Growthtrac Community

[greenwidow]

When you have been married for as long as I have, taking time with your spouse for a date night is sometimes difficult. When you do cut the time into the schedule, where do you go?

We fell into a rut of dinner out, which isn't bad, but we were more creative before we were married.

1. Take dance lessons, especially something that is fairly easy going, like the Texas Two-Step. Be aware that most lessons have you change partners around the room, but you still end up with the one who brought you.

2. Figure a way to sneak away and golf together, nine holes. If you don't golf, take lessons and surprise your spouse. Play the easy courses so that there's no pressure to perform and they are usually less crowded. Just enjoy the sunshine and the company.

3. Learn to Geocache. You need a GPS and a sense of adventure. http://www.geocaching.com is a great place to start.

4. Ride a motorcycle together. My husband and I are both over 40. We bought our first bike this last summer. We took the safety course offered through the local affiliate of the Motorcycle Safety Foundation, it was enough to get us riding. For us it led to a new business where we work together to custom paint motorcycles.

[SAM]

Thanks Greenmeadow -

I like the motorcycle idea. It's something my husband and I have been talking about.

We also like to ride our bicycles on trails in our area. Then, of course, you have to stop at the Dairy Queen along the trail.

[rdsmith3]

I like the motorcycle idea, too. We used to do that until my wife got pregnant. Hopefully we can get out for some more rides this year. I can't wait for Spring.

I learned to ride when I was 42, which was 5 years ago.

[SAM]

Ahh, I knew there was hope!

[lisap]

My husband has a motorcycle and I am terrified to get on it. Result? He takes off without me and there goes an afternoon or sometimes a weekend with us apart. Very frustrating. I have always been afraid of them & don't think I even want to try to get over my fear. I'm that scared

Any suggestions?

[babycakes]

Ask him to take you for rides in a large company parking lot or school lot on the weekends when no one is around. That may help you build your confidence. And then some great country back roads where there is not many cars.

I was at a Hearts At Home Conference last year. Lysa Tyrkhurst spoke about letting our men be men. Letting them be dangerous and sometimes going along for the ride. She sent her husband to Africa to shoot wild boars with a titanium bow and arrow!

Buy a great helmet and leather jacket for yourself (it will protect you) and hang on to your hubby. He will love you for it! And, what a great way to connect with him.

[rdsmith3]

Babycakes gives great advice about getting comfortable on a motorcycle.

Buy a great helmet and leather jacket for yourself (it will protect you) and hang on to your hubby. He will love you for it! And, what a great way to connect with him.

I would add to just make sure that you have motorcycle clothing, not fashion leather. And don't forget the boots and gloves, too. You can shop online at a lot of places, including http://www.newenough.com

But if motorcycle riding is more his thing, and not a mutually enjoyed activity, then try to find something you might both like, even something new. Try mountain biking, sailing, or hiking, for example.

[babycakes]

We do bike trails too when the weather is nice.

We're tossing around a motorcycle ourselves - it's still in the discussion stage.

[greenwidow]

Take a course with the Motorcycle Safety Foundation or an organization in your area that uses their curriculum to teach motorcycle safety. Make sure that the instructors know the purpose of your taking the course is to get over the fear. They put you on a VERY small motorized bike and take you through some basic bike techniques.

A motorcycle has to be comfortable to be fun. If you husband has one of those models that puts you four feet in the air and riding on his back, that might not be the most comfortable. We have a Harley Davidson Dyna Glide. We changed the seat out for one that actually had padding for my portion as well and a back rest. The Dyna has a very low center of gravity and therefore rides a little more stable.

I would tell you to close your eyes and enjoy the ride, but you really need to be a part of the experience. When he leans, you lean. It is a complete dance in trust and partnership, on wheels, 65 mph.

rdsmith is right. Buy yourself some safety clothing. They make jackets with "body armor" in them and a good sturdy pair of boots makes you feel secure. In helmets, more is better. If you husband doesn't wear a helmet, you need to ask someone at the local motorcycle shop to help you pick one with enough vents to let you breath on the hottest days. I wear very light leather gloves. I will probably regret it some day, but I like the way they form fit my hands and give me a lot of control.

We have gone down in gravel, one evening as we were going to dinner on date night. We had bumps and bruises, but they eventually went away. We nursed each other's boo-boos when we got back home. I now get off the bike for our gravel driveway and the occasional gravel parking lot.

Next week my husband and I are flying to Vegas for a really short vacation, alone. We have rented a bike and intend to spend three days running it in the desert, out to the Grand Canyon, and out to the dam. Tickets to Vegas are cheap and hotels are plentiful. Renting a motorcycle is not cheap, but it is a LOT CHEAPER than other things we could do in Vegas.

I ride our bike alone too. I love to deliver quilts to * on the Harley. There is such a mindset of what a biker looks and acts like that it just blows people's mind when I combine the domestic with the wild.

[babycakes]

Makes me want to go look at one soon!

[rdsmith3]

greenwidow,

That sounds like a great trip! Enjoy!

My wife and I were in Vegas a few years ago. We really enjoyed a helicopter ride over the dam and up to the Grand Canyon. We landed on the north side and had lunch there. What a sight!

lisap,

One more thing on motorcycle gear -- my wife's helmet puts pressure on her forehead when we ride, so we have to get her a new one that is more comfortable. Make sure you wear the helmet around in the store for a while to see if there are any pressure points.

[webacus]

So, for first time -- husband and wife -- riders,
what is a suggested starter bike?

[greenwidow]

Wow...this is treading on sensitive territory! When I was a 20-something I insured motorcycles. I can tell you that first time riders came in all ages and sizes. They are also VERY passionate about what is the perfect motorcycle.

Take your wife with you when you look for a bike. You will both need to sit down on the vehicle at the same time to fit the bike to your bodies. Suspension is an issue when you intend to ride "two-up" If you are riding just around town a lighter duty, lighter weight bike might suffice, but if you might want to occasionally slip away for a weekend, then at least an 1100 cc engine, comfortable seat with backrest and nice shocks are a must. I would avoid most of the "sport" bikes unless you intend to have his and hers. You really should have a cruiser for longer riding. Saddle bags come in handy.

We looked at Kawasaki, Honda, and Harley. We ended up with a used Harley. We haven't regretted the purchase. In our area, Harleys hold value a little bit better than other brands, but the decision came when my husband of twenty years said, "All of your life you have wanted a motorcycle. When you saw it in your head, was it a Honda or a Harley?" It was a Harley. The Dyna is very comfortable. It is the same frame that Harley's "dressers" are built on. The difference is that it doesn't have the touring suspension. Our Dyna does have a "highway bar". That is a set of metal posts out front that keep the bike off your legs, should the bike go over. See previous posts about what to wear to keep the road off you. The Dyna is heavy and our instructor told us we would kill ourselves on it. My husband's reply, "Well this is a really good time, I have just recently got right with God and I would rather go, before I have time to do something stupid!"

A good used bike can be acquired from a private owner or motorcycle dealership. They are usually REALLY good about wanting to service your bike for you, but if you have ever worked on your own car, you are going to love working on your motorcycle. No dripping oil pans or crusty pipes. Everything is out in the open.

Every motorcycle company has bike similar to the Dyna. We looked that the Honda VTX. The Honda Gold Wings are very popular with the touring crowd. They are much quieter than the Harley and not so much vibration. I would like to look into the new Indian Motorcycles or the Victory company. I like the look and feel of old school American bikes.

It is fun to ride in a group. There are several in our area that have scheduled rides and dinner events. There are also a number of Christian riding groups Believers on Bikes, Ride with a Purpose, Christian Motorcycle Ministries, and Road Riders for Jesus, to name a few. They attend a lot of the events and share the word, as they go.

[webacus]

Every motorcycle company has bike similar to the Dyna. We looked that the Honda VTX. The Honda Gold Wings are very popular with the touring crowd. They are much quieter than the Harley and not so much vibration. I would like to look into the new Indian Motorcycles or the Victory company. I like the look and feel of old school American bikes.

That would be my choice; but aren't
those a bit heavy for beginners?

[greenwidow]

The weight of a motorcycle means it handles smoother, rides smoother, and usually has more power to get you out of a jam. Be sure, if you don't get some training, any motorcycle will be too much for a beginner. Once a motorcycle is up on its wheels, its weight is unconsequential.

The Dyna's powerful motor is probably more of a concern in the hands of a beginner, rather than its weight. When you roll on the throttle, its going to go. Its not the bike for a beginning nineteen year-old, if you get my meaning.

I am constantly amazed when the Wing-Ding moves into our town and we have several thousand 60 to 80 year-old couples ride in on REALLY large motorcycles.