Mums and Dads who ride.... bikes that is

[Wolf]

If you have a kid and you haven't brought them a bike yet, do so now. It's better if they learn on a small, slow 50-100 4 stroke on dirt than when they're older and decide they want to get a nice fast bike for themselves.

RV80 on nice wet paddocks - that's where I learned (still had a few spills coming to terms with gravel and wet tarmac (and $#^@ paint on the &$&$* road!) but at least I wasn't going like a maniac at the time)

[enigma51]

I've met your old man, bet he's prouder of your riding that you'd ever imagine.

Mine's exactly the same, told me for years about how I rode like a wanker and all that then had tears in his eyes when I won my very first race I entered. Tells all his mates about his lunatic son (The Larikan) riding around every where on one wheel.

What they say and feel are two totaly different things mate.

Similiar story always loved bikes so when I had my first serious accident at 11 years old (Have been riding since 6) and almost lost my leg they where first to put me back on two wheels.

[Blakamin]

My parents never rode... just something that happened thru friends and stuff... (first pillion ride ever was on a Triumph chopper in the mid 70's)
actually... my first ever school project at 9 years old was on bikes... made mum walk all over town to bike-shops to get info (we didnt have a car)... got an A+!
I was a complete nutter in everything I did until 4 years ago... sex, drugs and rock 'n roll was my motto... or drugs, drugs and rock.... and sex... and beer
gave up bike years ago coz it got in the way of drugs and rock (crashed again)... and when I say drugs, I gave up marijuana at 16....

then I woke up one day looking at what I had, what I didnt have, and what I wanted... (being king-hit by your own brother and going thru a window will do that)
got away from where I was. got a better job... saved... moved back here... got mrs, baby and then bought another bike... (or 3)
ride when I'm not working... sometimes ride when I am (for little things like banking that I dont need barbie-van for)
I know its dangerous... but so's walking (probably give me a heart attack!)
family accepts it... enjoys it even... I know bubs loves it when I get the bike out... she makes "vrooom" noises!!!!
and now all I do is beer (probably too much but it's not "sell TV for beer" sorta thing... priorities)
after all that... bike riding is probably a lot safer for my family than anything I did in the past...

[XTC]

now all I do is beer (probably too much but it's not "sell TV for beer" sorta thing... priorities)

That's a good one.... Hadn't thought of that one.... Yo son pull that plug out there!! dad's going for beer and I don't gave a damn if Spongebob's on!!!

[Will]

MUST BE IN THE GENES
Born into a biker family. Can remember my father riding his Indian that he bought from the Air Force Base at Whenupai.
Have had some sort of bike or another in the shed, from dirt bikes to road bikes.
Have 3 daughters that can ride but 2 of them have produced little riders. I have a grand daughter and a grandson. Grandson goes straight to the bike shed when he comes for a visit and he is only 18 months old.
Grand daughter is only 12 months old so there is still time.
So it must be in the genes.

[Coyote]

MUST BE IN THE GENES
Born into a biker family. Can remember my father riding his Indian that he bought from the Air Force Base at Whenupai.
Have had some sort of bike or another in the shed, from dirt bikes to road bikes.
Have 3 daughters that can ride but 2 of them have produced little riders. I have a grand daughter and a grandson. Grandson goes straight to the bike shed when he comes for a visit and he is only 18 months old.
Grand daughter is only 12 months old so there is still time.
So it must be in the genes.

Funny how things seem to be in the genes. No one I knew was into superbikes (Dad and brother into dirt, rest of family to scared) and I got into them myself, then I found out my Uncle in England I had never met was into superbikes. Also, for years I wanted to be a mechanic, then I found out my Grand-dad was a mechanic

[FROSTY:Me]

Anybody that knows me knows Baby Bikie -Nuff said really.
Hes been riding with me before he was born.
He was in a carseat on the back of a Venture royalle at 2 and then increasingly sporty bikes as his legs got longer.
I do ride differently with him on board. Im Mr MOT conservative.
Racing im probably a tadd more cautious passing than I used to be but not a lot.

[Jackrat]

Had bike when dauther was born.
Had bike when she started school.
Had bike when she finished school. :confused2
Had bike when she left home to live with dingo (unless Ozy boy friend)
Will still have bike when she marrys nice Kiwi boy in April.

[toads]

From the other perspective, Dad has had bikes since he came here age 19. Mum got a bike when they got together, "honeymoon" was an OE to buy a brand new BMW R75/6 from Germany, and ride it round Europe. Riding ever since, and still have the R75. Both me and Milky have been on the back since we were big enough to wear a (standard size) helmet safely. The two kids thing works well, one each bike. We did regular trips eg Taupo/Whangarei two up two bikes. I got my licence at 15, Milky about the same. Got my bike full before I got my car full.... Never owned a car yet, but three bikes so far.

I guess I'll follow the same example, keep on riding.....

That is very cool PT, that has to get my vote as the best biking family story ever!

[toads]

sold my first bike when I was too pregnant to ride comfortably with my first kid and only just bought another bike just over a year ago, after 20 years of breeding, the oldest kid is now 20, next one 18, next one 16 and then triplets who are aged 10, it's never a good time to die and leave kids without parents, but then there's no guarantees in life and somethings are just worth taking calculated risks for, I'm careful on my bike, so is Pete ( husband) on his, we prefer to ride our own bikes anyway, rather than go pillion, and figure it lessens the odds of making our kids orphans as well.
When it comes down to it, bikes are the best form of entertaiment for us both and the kids respect that and although they worry about us a bit, they recognise it's our thing and find it mildly amusing.

[Evilution]

My dad gave away my first 'real' bike just after I had my little man. I was devastated, I'd put so much work into it and it was almost ready to get back on the road. Now my son's 8, getting his first bike soon, then it's time for me to get my next one. This one won't be a box of bits like the first one, and nobody'll be giving it away, dagnabbit!

[Milky]

That is very cool PT, that has to get my vote as the best biking family story ever!

Just to burst your bubble a little, they dont ride much anymore. Maybe doing ~150000ks on the R75 meant that things arent quite as exciting as they once were.
Dad especially works on the principle that you need a reason to go somewhere, and that it isn't the best use of resources to just *ride* I guess it might come from growing up in Holland during the war. Having said that he seems to still enjoy riding when he gets out there away from the traffic, away from the city.
They also have a new toy to use, something that is more comfortable, just as functional, and infinitely easier to navigate in. It has meant even more of an excuse is needed to go for a ride. I keep telling him he should sell at least one of the bikes... When they only do a few hundred ks a year it is a shame, just being taken out because "Oh, I think the bike needs a run to make sure everything still works"

I was looking foward to going on some decent rides with dad too... Ah well :disapint:

[loosebruce]

I have one son, just about 2yo, never get to see him coz my ex is a psycho, for real she is mental. As much as i want to spend time with him, looks like it'll have to be when he's a bit older and can fend for himself.
Sad but last time i tried to see him and my ex came at me screaming "i'm gonna cuts your balls off with a pair of sisscors if you come near me or my son" coz she had just found out i had a new girlfreind, for the past 8 months and was much happier with her than i ever was with my ex.
Funny is how "MUCH" my ex loves me, but goes out skanking around every weekend with other guys.
Yeah not many things scare me, but she does. Thinks she needs to up her medication. Gotta feel for the kid too, breaks my heart :disapint:

But coz of this my boy hasn;t had much of an impact on my life yet, it never really sunk in, maybe it'd be a diff story if i was changing his nappies everyday etc etc, maybe then i'd tone down or sell. But there has been nothing toned down bout my riding recently.

[Motu]

My wife is the same now Milky,she used to be very much into riding and we went everywhere on bikes together - but now she needs a reason to ride,just because it's a nice day is not enough,there has to be a destination and a purpose.I'm just lazy.

[Draco]

Being a single mum with a shattered pelvis from a riding accident was enough to tone down my riding, i'm officially a nana rider now. My daughter worries about me crashing and yet she beams the biggest, proudest smile if i cruise in to pick her up from school on the bike! Yeah, i sometimes feel guilty for putting my wants before my daughter's needs, but you also have to have some resemblence of a life outside of your children, and your usually a better parent if you do. So i continue to ride. Besides, daddy wouldn't let me ride (cause i was a girl) and ex-husband wouldn't let me ride (wonder why he's my ex?) so now nobody tells me i can't ride.