Six Ways to Sunday: And in the end ...

[Hagerty]

This is mainly a tale of fear. A yearlong story orbiting the anxiety born of knowing that the calendar moves forward regardless of how you feel. Last July, I woke up and realized I was 30 years old. For days after, I worried I would wake up ten years later, suddenly 40, with nothing to show for it.
https://www.hagerty.com/media/motorcycles/six-ways-to-sunday-and-in-the-end/

[FatBabyDriver]

Bravo! This was a great series of stories, I really enjoyed it. Made me miss my motocross days.

[Kyle]

Thanks! It was truly fun to share this experience. Come to an AHRMA round and relive those motocross days... The MX tracks are, uh, "age appropriate" for both the bikes and riders most of the time. 

[audiocage]

"...you sometimes have to force yourself to stress about the right things." This. So much this. It should be in caps. It's good to sweat the details, but you have to sweat the *right* details (because there isn't enough time to sweat all of them.)

[jaysalserVW]

Good job, Kyle! Great story! You did it when you are young and not so worried about vulnerability! LOL
You can look back upon this epoc, when you are older, wiser and more resistant to taking chances and
wonder why and how you did those things. And you can Smile and be satisfied inside!

[Flashman]

I've enjoyed every episode of this series and admire the qualities you found (and developed) within yourself to do it. An excellent odyssey, enhanced by your ability to communicate it. I likewise admire your optimism that you'll live to 120.

[Kyle]

I never said I was good at math...

[ppointer]

Good for you to start early. I didn't start track days until I was 40, and then on one of my street bikes. Enjoyed improving my skills a dozen days per year for a few years. The real fun started when I built a dedicated track bike out of a one-year-old CBR600RR. Once I had a no-excuses track weapon and not too worried about damaging it, the fun quotient and skill level went way up. Looking forward to more of your articles.

[Kyle]

I could only imagine starting later. Honestly seems like this point in my life is perfect for beginning track riding. Any younger and I would think I'm invincible, any older I wouldn't bounce back day after day like I currently can (at least not without lots of working out and focused fitness.) We'll see if I can stay that way. 

[Tinkerah]

What you are Kyle, is an Omnirider, and the envy of many readers.

[wronkatoys]

Great story, you are just getting started . I was 53 years young when I came in 3rd at a Vintiage Hare Scrambles . My buddy Joe "The Old Grey" Fisher was 56 he came in second. He must have cheated to get in front of me. I loved ice racing , pitch it in and go left .
Keep riding and writing ,you are doing a great job,

[Gary_Bechtold]

Great series and good looking bike! Congrats!

[Kyle]

Thanks! The 250 cleaned up nice. Sadly, it's a little rough around the edges now, but I have plans to "restore" it next winter. 

[cyclemikey]

" I woke up and realized I was 30 years old. "

Boy does THAT sound appealing.....

[DUB6]

🤣

[DUB6]

   So, you think it'd be terrible to wake up and realize you're 40 and have unrealized dreams?  Heh.  Wait until you are thinking that, except the age will be 80!  But one also has to accept the fact that one probably can't/won't/shouldn't do EVERYthing one ever desires to do (besides, some of those things will land you in jail).

   However, I too have enjoyed the stories and applaud you for doing what you've done.  And I also thank you for documenting it for others to read about (because really, reading about it's as close as 90% of us are ever gonna get).  But vicarious living is still living, after all.  And that is why Dwayne Johnson gets paid the BIG BUCKS...

[Kyle]

It's true that I will probably always have some unrealized dream. That's just life. I think this stems more from having ONLY unrealized dreams up until last year. 
And thanks for following along! It readers like you that make it possible for me to go out and tell these stories. 

[CamryDriver]

Great series Kyle, absolutely inspirational. Found this Hagerty motorcycle content by way of Jack, then I got hooked on your Six-Ways series and binge read it over the last week or so. You've got me motivated to ride up to the AHRMA race at Gingerman this September from Indianapolis on one of my vintage Suzuki GSes to spectate, as well as seriously looking into local track days to run on my DR650 and signing up for the SuperCamp in Springfield. Reading through the series I was wondering: what is your background in dirt riding/MX prior to this series and the enduro riding at Barber that you did with your buddies? I really want to get into dirt riding (in whatever venue) but my "background" consists of tooling around on dual sports and mountain biking.

Another question: having sampled all of these different types of racing, which did you enjoy the most, and are there any you are planning on seriously pursuing (with a more purpose-built bike or sticking with the XR)?

[Kyle]

Thanks for following along! 

My background was pretty sparse really. I had a decent number of miles on various street bikes, and owned a few enduros, but never rode much track or trail prior to last year. Dirt and off road riding is the easiest to "ride your own race," that's for sure. With larger courses and slower speeds it is a lot more inviting to newbies who might be intimidated by the faster riders on the starting line. 

I really enjoyed road racing. that was something I had been wanting to do the most (along with ice racing) and thus once I got a taste dove into the deep end and bought a dedicated track bike. It's a first-gen SV650 that will allow me tons of room to grow and gain skill. I picked it up last fall at the end of riding season so am very excited to get it out on the track later this month seeing how the furthest I've ridden it was from the sellers driveway onto the trailer. A non-street legal bike on slicks isn't something to toodle around the neighborhood on. The XR will be staying with me, and I'll do a few off-road events this year. I'll also be loaning it out to friends to join me. It needs a little work at this point, last year was a pretty tough on it. 

 

[Aaron]

Way to go, Kyle! I think most "civilians" just need a kick of creativity and bravery to be transformed into heroes. Turn off the TV and go write your own adventure!

[Calkins]

Being an On Any Sunday fanboy in my late 30's, I enjoyed this very much. I have had the same internal battles with building a multi purpose bike in my mind, while providing for my children and keeping the heat, lights, and water on. Just the mental build alone is extremely mind numbing. Now that my children are out of school, I have the ability to finally make something happen. But, I have moved on, and chosen a different passion. You beat the odds. You made it to the starting line. Six times, no less. Great job! I look forward to following your future journeys.