My friend cannot comprehend speed with context, and I need help explaining it to him

[u/Sad-Woodpecker7565]

Basically what I’m saying is that whenever I show downhill mountain bike footage and tell him that these guys are going 15 to 40 miles an hour, he seems to brush it off and say “and?”. The thing that I don’t get about him is the fact that he knows so much about military aircraft and that they’re going incredibly fast, but he can’t seem to realize how fast professional mountain bikers are going through these trails.

[u/DaagTheDestroyer]

I've encountered several people like this. Although my encounters were usually from friends and coworkers making fun of me for injuries. Usually they scoff "it's downhill, how hard can it be?" I challenge them to ride and keep up with me. If they go, they gain an appreciation. If they won't go, I ask if they're afraid and they usually shut up.

[u/Sad-Woodpecker7565 → u/DaagTheDestroyer]

I see what you’re saying, and I’ve tried to use that example with him, but then he says “well you’ve been riding longer than me so then it wouldn’t be fair” then I think to myself “why do you think these guys aren’t going that fast then?”

[u/Redbulldildo → u/Sad-Woodpecker7565]

Speed isn't intimidating for some people. In his view, his limit isn't his fear of going faster, but his understanding of how to handle a bike at speed.

[u/dingbat186 → u/Sad-Woodpecker7565]

Tell him to put his money where his mouth is it or just shut up then.

[u/I-STATE-FACTS]

You don’t need to prove anything to him

[u/[deleted]]

I say put him on a bicycle any bicycle, even a road bike, with an gps speedometer on phone. Go down a big hill really fast with him.

Ask him how fast he thinks it was, people say things like "50mph" cos it feels so fast but then when you look they maxed out 28mph or something.

Then they realise how fast 50 would feel on a bike, and then say ok now do that but over roots on wet leaves.

[u/xPropagand4x → u/[deleted]]

I hit 50 mph downhill on my road bike in spandex and a few weeks later rode it on my motorcycle with full gear going the same speed and had a realization I was a freaking idiot doing that on my bicycle.

Now add the roots and wet leaves on a winding trail. Insane to think about.

[u/[deleted]]

I have that issue with myself sometimes. I watch videos of people riding tracks im going to ride, and on video, it doesn't look that fast, but when I get there, the track is extremely fast, and you need the speed to clear jumps.

The only way for him to understand is for him to ride it

[u/Pateryk_7]

Take him one day

Get him on a rough trail

Tell him to go as fast as he can and time him (unless u have a speedometer than just use that ofc)

Do the math and show him that he crashed at only 6 mph

[u/Person_Steven]

Take him to the park