Giving up riding when having a child...
Discussion
Anyone on here do just that?
Turned up to a family event on my motorbike with wife in tow yesterday for one of them to say how I will have to stop riding when we start a family. No chance was my response,
I wont be doing this as it is my primary mode of travel and my main release/hobby - but wondered if anyone else did.
Turned up to a family event on my motorbike with wife in tow yesterday for one of them to say how I will have to stop riding when we start a family. No chance was my response,
I wont be doing this as it is my primary mode of travel and my main release/hobby - but wondered if anyone else did.
I actually took up riding after having kids, mine are now 5 and 3. If anything, I'd have probably been more of a liability pre-kids.
When I catch myself doing something stupid, the thought of the kids flashes through my mind and I immediately call myself a d
head.
I might consider stopping if something happens but for now, touch wood, there's a nice balance between family life and freedom on two wheels.
When I catch myself doing something stupid, the thought of the kids flashes through my mind and I immediately call myself a d
head. I might consider stopping if something happens but for now, touch wood, there's a nice balance between family life and freedom on two wheels.
I kind of did, wife was against me riding and I respected that until they were older. They're both teenagers now and I'm making up for it.
She used to ride also and she would love to again but she's not ready until they're older and moved away.
To be honest, it's difficult if that is and has been your main mode of transport, for me I tend to use a car daily and with all the additional family duties etc, for me there was never much time to enjoy a bike recreationally anyway. Now they're older I have a little more 'me' time than before.
I did take out life insurance however, seemed wrong not to and gives me peace of mind that if something did happen at least their financial needs would be covered.
She used to ride also and she would love to again but she's not ready until they're older and moved away.
To be honest, it's difficult if that is and has been your main mode of transport, for me I tend to use a car daily and with all the additional family duties etc, for me there was never much time to enjoy a bike recreationally anyway. Now they're older I have a little more 'me' time than before.
I did take out life insurance however, seemed wrong not to and gives me peace of mind that if something did happen at least their financial needs would be covered.
I didnt, in fact i started racing again!
My daughter is 12 and has been on the back of the bike to the TT with me for the last 4 years, and loves it. My lad is into his MX, but not so into the pillion, so he is happy as he is, he is 9 now, he does go on the back but happy to let daughter do it.
People express surprise that my little girl is allowed out on a big 1290 superduke, they as "do you ride accordingly".? Fair question, the answer is really a "no, not really". Of course I allow for there being another 50kg on the bike, that's a given, but do I ride differently because it is my daughter, well no, I don't. Reason is, I ride sensibly as it is, I don't want to hurt myself never mind her!! And that is the thing, yes I started racing, but being a parent makes you start to assess risks a little differently anyway and you naturally make decisions accordingly.
My advice, is see how it goes, you may have no interest in bikes once you have kids, and loads more time spent doing other things, if so, so be it, but you may still want to do it. I took up racing to involve my family, in a passtime that was becoming insular, ie my wife who had not ridden in years, no longer could do pillion as someone needed to look after the kids! So by racing, yes it was me doing it, but they were all pitcrew, we all camped away etc etc, it made it a real nice family weekend.
But things will change with kids, no doubt, let them change and act accordingly. No need to give up everything, in fact, the happiest parents are the ones who's kids fit into their lives and who fit into their kids lives.
We hit 140 over the mountain mile this year at the TT, (the one sunny day), so you dont need to fanny about like after you claude, it is all time and place, asssess the risks, ride within limits of bike, road, ability etc.
BTW, if you do start taking kids out on the back, get a good intercom, it makes it far more pelasant, safer etc. And me and my daughter have such a laugh out and about on the bike. Interestingly a guy up the road who used to ride 30 years ago and gave up when he had kids (eldest who is 29 now), bought a Tiger 800 last year and this year his 11 year old started riding pillion. His elder kids not interested, but we have had some nice days out all together, my missus taking her soft top car with the rest of them all in. It's a cracking pastime. Obviously, be careful, but that is a given whenever you go out solo or pillion etc.......
My daughter is 12 and has been on the back of the bike to the TT with me for the last 4 years, and loves it. My lad is into his MX, but not so into the pillion, so he is happy as he is, he is 9 now, he does go on the back but happy to let daughter do it.
People express surprise that my little girl is allowed out on a big 1290 superduke, they as "do you ride accordingly".? Fair question, the answer is really a "no, not really". Of course I allow for there being another 50kg on the bike, that's a given, but do I ride differently because it is my daughter, well no, I don't. Reason is, I ride sensibly as it is, I don't want to hurt myself never mind her!! And that is the thing, yes I started racing, but being a parent makes you start to assess risks a little differently anyway and you naturally make decisions accordingly.
My advice, is see how it goes, you may have no interest in bikes once you have kids, and loads more time spent doing other things, if so, so be it, but you may still want to do it. I took up racing to involve my family, in a passtime that was becoming insular, ie my wife who had not ridden in years, no longer could do pillion as someone needed to look after the kids! So by racing, yes it was me doing it, but they were all pitcrew, we all camped away etc etc, it made it a real nice family weekend.
But things will change with kids, no doubt, let them change and act accordingly. No need to give up everything, in fact, the happiest parents are the ones who's kids fit into their lives and who fit into their kids lives.
We hit 140 over the mountain mile this year at the TT, (the one sunny day), so you dont need to fanny about like after you claude, it is all time and place, asssess the risks, ride within limits of bike, road, ability etc.
BTW, if you do start taking kids out on the back, get a good intercom, it makes it far more pelasant, safer etc. And me and my daughter have such a laugh out and about on the bike. Interestingly a guy up the road who used to ride 30 years ago and gave up when he had kids (eldest who is 29 now), bought a Tiger 800 last year and this year his 11 year old started riding pillion. His elder kids not interested, but we have had some nice days out all together, my missus taking her soft top car with the rest of them all in. It's a cracking pastime. Obviously, be careful, but that is a given whenever you go out solo or pillion etc.......
Yes, but not in a conscious "I'm giving this up" way.
Only ever rode for fun, with the odd ride into the office to break up a boring car commute if it was a nice day. I don't have that commute any more, and the crunch on your free time when you have kids (plus going from flat to a family house which always needs something doing) just means it's way down the list of things I want to do on a sunny day.
I actually used it a lot to see my parents pre-kids - where I lived meant I had to cross London to see them. If the wife had something else on, it was a pleasant weekend trip through the city, maybe using the Woolwich ferry (bikes go to the front of the queue) then pick my way through the lanes to my parents. We moved after having kids so it's an easy drive down the motorway now and I usually have one or both with me anyway.
I still have the bike, I passed 10 years of owning it last month and don't have any real desire to get rid of it, nor does my wife want me to. Just trying to keep it from falling into neglect, and one day when I have more time again it'll get some use.
Only ever rode for fun, with the odd ride into the office to break up a boring car commute if it was a nice day. I don't have that commute any more, and the crunch on your free time when you have kids (plus going from flat to a family house which always needs something doing) just means it's way down the list of things I want to do on a sunny day.
I actually used it a lot to see my parents pre-kids - where I lived meant I had to cross London to see them. If the wife had something else on, it was a pleasant weekend trip through the city, maybe using the Woolwich ferry (bikes go to the front of the queue) then pick my way through the lanes to my parents. We moved after having kids so it's an easy drive down the motorway now and I usually have one or both with me anyway.
I still have the bike, I passed 10 years of owning it last month and don't have any real desire to get rid of it, nor does my wife want me to. Just trying to keep it from falling into neglect, and one day when I have more time again it'll get some use.
I commute daily, ride at weekends, ride offroad, ride abroad, used to do TDs, you name it.
MrsC doesn't like me on a bike but she doesn't give me any grief about it.
I think the thing is, it's not just about kids, it's about anybody you're important to. If that's nobody, well, fine! But otherwise I'm not sure why kids would be any different to other close family.
FWIW, my kids are both grown up (probably older than most of you!). One rides, the other only ever did CBT/125s etc.
MrsC doesn't like me on a bike but she doesn't give me any grief about it.
I think the thing is, it's not just about kids, it's about anybody you're important to. If that's nobody, well, fine! But otherwise I'm not sure why kids would be any different to other close family.
FWIW, my kids are both grown up (probably older than most of you!). One rides, the other only ever did CBT/125s etc.
Gassing Station | Biker Banter | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff