You’d never catch me doing anything like that on a bike. It’s unfortunate how many people give up when things get tough. So often, people sell themselves short and never reach their full potential because they don’t take the leap and really go for it. This is especially true for younger folks, who might not have as much at stake if they fail.
Fear is a big motivator...motivating people to stop at times too. It's when one pushes through that the real good stuff happens though, and pushing on is often difficult.