Is it hard to find time to ride and to take care of a baby?

Vincent505
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Vincent505
Edited Date/Time 5/22/2021 8:56pm
Just wanting to see your all’s opinions
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MX114
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MX114 5/10/2021 2:27am
5/10/2021 2:27am
I’m no doctor... but riding while in labor isn’t very safe
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crowe660
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crowe660 5/10/2021 2:33am
5/10/2021 2:33am
Make the mom happy when you’re not riding, and she’ll find you time. My wife knew how grouchy I got if I didn’t get on my bike once or twice a week.
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agn5008
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agn5008 5/10/2021 5:10am
5/10/2021 5:10am
Finding time to do anything while raising kids and having a full time job is difficult. But you gotta do it otherwise you’ll go nuts. But don’t think you’re gonna be able to ride every day of the week and whenever you want. Those days are over.
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smashingpumpkins167 5/10/2021 5:43am
5/10/2021 5:43am
Yes, do you have supportive family close by? When we were on our own in California I rode twice in my baby's first year. Now that I'm near family I have ridden a lot more.

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peltier626
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peltier626 5/10/2021 5:56am
5/10/2021 5:56am Edited Date/Time 5/10/2021 5:59am
agn5008 wrote:
Finding time to do anything while raising kids and having a full time job is difficult. But you gotta do it otherwise you’ll go nuts. But...
Finding time to do anything while raising kids and having a full time job is difficult. But you gotta do it otherwise you’ll go nuts. But don’t think you’re gonna be able to ride every day of the week and whenever you want. Those days are over.
He speaks the truth! Time is in short supply once it becomes a Family. You will learn to appreciate and enjoy other life moments until it's time for the young one to ride pending their interested in riding. At the moment soccer is my son's passion, and I'm just fine with that. We try to ride once a month.
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FreshTopEnd
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FreshTopEnd 5/10/2021 8:04am
5/10/2021 8:04am
Yes, you need to carry your family load first.
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Adam43
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Adam43 5/10/2021 8:11am
5/10/2021 8:11am
My riding hours were probably cut in half after our first, and my wife is very supportive.

You certainly learn to appreciate it more.

And you realize that anytime you said "I don't have time to ride" before you had kids was an absolute joke - because now you REALLY don't have time.
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Dirty Points 5/10/2021 8:12am
5/10/2021 8:12am Edited Date/Time 5/10/2021 8:15am
Unless riding is your career, about all one usually has time for is work, baby, and maybe one light hobby (could be a bit of riding).

It's short lived though, and soon you may have the best riding partner you've ever had.
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brocster
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brocster 5/10/2021 8:18am
5/10/2021 8:18am
When my kids were born my wife and I had an understanding that on the weekends I would go ride either Saturday or Sunday mornings and once home I would watch the kids the rest of the day for her to go “do” things. mall, gym, hair, nails, etc. The other day opposite riding would be family day. Its give and take and can be done. I never missed any event for my kids or family and hardly ever missed a weekend ride.
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Forty
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Forty 5/10/2021 8:19am
5/10/2021 8:19am
When my first son was born I I was 23 and tried to juggle the 2 however ultimately focused on family.

Then came back at 39. It was a big gap and left a lot of good riding go but worth it.


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Johnny Lock 5/10/2021 8:23am
5/10/2021 8:23am
In a few years you’ll be able to take the kid riding with you so you got that going for you.
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Johnny Ringo
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Johnny Ringo 5/10/2021 8:28am
5/10/2021 8:28am
I’ve got two under 2 and I’ve been a handful of times. It’s pretty difficult but would be impossible if the wife wasn’t totally cool with it. She watches the kids at the truck and I help in between motos. Just know you pry aren’t burning four 35 minute motos. It’s more like a family outing than a training session.
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jamiechapman418 5/10/2021 8:29am
5/10/2021 8:29am
I used to ride nearly every day of the week and race on weekends. Then I had a kid, 15 months later had a second. I ride maybe twice a month and race one local fairground race a year. Having and raising kids is the single best thing I've every experienced. The biggest frustration on the riding side is when I do get to ride the speed just isn't there anymore and guys I used to battle with pull right away from me. I am also not as willing to take extra risks. I have to be able to go to work in the morning, bring home money, and take care of busy children. But I just have to remind myself it's a hobby, at the end of the day it needs to be fun and if it isn't fun then it's time to switch hobbies.
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hoodsmoto 5/10/2021 8:34am
5/10/2021 8:34am
Realistically...Be prepared to ride a lot less.

It gets more difficult to find ride time each year until the young one becomes old enough to ride themselves. Then maybe you can use it as an excuse to do more riding.

My advice is to find yourself a hobby that you can do at home in the meantime...This will help you from sulking around depressed from not being able to go ride.
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SteezGeez
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SteezGeez 5/10/2021 8:35am
5/10/2021 8:35am
Hopefully you can get in rides early. I don't ride much anymore due to injuries but I have two kids 3 year old and 1 year old. I also work about 55hrs on avg per week. I mainly ride my mtb but to make it work I wake up at 5am and go hit the trails for 1hr so I can be home by about 6:40am when the kids wake up and help the wife. I gotta admit having kids is rough but from what I am told the first 5 years is the roughest in terms of caring for them. Once they're potty trained, can feed themselves, and won't run into the street your stress will decrease.
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Teej317
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Teej317 5/10/2021 8:50am
5/10/2021 8:50am
jamiechapman418 wrote:
I used to ride nearly every day of the week and race on weekends. Then I had a kid, 15 months later had a second. I...
I used to ride nearly every day of the week and race on weekends. Then I had a kid, 15 months later had a second. I ride maybe twice a month and race one local fairground race a year. Having and raising kids is the single best thing I've every experienced. The biggest frustration on the riding side is when I do get to ride the speed just isn't there anymore and guys I used to battle with pull right away from me. I am also not as willing to take extra risks. I have to be able to go to work in the morning, bring home money, and take care of busy children. But I just have to remind myself it's a hobby, at the end of the day it needs to be fun and if it isn't fun then it's time to switch hobbies.
Great perspective. We have a 1 1/2 year old and my wife wants one more. I'm thankful she is very supportive of my hobby. I typically ride 4 to 6x per month and one or two race events per month. I always think I want to ride more, but for me it's more than enough given the current circumstances. Children are a blessing and, as a moto guy, it's easy to get wrapped up in my passion thinking that it is what life is all about. It's certainly not (slowly am realizing this still). There's more important things like faith, family, and people.

That being said, I'm like the rest of you moto heads and gotta get my fix. I think it takes intentional planning, good communication, and reciprocity...but I think riding can still happen. Just might need to adjust the expectations a few clicks =]
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mattyhamz2 5/10/2021 8:51am
5/10/2021 8:51am
We had our first at 23. After our daughter reached 4 months we had it set so I could ride 2-3 times a month. Usually every other weekend. It was awesome. When we had our second kid riding slowed a bit, but we still made it 1-2 times each month with a few missed times here and there. The family stuff always came first though and still does to this day. That will never change for me.

Buying our house is what really did me in. We've owned our home for 2.5 years now and riding is pretty much at a stand still. I'm lucky to ride 3-4 times a year at this point. I know it's only temporary, but it's really hard not having that stress reliever there when I need it most.
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Dirty Points 5/10/2021 8:55am
5/10/2021 8:55am
The other thing nobody has mentioned is that kids are expensive and racing/riding can be an expensive activity, and finances for most folks who have their kids while younger won't allow a big commitment to both early on.
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Camp332
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Camp332 5/10/2021 8:59am
5/10/2021 8:59am Edited Date/Time 5/10/2021 11:20am
I'll share my story as a husband/dad of 3 kids ages 9 (son), 7 (daughter), and 3 (daughter) years old. In the beginning my priority to ride dropped low on the list as our family grew. Now the kids are getting bigger, and the time to ride as a family is starting to present itself as my son loves to ride. Now I can start to ride a little more regularly.

I guess, if I could sum it up, be present for the kids/wife during this time. Riding will always be there. Definitely have other outlets like working out or MTB that you can get done a lot quicker than spending a day at the track. Not to mention bike prep time takes you away from family also.
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viking174
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viking174 5/10/2021 8:59am
5/10/2021 8:59am
Yes it’s difficult, but I’ve made it happen anyway. Here is how..
I would do night rides and go after work while allowing my wife to watch the kids twice or three times during the work week. I made sure the kids where bathed, had food, pajamas on. House full of food and laundry done.
On the weekends I ride early morning until
Noontime and rush back home to spend the second half of my days with the family. Making sure everything was in order and my kids had my time and care. I’ve been doing this since they where born and I currently do it.
It’s been 12 years and 3 baby’s of this routine and it works for me perfectly. I’ve had days where I brought a baby sitter and kids with me when mom couldn’t be helpful. I’ve also had times where everyone comes with and others where I’ve had friends or even a Mx coach help with my kids while I spin laps. It’s difficult and not easy at times but as any parent knows your kids become part of your life and shouldn’t stop you from being yourself. They just become your life. Get out and live and integrate them
Into it. It get easier and better every day.
Good luck, I wouldn’t change it for anything
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Falcon
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Falcon 5/10/2021 9:00am
5/10/2021 9:00am
We're a moto family. My kids were raised at the track and in the desert from day one. (It helps that my wife went to the track with me most of the time anyway.)
captmoto
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captmoto 5/10/2021 9:03am
5/10/2021 9:03am
FreshTopEnd wrote:
Yes, you need to carry your family load first.
And as long as is needed. I don't think I rode for a couple years. If you really want to have a family, riding will not be a big deal.
You and your baby momma are both going to be tired in the first year. I didn't really miss riding, I didn't have time. I was working one of the busiest fire stations in LA County and had twins at home then another one 21 months later. I also was a fairly new home owner with all those challenges.
Having kids is life changing and that can't be described until you get there. The life change starts when you find out she is pregnant. If you aren't ready for a complete life change, don't have kids.
After I felt like I was settled down I bought a new bike and all the gear. My wife has neve batted an eye at any of it.
If you are going to try get back to riding ASAP you need to encourage momma to have her own outlet too and you have to be accommodating of it.
Good luck.
byke
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byke 5/10/2021 9:15am
5/10/2021 9:15am
Depends on your setup. Is the mother going to be staying at home? Does the mother or baby have any ongoing issues that need tending to? Do you have relatives nearby that are going crazy over the new baby? Is money tight? If your answers are yes-no-yes-no, then you should be fine. We don't know your work situation, but since you're responsible for a person that cannot care for themselves, one last thing to keep in mind is what life would be like with a broken arm/leg/whatever.
davistld01
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davistld01 5/10/2021 9:19am
5/10/2021 9:19am
Anything is harder to do with children...but it's worth the effort. Family comes first, but if you can find a wife that sees your riding as therapy for you, and for your marriage...she'll make sure you get support while you're doing it.
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Moto Nomad
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Moto Nomad 5/10/2021 9:56am
5/10/2021 9:56am
The birth of my kid was a hard curtain fall on riding (and playing live music, my other passion). It completely changed every minute of my life. It all depends on your partner. I didn't ride for years, basically until she was old enough to come to the track and ride with me on her Stacyc. Pretty much any time I wasn't working I was expected to be at home.
But we have no family so no relatives to babysit or anything. If you have a lot of family help and a supportive mate (I didn't), it helps a great deal.
lostboy819 5/10/2021 10:32am
5/10/2021 10:32am
We were married for 10 years before we had our two boys so I was 38 when I became a dad for first time. Worked good because we were financially set and I could give 100% focus on family and rode every now and then, no way I would put racing before my wife and kids. Most of my racing buddies were all in our late 30s before we had kids also, best way to do it in my opinion. Cool
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Jesse318pnw
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Jesse318pnw 5/10/2021 10:39am
5/10/2021 10:39am Edited Date/Time 5/10/2021 10:40am
SteezGeez wrote:
Hopefully you can get in rides early. I don't ride much anymore due to injuries but I have two kids 3 year old and 1 year...
Hopefully you can get in rides early. I don't ride much anymore due to injuries but I have two kids 3 year old and 1 year old. I also work about 55hrs on avg per week. I mainly ride my mtb but to make it work I wake up at 5am and go hit the trails for 1hr so I can be home by about 6:40am when the kids wake up and help the wife. I gotta admit having kids is rough but from what I am told the first 5 years is the roughest in terms of caring for them. Once they're potty trained, can feed themselves, and won't run into the street your stress will decrease.
Great advice to do what you can to get there early. I'm always the first person to hit the track, put about an hour on the bike with very little breaks and get home ASAP. I always get funny looks like "you are leaving already"? Not only is it less impactful on the wife but it allows me to get my fix in, stay as safe as possible and then get back home. Everyone tells you this but the years fly by. Enjoy every minute you can while still doing what you need to do to stay happy.
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Airick
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Airick 5/10/2021 10:48am
5/10/2021 10:48am
Yes. And if your kid(s) don’t like to ride then it’s even harder.
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philG
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philG 5/10/2021 10:57am
5/10/2021 10:57am
No, its hard to find the money though.

What you need to do is make the riding you do get to do , mean something.

My wife had no isuues with racing every two weeks, but i never rode if i wasnt racing..

Burning up good will just to go bust laps is a waste of time.

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TyRod
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TyRod 5/10/2021 11:12am
5/10/2021 11:12am
Probably just best to focus on Mountain Bike riding and other things to keep you in shape for riding till the kids old enough to start taking him/her riding with you. A lot easier to load the bicycle and go get a 2-3hr workout in without all the maintenance the dirt bike takes, unless you can ride at home. And just ride the dirt bike when time presents itself without creating issues with the wife.
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