Dirtbiking Sabatical... :(

[atc3434`]

Well, I've reached a disapointing decision this month, dirtibiking and I are parting ways for a few years. This is the result of several things.

1. Two of my buddies have sold their bike over the last year. One of whom was my usual riding partner, and my usual method to riding spots. He had the truck, I bought the gas. The other buddy sold his to help buy a newer car for college. My other good buddy still has his bike, but he recently got married, and lets just say his riding days are over. Why you would marry a chick thats openly against you doing anything you like, I don't know, but hey, his call, not mine. She's trying to pull him out of our fairly sucessful band as well, the witch. Grr, what do you do. Anyways, there goes my usual crew of riding folks.

2. No truck, no trailer. Can't go anywhere new.

3. Several tickets (all issued at once by a very bored small town cop) for riding down the road has restricted my capability to access local trails easily. Never been a problem till this summer. I don't dare run the risk of more tickets, this guy was on a mission to suck every penny out of me. Over $700 in fines. Maybe a little overkill for putting down the road in top gear at 20mph, but hey, the laws the law.

4. I just don't have the time... school, new business, future marraige, the time I can get to ride is maybe twice a month. I'd rather sell the bike and work on car mods, which me and the women can both enjoy. (Yea, she's a car chick! :yeehaw: )

I'm really sad to be leaving this hobby, because I really do love riding so much. Brakeslidding into a cornor, then a little clutch action out the other way, or flying off a jump, are things I will always love. But I guess right now I've got to consolodate. I will be back to the sport some day, I sincerely hope to get another bike maybe 5 years down the road. But right now, its a fairwell to knobbies. This websites been great too, I will miss this community. Its been awesome to watch this place grow, and pass down what I've learned to the noobies. I'll be back here someday too! Bikes in the F/S forum, hope it finds a good home. ***Sad music plays as atc34341 heads for the door...***

 

[ScottS]

You can fix your cop problem by converting your bike to a dual sport. Then he can't ticket you and you can ride to where you ride if that makes sense) - plus you will get a lot more use out of it . Trips to teh store are more fun

Then buy a $200 trailer and pull it with your car any car should pull a 250 lb bike.
as far as riding twice a month, i wish I had time to do that. I am lucky to get out once very two months. But when i do I remember why i do this.

Hope you keep riding, as you said, you love it.

 

[Chili]

You'll be back, we always come back, I took a 23 year sabbatical but returned when it was time to ride with my son.

 

[Vampyrz]

...lets just say his riding days are over.

Well I don't know if I'd say that. :yeehaw:

Unless you just need the $$$ I'd hold out for a bit. Maybe some new friends (with trucks and trailers) will come along. Never know what's around the next bend.

 

[mtk]

Not to mention that your buddy will be divorced within five to ten years, depending on the level of his tolerance for abuse.

He chose poorly and he'll figure it out sooner or later.

 

[kelsorat]

20 yr sabbatical. But I've been back since 2001, and lovin every minute. I too only get out maybe once a month, but it's worth it.
Remember this is the perfect place to go on group rides. I'm sure a DRN'er would pick you up, if you pay the gas.

 

[ironworker]

Have you tried to look for a riding partner by posting a thread?

Just a thought :clue:

Good Luck

 

[RM_guy]

I hate to see ya go but understand. I took 11 years off when I got married. We had no money for bikes but she was dead set against them too. I started riding agin in 1990 and haven't looked back. BTW, I'm still married to the same woman but she understands my passion for bikes just as I understand her passion for her hobbies. Life is full of compromises.

You'll be back

 

[mtk]

True, but this shouldn't be one of them.

When she met him, bikes were clearly an important part of his life.

Now that they're married, she's hell-bent on changing him into what she wants. Notice that she didn't issue these ultimatums while they were dating, probably because he'd have dropped her in response.

The idea is to accept the person as they are, not think of them as a work in progress or someone you can force to accept your position on something. I'm not talking about her training him to put the seat down when he's finished or to put his dirty clothes in the hamper (i.e. stop living like a single man), but trying to change the essence of who his is as a person to fit her personal agenda.

If he chooses, of his own free will, to get out of biking, that's one thing. An ultimatum from her is entirely another. I feel sorry for those poor sods who put their bike in the paper saying "wife forcing sale." What else have these guys had to give up to keep this woman happy? Where does it end?

I'd get rid of the wife before I got rid of the bikes. Why? Because bikes are an integral, and important, part of my life and if she's dropping ultimatums on this important (to me) topic, what else will she give me the "my way or the highway" treatment over?

I say keep the bike and find some new riding buddies.

 

[atc3434`]

True, but this shouldn't be one of them.

When she met him, bikes were clearly an important part of his life.

Now that they're married, she's hell-bent on changing him into what she wants. Notice that she didn't issue these ultimatums while they were dating, probably because he'd have dropped her in response.

The idea is to accept the person as they are, not think of them as a work in progress or someone you can force to accept your position on something. I'm not talking about her training him to put the seat down when he's finished or to put his dirty clothes in the hamper (i.e. stop living like a single man), but trying to change the essence of who his is as a person to fit her personal agenda.

If he chooses, of his own free will, to get out of biking, that's one thing. An ultimatum from her is entirely another. I feel sorry for those poor sods who put their bike in the paper saying "wife forcing sale." What else have these guys had to give up to keep this woman happy? Where does it end?

I'd get rid of the wife before I got rid of the bikes. Why? Because bikes are an integral, and important, part of my life and if she's dropping ultimatums on this important (to me) topic, what else will she give me the "my way or the highway" treatment over?

I say keep the bike and find some new riding buddies.

Well said, and I couldn't agree more. I wish somebody could get that through to him, I don't understand why you'd let yourself get lead around like a little puppy, but he appears content to do so. The sex can't be good enough to make him give up riding. He's in denial about it too, he thinks he'll be riding this summer. Well, he barely rode this year, because of her, and now their married. Furthermore, she's OPENLY against him riding or playing in the band. The other night we were talking, him and I, and she overheard me saying I might sell my bike. She like "Oh good, maybe then Dana will finally sell his too." She wasn't kidding around. He's talking about taking night classes this spring, and she's already sprouting crap like "Well if your grades slip, you're going to have to quit the band." I don't understand this, it drives me crazy. Watching my best friend just take all this crap, it's retarded. Oh well, what can you do.

As for me, the bike thing just isn't going to work for a while. I can't trailer it, or dual sport it. (Ever seen somebody try and dualsport a YZ125 in NY, I've never seen it done.) I guess I'm just at the point where its not good for me right now. There really are not any ANY bike people around here, accept for the few that just race on Sundays. Every single person I used to ride with, there were at least 10 regulars, has sold out on me. I'm the last man standing, so to speak, and I defintely don't like riding by myself. (Something about being KO'ed in the middle of nowhere with nobody around worries me.) Also, there's very limited trail access, etc etc. The sport is looked at so negatively, you have to fight so much opposition just to get to ride anywhere. I'd never buy a 4-wheel, but man, they really are accepted much better than bikes for some reason. Snowmobiles even more so, you can go almost ANYWHERE with those things in NY. Oh well, rant off! Like you guys have said, I will be back, it may be 5-10 years, but I love the sport, the roost, the wheelies, all the good stuff, but just can't make it practical for me right now.

 

[RM_guy]

Your buddy sounds like he's in a doomed relationship. They both think the other will change and obviously neither of them will.

 

[dante]

braaaaaaaap!!!! for life

man that's just brutal... she's going make him quite the band if his grades slip! If that don't work she'll have to ground him and take away his phone and internet privlages! My ol lady gets crazy sometimes about the bike but it's usually because I ride two weekends in a row or spill gas in garage, or get that gooey air filter stuff on the door knob... man she hates that gooey airfilter stuff...

 

[mtk]

OK, at least do me one favor (what can I say, I hate to see a man sell his bike, even if I've never met him ;) ) and put up a post on here to see if there are any bikers in your area who you've never met. You might find one right down the road from you.

And as a happy bonus, your continued riding happiness might make your buddy see the light.

Finally, whenever she makes those comments around you, just say "Jeez, are you his wife or his mother?" Followed by the "grounding and internet" comments above.

Sometimes men need to be hit with a 2x4 to get the message. Be the board. :)