"never have time to ride"

[aaustin]

I see a lot of reluctant ads from folks selling their dirt bikes, cruisers, sport bikes, etc. because they "never have time to ride".  Sad, really.  

How/when do you find time to ride?    

[1moreroad]

How/when do you find time to ride?    

Plan it way, way, WAY in advance.  If nothing else reserve the dates on the calendar.

[Rude_Rydah]

I wake up every weekday morning, get ready for work, and then ride my motorcycle to work.  That gets my butt in the saddle a lot.

The weekend rides have tapered off (kids, dogs, life, everything else else), but I get one every once in a while by doing what 1moreroad says, making plans in advance.

[Zerosum]

+1 on the planning in advance.  If you're single, you don't have to worry about it.  But once you have a wife or live-in girlfriend, you'll notice that she'll start filling up your calendar for you if you don't.  At that point, you can't just decide to go for a ride with 30 minutes notice anymore.   You need to carve out that time before she does.    I imagine this becomes exponentially worse when you have kids.

Plus, in my case, there's always some project I need to get into around the house.  I just finished a total gut/rehab of my kitchen... that really kept me from riding alot in 2007.

In the end, it's all about priorities.  If it's a priority to you, you'll make the time.  My Dad has always had several bikes, and rode them all the time when I was growing up.  It was never a problem in our family.

[1moreroad]

+1 on the planning in advance.  If you're single, you don't have to worry about it.  But once you have a wife or live-in girlfriend, you'll notice that she'll start filling up your calendar for you if you don't.  At that point, you can't just decide to go for a ride with 30 minutes notice anymore.   You need to carve out that time before she does.    I imagine this becomes exponentially worse when you have kids.

Yes to both, although spending time with the kid is not a sacrifice.  It's just one more important priority competing for your attention.  Same with work.

When my wife and I were just a couple, we had weekends that were "my" time (for both of us to do our own thing) and weekends that were "our" time.  I never minded spending time with my wife nor she with me, but we are always surprised when we're on vacation and we actually spend 5 or 6 days in a row constantly together.  It didn't happen often.

The "trick" in a relationship is to make sure your SO has her own hobbies.  If it's motorcycling, great, go do that together.  If not, make sure she pursues her hobbies so you have time to pursue your own.  I would think the worst is when one spouse is dependent on the other for their entertainment and activity.  If that is your case, then you have bigger problems than motorcycling.

EDITED TO ADD: How far in advance?  I schedule rides < 2 hours a day or two in advance.  I plan day rides (usually 10 or 12 hours long) 3 - 4 weeks in advance.  I schedule overnights 3 months in advance.  I schedule week+ long trips 6 months to a year in advance.  Right now a buddy and I are figuring out what we'll be doing next July (it involves 12 or 13 states).  I also find the planning of a trip itself very fun and pleasurable.  I enjoy looking forward to the ride almost as much as the ride itself.

[jay547]

I wake up every weekday morning, get ready for work, and then ride my motorcycle to work.  That gets my butt in the saddle a lot.

yep, if it's above 40 degrees and not raining, i ride to work.

[cbsnbiker]

I see a lot of reluctant ads from folks selling their dirt bikes, cruisers, sport bikes, etc. because they "never have time to ride".  Sad, really.  

How/when do you find time to ride?    

I'm single. I have no children. I have chosen work that allows me to have a flexible schedule. I have created a life that gives me time for interests such as riding my motorcycle. In fact, my work directly involves riding motorcycles.

If it weren't for winter weather, I would probably be out on the bike for at least a short ride today.

[Mrs. DantesDame]

How/when do you find time to ride?    

I'm lucky in that I'm single and have no kids. I ride whenever I want, wherever I want and for as long as I want


Or at least until I have to go back to work and make money for the next ride  

[Desmo Demon]

How/when do you find time to ride?    

With a three year old and a wife who likes to ride more than I do, we can only get out when we have a babysitter, as it's not fair to either one of us if only one gets to go, so........I commute, too.  

We must have found time to ride, this year, though, as we've accumulated almost 13k miles this year together, plus I've commuted 9k miles solo.  

[jstark47]

1) Ride to work whenever it's not raining or snow/ice.  31 miles one way.  2) Ride errands - e.g. my 89 year old father lives by himself in the next town over - I visit him daily, take the bike whenever I can.  3) Wife rides too.... this helps prioritize chores vs. riding, especially when she's jonesing for a ride!  

[jschmidt]

Oddly, I get to ride less now, than I ever did before starting the school.

[cbsnbiker]

Oddly, I get to ride less now, than I ever did before starting the school.

One of the best ways to ruin a hobby: make a career out of it.

DAMHIK.

[edit: not riding, in my case]

[kendenton]

Having a wife, kid and full-time job it is indeed hard to carve out riding time.  I commute most days when the weather isn't below freezing or raining, so that gets some miles in.  I've kind of given up on trying to get a few hours riding in during the weekend, mainly because all the good riding requires at least a few hours slab r/t to get there.  So for a 1/2 day ride I spend 2-4 hours getting to it, and 1 or 2 on the good stuff.

I'm finding much more enjoyment on scheduling a 2 or 3 day riding trip every other month or so.  Worked out very nicely this fall.  Helps that the wife is super-supportive.  

[bikerfish1100]

I'm single. I have no children. I have chosen work that allows me to have a flexible schedule. I have created a life that gives me time for interests such as riding my motorcycle. In fact, my work directly involves riding motorcycles.

If it weren't for winter weather, I would probably be out on the bike for at least a short ride today.

dude- riding a 250 Nighthawk in a parking lot can only marginally be considered to be "riding motorcycles", especially if you've ever done more than that. besides- aren't the paying attendees supposed to be doig the riding, while you do the watching?

[cbsnbiker]

dude- riding a 250 Nighthawk in a parking lot can only marginally be considered to be "riding motorcycles", especially if you've ever done more than that. besides- aren't the paying attendees supposed to be doig the riding, while you do the watching?

You know better than that.   I quote from the MSF RiderCoach Guide:

Rules of conduct
include, but are not limited to, the following: ...
6. Currently operate a motorcycle on a frequent, routine basis

IOW, one requirement for me to maintain my teaching certification is that I ride. Aw, shucks.

I also get to ride demo rides for the students.

Plus there is all that commuting to and from work, usually on the bike. My commute is usually 100 to 180 miles each way.

Life is tough.  

[bikerfish1100]

Plus there is all that commuting to and from work, usually on the bike. My commute is usually 100 to 180 miles each way.

Life is tough.  

oh. well that's very different. nevermind.

[Andrew]

All I can say is this, Back to back 6 and 7 day work weeks sure cut into riding time , But the $$$ for toys sure helps.

I ride to work every day (75 miles round trip, if I stay to the shortest route  ) but am forced to drive the car or truck at least one day a week (so the neighbors don't think they are abandoned). I have a VERY understanding wife who on more times than I can count tells me "Sounds like you need a long ride, see you when you get back"   YA I am a lucky guy

[November]

Luckily my husband and I both love to ride. Unfortunately we've been down to only one bike the past 6 months so riding has been kept to a solo activity. Once our house is finished I'll be getting a new (or new to me) bike and we'll be back on the road together.  

When I see ads that say they're selling a bike due to time reasons it makes me think one of two things:
1. They aren't really as interested in riding as they thought.
2. Someone is very unhappy about them having a bike.

[falcofred]

#1 I met and married a girl with her own bike, 19 years later, she understands
#2 Plan ahead, write down every rally, race, show or event on the calender, even if you don't plan to go. That way if you do decide to attend it's on the calender and she should let you know of schedule conflicts.
#3 Make riding a family activity, my 14 year old Son and I dirt bike together, counts as family activity.

[cultureslayer]

No kids, the boyfriend lives a few states away, and I don't own a car.