A Family That Rides Together, Stays Together!

There’s nothing like taking to the open road for a memorable family get away.   My husband and I are avid motorcycle riders and absolutely love riding.  It’s a trait that we’ve happily passed on to our two sons.  Although it will be awhile before they’re old enough to ride a motorcycle on the streets, they have taken to dirt bikes and quads like fish to water.  I think it’s important, if your children are interested in riding, to teach them while they’re young.  This builds their confidence and as they get older they’re comfortable and not fearful of riding bigger and more powerful bikes.   

As long as I can remember my husband has always had a motorcycle.  He’s had everything from Harley Davidson to BMW bikes.  By far our favorite motorcycle and what we both ride today is the Honda Gold Wing.  Riding is a passion of his and he is by far the safest motorcycle rider I know.  He’s passed that knowledge on to the boys so that safety is their number one priority.  On all our trips we wear safety gear that could save our lives in case of an accident.  Helmets, gloves, goggles and a lot of leather – jackets, chaps and steel toe boots are always worn.  I love that today women can find great apparel and boots that are comfortable and most importantly stylish!  Red Wing brand has a great line of men and women’s motorcycle boots that are perfect.

I didn’t start riding until about ten years ago when I realized I didn’t want to be a rider on the back of my husband’s bike any more, I wanted to drive.  I took the Honda weekend safety course and got my motorcycle license.  From that point on I didn’t stop riding.  We both have Honda Gold Wings that are beautifully painted with matching trailers for those long trips with the boys.  Those trailers may look small but you won’t believe the room in them.  Everything goes in there from suitcases and laptops to sleeping bags and tents. 

We’ve taken the boys on many trips now and they enjoy it as much as we do.  I usually ride with my younger son, Zach, on the back of mine and he loves to sing as we’re riding.  Our helmets have the intercom system built into them so that we can all communicate with each other and I always have to remind him to turn his intercom off so that I can actually hear the radio without hearing his singing over top of it

Every year we all go to the annual Honda Hoot rally in Knoxville Tennessee.  It’s so much fun because we know a lot of the venders and everybody is there with one thing in common – riding.  It’s always fun to pick up a new pair of gloves or chaps and to see the latest in technology from helmets to seat pads.  The boys always look forward to the different exhibitions of dirt bike riders doing some amazing tricks and jumps. Sadly I recently heard that the Honda Hoot was cancelled for 2009 due to economic reasons — sure hope they return in 2010!

It’s a lot of fun and a great way that we can spend family time together.  Kids grow up so fast and I’m sure it won’t be long before mine are off and riding their own motorcycles.  But for now I’m enjoying taking long (and short) motorcycle trips with the ones I love!

Better Safe Than Sorry

As a parent I feel it’s my job to see that my children are safe and protected.  When they were little it was simple things like, making sure they were properly fastened into their car seat, holding their hand as they crossed the street or sitting with them at night assuring them that there were no monsters under their bed.

As they grew older I found that I really missed those much simpler protective days of just running along side their bike to catch them if they fell.  You’ll find that once they turn sixteen it’s not that easy running along side their car!  And even though my protective instincts are just as strong today as they were then, I’ve had to learn to redirect them a little bit.  You just hope and pray that everything you’ve taught them throughout their childhood and into their adolescence slowly sinks in over time and since I have four boys, I do mean slowly.   

 

Needless to say with raising four boys there was never a lack of scraped knees, bruises and a few broken bones.  My husband’s love of motorcycles rubbed off on the boys stemming their passion for riding; dirt bikes, quad runners, gokarts, dune buggies – simply put anything with a motor that they could go fast on.  Hence the reason I’m always harping to my boys about safety!

 

·         Motorcycle boots – whether the boys are riding dirt bikes in the field or motorcycle’s out on the open road, boots (preferrably steel toe boots!) are a must.  Since they were young my husband has stressed the importance of wearing boots while riding.  Traction, ankle protection and heat from the bike are just a few examples of the protection a boot can give a rider. 

·         Goggles/safety glasses – they never get on a bike or quad without some type of eye protection.  This is pretty much just common sense because when you’re moving at such a fast rate of speed you have to have something protecting your eyes.  It’s always a plus to have glasses that are anti-scratch and anti-fog with UV Protection from the sun.  

·         Helmet – at our house no one gets on a motorized bike of any kind without a helmet – ever!  Even now that the boys are older, they always wear a helmet whether they’re taking a trip on their motorcycles or out goofing off with friends in the dune buggy. 

We have a big barn out back where we store all the “toys” the boys still like to ride and my husband has his workshop out there.  Since the boys were little the same sign has hung over the work bench, “Better Safe Than Sorry.”  I’m glad we instilled in them from a very young age the importance of being safe while riding. 

Being a mom of course I worry a lot (according to my kids, too much), but that’s just the way I am.  My mother was a worrier and I guess I got the “worry gene” from her.  However, when I see the boys heeding some of the advice my husband and I have given them over the years I can’t help but smile.  I told you all those talks would sink in, slowly.