Riding vs Family Time

[shoedad]

New to ST.N and am wondering how you guys with families work in rides while keeping the family unit happy. Are you able to still go on extended outings?

Just wondering what everyone else does.

Right now, I'm limited to commuting for my ride time.

[GRN]

My wife and I lived together for a few years prior to vows... she knew ahead of time that she was one of three loves in my life, and that riding and flyfishing were there first. I have made an adjustment for the fourth love of my life, but she'll hate me in about ten years, so I'll get that slice back  

[catches]

It's pretty easy around my house.  She likes to travel, and so do I.  Sometimes our travels take us to the same place, but often they don't.  So, whenever she wants to fly across the country to go visit a friend, or go on a road trip with her college roomy, I drive her to the airport, and then head home, jump on the bike, and disappear.  If we had kids it would be so much tougher, but I am not blessed with that inconvenience yet  .  But seriously, she knows how much I love this, and she likes the way I am when I get back from a trip.  She says that it's like I've gone back in time to when I had no responsibility, and not a care in the world.  It's the same thing I see from her when she goes on one of her adventures.  sure I miss her when she's gone, but I love the stories she tells when she comes back.   I balance it by remembering that if we spent every moment with each other, what stories would we have to tell?  What new things would we have to share?  

[MisterSmooth]

I don't know how old your kids are, but if they are young it's tough to find riding time.  My advice is, commute well and keep in mind that you will have the chance to ride more when they get a little older.  My wife was very supportive when my kids were in diapers, kept telling me not to sell my bike even though I didn't ride much at all.

Sure enough now that my kids are 9 and 12, it's accepted at my house that there will be a couple of long weekends every year when I am out riding.  The family is fine without me there; the kids can make their own sandwiches at this point.

And I come back with pictures and tales of adventures with hard-drinking, hard riding half-civilized motorbikers clad in Goretex and leather.  BigBlock with his polishing rag, Tritium with the ability to make automobiles burst into flame, Moxie with the casual power wheelies, Dante riding solo from Seattle to Antarctica, all these are the lore of the road.

[goldylocks303]

There used to be a guy on this board with eight kids.  They had an eight passenger truck/van to haul them around in.  Whenever ALL of them went somewhere (8 kids + 2 parents = 10 people) the easiest way was for him to take one kid on the bike.  The kids loved it and so did he (obviously).  Tell your wife to start cranking out those puppies!

eD

[photomd]

There used to be a guy on this board with eight kids.  They had an eight passenger truck/van to haul them around in.  Whenever ALL of them went somewhere (8 kids + 2 parents = 10 people) the easiest way was for him to take one kid on the bike.  The kids loved it and so did he (obviously).  Tell your wife to start cranking out those puppies!

eD

Was that Warchild?

The Wife is pretty supportive about my riding. I used to do 4-5 trips a year, but my four year old is my priority now. I wouldn't trade it for anything. I get away for several hours in the dirt when possible and commute to work with several trips thrown in.

I still love riding, but he will grow up and probably won't want all my attention, so I'll take all I can right now. IMHO, don't look at it as missing riding, but more time with the family...at least that's what I do.  

[basco]

 I gave up riding for awhile when the kids are small. Now I take riding vacations to get away from family and work. It seems to work but I only take 2 or 3 trips a year. The weekends is when I ride the most and the kids are occupied with there video games and stuff. And the wife...... So I pretty much ride when I want.

[Bodhi]

No kids in the house. We must have been married long enough that she encourages me to get out and go riding.

[basco]

No kids in the house. We must have been married long enough that she encourages me to get out and go riding.

In other words, she probably kicks you out of the house.  

[Bodhi]

In other words, she probably kicks you out of the house.  

That's what I think. But I'll take what I can get.

[shawn and gwyn]

 no prob for our house.  3 of the 4 have a bike.. and the 4th rides with either gwyn or i.  so we do this as a family .. and have a realy good time with it.

[jeepinbanditrider]

Well my wife also rides and understand the pull just to get out and ride sometimes.  She has no problems with it.  The point that we lose in is when we BOTH want to ride together since we have a 1.5year old son in the house.  Our landlord loves our kid so we get him to watch our kid for like half a day once a month and we both go out and ride around the area with no particular destination.  

As for long distance trips I usually just wait till the wife flys home to visit family becuase she will take the kid with her and I'm at home by myself.  We are trying to get some family to come visit us out here so we can both go ride up in the smokey mtns.

[goldylocks303]

Was that Warchild?

DING DING DING, tell 'em what he's won, Chuck!

[AZST]

2 or 3 long rides a year.  Planning them and waiting for them heightens the anticipation and gives me plenty of time to prepare the wife for my indulgence.

Otherwise, I commute on the bike fairly often to keep skills tight.

Also, whenever the wife tells me that she is getting together with her girlfriends, usually means I get a long ride on the ST the following weekend.  

It works out.  

 

[Bounce]

i just go riding. what's the deal?

[jstark47]

New to ST.N and am wondering how you guys with families work in rides while keeping the family unit happy. Are you able to still go on extended outings?

She rides.  I make sure her bike is running - if it's in the shop, I bail it out for her.  If she wants some gear or a farkle, it goes on my credit card.  She's happy.

I recently bought a V-strom so I can keep up with her Trophy on extended outings!  

[kendenton]

I have a 6-year old son, and I'm just starting to get back into riding  - stopped just before he was born.  I'm commuting (8 miles of country roads for the most part) most days, and a day trip every other weekend or so.  I have plans for a week-long trip in the spring, but I'm not sure I want to be away from my family that long.  

My wife used to ride pillion, but now feels that's too risky - too many eggs in one basket.  Can't say I disagree, but I do miss having her back there.

[1KPerDay]

I have a few kids and I usually ride on saturdays in the summer, or every other if we're busy with family stuff. Usually get about 250-400 miles in part of a day. I can usually swing one overnight tour somewhere per year, but with young kids it's tough, especially because the youngest likes me and doesn't sleep well with me gone. I also commute sometimes when my carpool buddy is gone on vacation or sick. I don't ride as much as I'd like, but I do really appreciate the rides I get to go on.

My wife does worry a bit, but she knows I'm much happier when I get to ride, so she works it out. Sometimes she encourages me to go for a ride... if I don't ride at all in a couple of weeks or so I guess I get grumpy.

[GoldWingBoy]

Wow, so time is the most valuable commodities.

[cole]

I have two kids 3 and 5 yrs old. The overnighter are very hard to do maybe once or twice a year. The wife does encourage me to get out and ride but sometimes the kids can really pull the right strings to make me feel bad about going girls will do that to you . What would be great is if the kids grow up and ride that way it can be a family thing . One of them already loves to ride so I am hoping that the dirt bike coming on christmas will alot of time doing what I love most riding and spending to time with the kid's.