveling, testing, practicing, meet and greets, interviews all while trying to focus on the racing. KW is not at the top of the results heap, he is not under contract to race the nat's and he is getting sick of the grind. RD is battling for the title so he has a little different mindset and he is not going to even say that he is feeling burnt cause that could un-ravel his thought process so he is keeping his best face forward not only for his sponsor's, but for his own self preservation and confidence. That could give a mental edge to his competition if they heard him admit he is getting burned out. so you won't hear Dung or RV say it until it's all over.
And if you are banging away at a shitty construction job in the heat, don't tell me you aint going home to your wife and saying "Dammit it is hot as hell!! I need to take vacation all summer till it cools down!" Tell me you have never complained once about your job. You have but there wasn't a reporter there to write it down and print it up for the internet.
Talk about a bunch of whiners. Whining about a guy that admits he is just whooped and doesn't want to finish the series. WTF?
This is funny. sounds like Rodneys burnt out!
HAHA, yup, construction has him down and he wants a new job riding dirtbikes maybe? seems easy enough.
Sex with a beautiful woman gets old? Huh? Are you kidding me Jairtime? If you were K-Dub, you would realize that you really don't have to race outdoors. He doesn't need the cash...I think. So maybe "burned out" are the wrong words. He really meant, "I'd rather be fishing."
@jairtim That is the most profound comment you have ever made and I think you understand that as a compliment! I have done a lot in my lifetime also. I did have to work full time dureing my 27 years of racing if going to school and then going to work after school at the bike shop counts. I did not want to quit racing but my body kept telling me too. Now I have a new hip and just thinking about getting back on the track. so I might try vintage racing if that can work I dunno. If you won the Texas series in 78 or back then I probably know you or you may have known me.If you remember BIG Dan Lackey from the the late 70's and early 80's you know me.
I'm sure Kevin realizes how lucky he has it and how fortunate he has been. He's too good of a dude not to. I've been gone from home for months and weeks, put in 112 hour weeks and have been burnt out on it but I don't have the money to take a summer off. I agree with one guy on here, Ping if you think that one of the factory guy's would take a job working 52 weeks a year doing construction type work over racing pro moto, you're nuts dude. It would make a great reality show, take a home schooled moto kid and put him on a job doing manual labor, living in a hotel based on the little bit of per diem he gets and see how long he lasts until he wants to back to training and racing! I wish I could have gone pro but I didn't so i live my life and be greatful that I have employment and the pro's live theirs the way they see fit within the given circumstances.
I have taken a couple of weeks off and i'm ready to go....@jair IS the dos equis guy. I'm headed to Washougal where i'm sure i'll see him flagging , driving the bobcat , announcing , tuning Reeds shock setting (while talking to havoc7 on his corn cob blueteeth) and then waving the checkered flag while sporting his silver spray painted rap car tow chain necklace with a vacuum formed tiny corn liquor still hanging from it. As I leave parking he 'll wave good-bye and the head home to the halfway house where 'the big one' awaits........'stay thirsty my friend' he'll mumble to himself.
Oh yeah..... I heard that Reed can race a 30 minute moto, shingle a roof and complain about the track condtions on Twitter all at the same time........and not get burnt out......
First, it's American riders in general, now ol' Mikey the GP lover is hatin' on Ping. You either love to be angry or you should just find yourself a nice Euro website to read and get lost! The great thing about America is you can generally say what you want, but is it really necessary to come out here an trash this sport and the people in it (and I'm not JUST talking about Mike now). Those of you (and thankfully, there aren't many so far) who still say "I'll trade my (whatever job) to be a racer" don't get it. Go back and read my first post - or any of the others that have tried to explain it for you.
Ping for real, burned out. Not one of these riders could hold a real day to day job let alone pass an interview to get a job. Burned out is the mom and dad who work several jobs to put food on the table, clothes on the backs of their kids, worry about if they have insurance never complain. Step back from your rose colored glasses for a minute and take a look at reality.
Mike
Something needs to be said about the facts...
1. These guys have given most of their lives to racing...Windham is 35 and started when he was roughly 5...so I wonder if Rodney has been roofing or whatever the hell he does that is so 'difficult' 30 years...
2. Rodney, get a green card or stay in school, then you can get a better job
3. if I sit in boiling water, I will eventually die...that does it make it harder than motocross, go in side roofy...
SERIOUS POINT. I am the same age as windham, not in shape, and not going near as fast for near as long...HE DOESN"T WHINE, he simply isn't' afraid to grasp and explain that his 'older' body takes the beatings a little harder than they used to. He always says how much he enjoys the races and takes time to talk to more average joes at the races than anyone...period...
RODNEY IS A DOOOOSH
Ping this is the kind of stupid comment I would expect out of Jimmy Lewis Editor of Dirt Bike. Do you really want to be in the same class as Jimmy??
Something needs to be said about the facts...
1. These guys have given most of their lives to racing...Windham is 35 and started when he was roughly 5...so I wonder if Rodney has been roofing or whatever the hell he does for 30 years...
2. Rodney, get a green card or stay in school, then you can get a better job...
3. if I sit in boiling water, I will eventually die...that doesn't make it harder than motocross, go in side roofy...
SERIOUS POINT. I am the same age as windham, not in shape, and not going near as fast for near as long...HE DOESN"T WHINE, he simply isn't' afraid to grasp and explain that his 'older' body takes the beatings a little harder than they used to. He always says how much he enjoys the races and takes time to talk to more average joes at the races than anyone...period...
RODNEY IS A DOOOOSH
playridr and others missed the boat on ? #3; it must be too complex of a concept.
But, good for you walking uphill both ways! We're all so impressed that you're such a bad ass that you even wake up to that kind of struggle. Hope your bike starts when you try to ride for an hour this weekend before you drink beers the rest of the day. Wouldn't want that bubble to burst too...
Bitter...party of one?...your pitty pot is ready
I agree entirely with Ping. However, PING's response generated zero credibility to the poster or any non-moto people reading it. Of course, there's probably not a lot of non-moto people reading this. But for the few that are, if someone asks a question and your response is nothing more than a bunch of insults, the argument tends to favor the other person.
@mike thompson ....Do you think Windham just got to where he's at by doing nothing. Sorry ,you made your hole now lay in it. Life is hard , if you have to take care of your family it's because YOU made the choice to have one. Windham HAS a day job and works REALLY hard at it and has for along time. Maybe he's where he's at because he worked HARDER than you and made better choices.
Sef154 right on. MIKE, you can pack up your beat up worn out euro ass and go back to Germany- Ping writes a funny weekly article and if you dont get american humor, dont read it. And now sing it with me one more time, 'American national riders are faster than the GP riders in general'. hehehe.
I dont think K-dub is "burnt out" in the sense he is burnt out on EVERYTHING moto. He loves fans, appearences etc...I think his body had taken a toll these past few weeks and his energy is zapped...I am the same age as K-Dub, even raced against him (tried to at least) at Mammoth Mountain one year......These guys grow up racing bikes from when they are kids and its all fun and games....but once they hit that Intermediate stage and their potential to be a top pro, then it becomes a "job".....A "fun job" indeed, but there is more to it than just blitzing around the track and riding.....I am in medical engineering and there are days I get burnt out too.....mentally....which is usually what burns people out....Physically, is another thing....K-Dub seems to be physically burned out and wants to re-charge.....I bet he shows up at some of the races before the series is over....not to race...but just to be there....
Ping, who does your stunt riding ? the pic at the top is pretty sano !
So to all of those who agree with Ping: You can honestly tell me that you'd rather keep your job (regardless of what it is) instead of being a professional dirt bike rider who makes hundreds of thousands or even millions of dollars??? That's pretty much what you're saying and to that I say, WTFE!!!!
The biggest difference between Windham and Rodney is that even though both are burned out on their jobs (which is understandable and is going to happen to everyone because lets face it, a job is a job is a job) Windham has made so much money that he can just take the rest of the summer off (or maybe even the rest of his life!), where as Rodney probably can't take off even a week or two.
And Windham is only racing still because he LOVES it. Why does he love it? CAUSE HE RACING F'N DIRT BIKES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It's not about money anymore for him. For Rodney it is. And I can assure you, Rodney doesn't LOVE his job, nor does 99% of the people on here.
There is no way any one of you can tell me you'd rather do what you're doing now than race dirt bikes for a living (unless you've never enjoyed racing a dirt bike)
I liked Ping's response to Rodney although he probably could have been a little more PC with the answer. But then it would just be boring :-)
1. Construction workers an most everyone complains about their job at some point
2. Alot of workers (including construction workers) are lazy and never put in 100% effort mentally or physically like MX racers at the top
3. People working for a living for the most part do it because they HAVE to in order to pay the bills. KDUB looks to have been smart with his money during his long tenure as a top pro and doesn't have to race. He does it because he loves it
4. KDUB has always been a top 5 guy and when that's your mindset and your not able to be a top 5 anymore truly competetive pros won't go out just to race.
5. Very few have the talent or determination to be the best at what they do! If they didn't it wouldn't matter what field they're in after putting in alot of years at the top you'll then have the freedom to decide how hard you work and not because you need the paycheck.
6. 99.9% of the jobs out there aren't as risky as racing SX or MX. So if KDUB feels like his tank is empty and his competetive spirit still needs to be top 5 then taking a break is the right decision.
Ping was right! Quit whining workers and get back to work.
LMAOOOOOOOOOOOO, Kyle
Kyle called ping a nerd thats awesome .
When you race the most physically demanding sport in the world, against the best riders in the world at age 35, I think your allowed to feel burned out. At least he suited up and rode half the series. Unlike some other rider. Rodney my Man I recommend you go get a contractor license, start bidding on some of these framing jobs yourself if your not satisfied with your pay. Trying being the effing owner/boss and then you'll see what real burn out feels like.
@ Mike, I was no Kevin Windham, I have no college degree, but I have a non moto industry job that pays very well and my interview went just fine. So to say that is retarded. One of my best friends was a Honda Factory support rider and ran top 3 in SX/MX and he has a fine carreer (non moto related) and is heavy in the six figures. Another of my great pals and cycling buddies who held top national numbers as recently as 2001 just bought a new house and has a good job and I'm pretty sure his interview was solid. None of us came from wealthy families and nothing was handed to us. This sport is not like the NBA or MLB and when you turn pro, you have a crap ton of money annd just go around having a great time, It's alot of sweat, blood and tears and alot of heart ache just like any other job. Like I said before, so what if a guy says he is a little burned out with his job espesially when the conditions are hard. Everybody complains about their job at some point but not everybody has reporters writing it down. And besides, I never saw a construction worker poinding nails or hanging sheet rock with their heart rate pinned wide open, if so he may need a doctor.
I poured & finished concrete all my life in AL, GA, TN., and contracted. I worked at being the most fit and toughest worker and thought it was my job to take care of my workers (38 yrs in reserves). I have poured swimming pool bottoms in July in Mississipi when at the end of the day I would be the only one left to work. 30 to 40 hrs in the cold winters without leaving the job. In the summertime I would come in late in the evening and run or get some kid to play tennis (no one else was dumb enough) with me with temparatures around 100 and heat index 115. I was 5'9 140 of lean muscle. In short I would race practice 2 15 minute motos on Sunday and could hardly drive home. If you cannot relate to what these racers are capable of and go through, then you are not atheletic enough to walk to the mail box. (Oh! and I had the advantage of riding Maico's)
@Rodney
Clearly you haven't a clue re: the amount of disciplined training, preparation and sacrifice guy's like Windam have given to race at that level for so many years.
Yeah some Pro Rider's may or may not have been able to do your job-
but you could not have done theirs with your whiney attitude.
Grass is always greener.
I also work construction, but not a carpenter, I'm an Ironworker, and I would NEVER cut down the work that these guys have to put in because I do not know. We dont know how much work and how hard it is too do what they do. And if you are drained, the last thing you want to do is go out there at 80% and try to go hard for 30+2 and wad it up badly and get seriously hurt. Which is what would happen proabably. So good luck K-Dub, hope you enjoy your time off with your family. See you at Supercross..
@Mike, it takes alot of nerve for a guy like to to get on a guy for being rude. YOU ARE RUDE WITH EVERY POST YOU MAKE.. You have been nothing but rude ever since you started posting on here. It really makes you two-faced, besides being a bigot..
I was in Vegas to see Kdub hitting those transfers and all i could think was Wow ! he must really love the fans and the sport to go out of his way to entertain us like that . Kevin is one of the best motocrossers ever , he was one a handfull of racers to straight up beat RC in his prime ! He is 33 years old competeing in the top level a sport where most of his compitition is 10 years younger. If he is feeling worn out so be it , at least he is honest enough to admidt it and not make excuses . Dork's like Rodney need to be backhand pimp smacked untill they cry like the little wusses they are ! I like angery Ping haha
did anyone mention that he was filling in for Trey Canard? I think Trey kicked some ass at his first race back and so KDUB wasn't needed anymore? i don't follow this as close as Rodney but i think KDUB only does races for FUN in the summer! he doesn't have an OUTDOOR contract. think of the craches he takes! everyday you get off work Rodney why don't you THROW yourself off the roof instead of climb down the ladder? that might get you head screwed on right!
Those who say they'd trade their job to be a dirt bike racer DON'T GET IT. That's NOT an option for you because you didn't commit yourself to being a top-level athlete, you have NO idea what it takes, and you NEVER will. (Or a top-level ANYTHING, for that matter, or you wouldn't be "slaving away" all these years.) Go ahead and keep whining about it, though ... NOBODY CARES. Or better yet, find a better direction for yourself, commit yourself to it, and GO FOR IT!
You MXers think your the greatest
You should try going to Band Camp, long grueling days, flutes up your whats its,
Your all Gay
I know some pro racers and their schedules are a piece of cake.....wake up, go riding around 10 until about 1pm about 3 days per week. Twice a week they go to a trainer and work out for two hours. They fly to the races. They never have to load or unload their bikes nor wash them. They do have to sign autographs and go to photo shoots, but no big deal. On the weekend they race. You call that hard???
Right on Mike Thompson! Most of the pro dirt bike riders these days can't write a full paragraph without making mistakes. They probably don't even know what a paragraph is! Probably alot of their mom's don't know either! All they do is make tons of sandwiches a push their little kids too hard anyway.
HA! Rodney got served!
I agree with Rodney and WTF.....
I've known some pros, and it's not as bad as you guys are saying. They (the pros) say it's hard training, but once your body gets used to riding the motos, it's not that bad. I think it's worse for the gncc guys who ride 3 hours straight. they make the mxers look like whiners!
i agree with WTF. but a lot of good points here and we r all gonna swear we r the ones right (i know i am) in this heated debate! i just think most of s have a "grass is greener on other side" mentality that eats away at us sometimes. peace out!
Hey Pink! I mean Ping!
You need an elbow to the throat to shut you the hell up!!! You are the biggest whiner around! You whine on the podcasts and you think you know everything about everything!!
Try working a real job biiiiiiiaaaaatch!!!!!!
Aloha!
Quit beating around the bush Ping and say what is really on your mind! Loved it!!!!!
Anyone can work construction 6 days a week while smoking a few packs of ciggis, then finish each day off with a 6 pack of beer. Millions do! But only a handful of really talented, hardworking, dedicated guys can be professional motocross racers!! Bottom line is Construction = Easy. Professional motocross racer = Extremely hard. If you don't believe it just swap.
bd200 wrote:
@Mike, it takes alot of nerve for a guy like to to get on a guy for being rude. YOU ARE RUDE WITH EVERY POST YOU MAKE.. You have been nothing but rude ever since you started posting on here. It really makes you two-faced, besides being a bigot.
WTF!!!!!! Me RUDE????? Me RUDE?????? WTF!!!!!!!!
I´ve never been rude to anyone in my life, so why don´t you just fück off.
I am just glad 1 trillion was spent to get these "Shovel Ready Jobs" going. We heard "Shovel Ready Jobs" all the time when the lying dirtbag was selling us the poison. Don't hear so much anymore do you?
90% of these "pro" motocrossers will be in Ping's shoes someday........in your 30's with a reality check and homework to do. For WMX racers...you are all screwed unless you are deaf...because the deaf one gets more news then the champ.
I've never been a pro MX racer, but I've been a pro athlete. I played professional ice hockey for 7 years and there is no doubt you get burned out just as much if not more.
What people don't realize is that an athlete's "work" is 7 days a week, 10-14 hours a day every day... when we were not training, practicing or playing, we do public appearances and testing and breaking in new equipment and watching video and etc..etc..etc...
You don't get a chance to go home at night and "un-plug" like you go when you work construction. I've worked construction, and yeah it's hard work. I'd wake up drive to work and sweat for the day... But after 8-9 hours I was done, I went home, drank some beer and watched TV or something...work was done for the day and holy crap weekends off....
When I played hockey it was wake up, hit the bike, hit the weights, hit the ice for practice, hit the bike again, hit the weights again, then hit the training room to go over the game tapes and then it was off to public and other appearances and if we were lucky an actual hockey game.... then after the game it was back to the bike, the weights and the game tapes... there was never a "day off" until summer which lasted about 2-3 weeks before it was time to start training for camp...
Don't get me wrong, being a pro athlete is great if you get paid like Sidney Crosby or Steven Stamkos...but when you work your butt off and never make it to the NHL like me and toil in the AHL or IHL or ECHL you make crap but still do the same work.
A guy like Windham has earned the right to get "burned out" at the middle stage of a MX season that is brutally grueling. If a kid like Dungey was saying he was burned out at 21 or so, then I'd see a point to complain about his attitude. But K-Dub is well into his 30s .. I'd be burnt out too...
The outer banks is a great place to vacation. I have forgotten what day it is! The beach is callin my name and the kids have something in the cooler for me. This thread was good, people really pouring their hearts out. What can I add... I'm a business owner.... yes its hard work etc. etc. My nailgun is on vacation too rarely use a hammer . Well enough about work the beach is callin!!!
HEY at anybody that does not know being deaf is a whole more than sticking your finfers in your ear for a bit! I get a BIG laufh out of when someone says heck I could not tell where the guy was lol. Hey you people (iwas gonna call you worse) try racing deaf it is not easy! I have the ability to sense what is happening with my bike. In the 70's I was denied my pro lisense cause I was completley deaf in one ear and could not hear out of the other....whimps And yes Whindham has the right to say what he wants and he can doIT!
I worked as a photographer/journalist at Englishtown for 5 years and remember "Ultimate" very well. We always wondered how he could manage to deal with the mid summer heat waves in that getup, but through it all he was the nicest, coolest guy you could hope to meet. Nice to see Weege give him a nod!