Proud of my girl

[Bret SD]

Yesterday my youngest daughter Rachel (17) and I went for a ride. She was very nervous about going and has never ridden on the back of a motorcycle. Since she was down for a visit this weekend I thought it would be great if we hit the mountain route together.
I kept checking on her and she gave the thumbs up every time, said it was awesome and fun, she hung in there for 153 miles and loved it.

Anxiety is an issue for her and she fought off her fears.. yep, dad's very proud indeed.   
https://www.relive.cc/view/vdvmQN91YNv

[da prez]

  Glad you had a great time with her. My children are way past being in back. I am working on grandkids.  In a couple years , great grandkids.

                                              da prez

[Robert]

Wow that is so awesome, congrats.  

I taught my son, son in law and a couple of friends and its always white knuckle in the beginning.

[Jess from VA]

That is a great story, and thanks for sharing.

And FWIW, in nearly 50 years of riding, I cannot stand to be the passenger on any motorcycle.  It's obviously a control thing, but even with a good careful rider, it scares the crap out of me.  Not that it's happened much.

Years ago, after a very spirited, peg dragging Valk group ride through the Eastern Mountains (with some wives on back), I raised a toast to the backseaters at a rest break, for being the bravest souls in the crowd. 

I don't do well in the passenger seat of anyone else's car either (but at least there I have a seat belt and wrap around protection).  Driver's always laugh when I am stomping for my (nonexistent) passenger seat brake pedal.  LOL

[Rams]

That is a great story, and thanks for sharing.

I don't do well in the passenger seat of anyone else's car either (but at least there I have a seat belt and wrap around protection).  Driver's always laugh when I am stomping for my (nonexistent) passenger seat brake pedal.  LOL

I agree, a wonderful story shared by the O. P.

I’m thinking I should take you along the next time I go auto-crossing.  It’s definitely a fun ride.

Rams

[Chrisj CMA]

Nice!  Looked like a real fun ride 

[f6john]

I tend to not dwell on it but, I get a little sad about never having a daughter. That is now offset with the joy of having a granddaughter. Doubtful I will ever have her ride with but plenty of other memories to be made and shared.

Wonderful you had this opportunity with your daughter!

[Serk]

Gotta love it! The time I spend with my kids riding, either on the back seat or now *Gulp* in the driver's seat of my spare Valk, are memories me and the kids will cherish forever!

[old2soon]

           Daughter and 2 of my 3 Sons from first marriage Loved to ride with me. 1st Daughter needed Zero excuse to gear up and ride with Dad. Oldest Daughter from marriage 2 Loved to ride. My Youngest Daughter from marriage 2 tolerated riding. She Never fought the lean nor helped BUT-again Always a BUT-She made it Very Clear she did NOT want to exceed 70 M P H while on Phatt Ghurl. Wife 1 wanted me to sell my M/Cs-plural-and I did NOT sell them. Wife 2 on the other hand enjoyed the ride. Glad yer Daughter had a Good Time!  Lookin back wish those Rides had been recorded.  RIDE SAFE.

[0leman]

Great that your daughter enjoyed the ride.   Don't let it be the last, and maybe get her hands on the handle bars.

Of our three daughters only one has had any interest in riding.  She has her own bike (1100 shadow) and rides in of all places, Phoenix.  The other two firmly like 4 wheels, and both share my problem of driving over the speed limits.  Gave them something.

The Grandsons also do not share the motorcycle bug.  Not yet anyway.  Though two of them are into mountain biking and paid the price in broken bones and scraps. 

[..]

 

[msb]

That's awesome, looks like a great day
My daughters...especially the youngest...used to ride with me as a passenger when they were younger. Whether it's riding or anything else, the times I've spent with my daughters have always been and will continue to be the best times of my life...though it's less frequent now that they've moved to live in other parts of the Province and I've kinda been relegated to being the #2 man in their lives   

[cookiedough]

that is cool that she wants to ride along at that age 17 range most do not having other things on their minds at that timeframe.  My boy taught how  to ride 3 years ago now he is buying/selling cycles right and left lately told him to chill out since they all under my cycle insurance.  Daughter age 22 never had a desire to be a passenger thinking cycling is too risky.  Her choice, did not push it.  I attempted with her to ride my 250cc scooter but is pretty tall I can barely go flat footed and she is 5 inches shorter even though scoot only weights 350lbs.    She took it up the hill (no license) once and said not comfy doing it, same way with the wife doing same thing both not liking it.

That is a VERY long ride 1st time out for sure I can barely get my wife to go 100 miles if lucky since she is more of a WARM weather rider than me.

[ridingron]

  Gotta love it! The time I spend with my kids riding, either on the back seat or now *Gulp* in the driver's seat of my spare Valk, are memories me and the kids will cherish forever!

Riding bikes with Dad and skydiving with Mom! No one will be able to say Kali had boring teen age life.      Some of the other parents are probably wondering what kind of parents that girl has? Keep up the good work!!

[cookiedough]

  Gotta love it! The time I spend with my kids riding, either on the back seat or now *Gulp* in the driver's seat of my spare Valk, are memories me and the kids will cherish forever!

Riding bikes with Dad and skydiving with Mom! No one will be able to say Kali had boring teen age life.      Some of the other parents are probably wondering what kind of parents that girl has? Keep up the good work!!

do not forget shooting guns!   

Yah,  only one I know probably ever that jumps out of a perfectly good airplane,  rides cycles, and goes thru buckets of ammo....    I do not have the balls to ever jump out of an airplane let alone barely going up in an airplane.   My luck the chute or back up chute would not open, then what?

[Bighead]

  Gotta love it! The time I spend with my kids riding, either on the back seat or now *Gulp* in the driver's seat of my spare Valk, are memories me and the kids will cherish forever!

Riding bikes with Dad and skydiving with Mom! No one will be able to say Kali had boring teen age life.      Some of the other parents are probably wondering what kind of parents that girl has? Keep up the good work!!

do not forget shooting guns!   

Yah,  only one I know probably ever that jumps out of a perfectly good airplane,  rides cycles, and goes thru buckets of ammo....    I do not have the balls to ever jump out of an airplane let alone barely going up in an airplane.   My luck the chute or back up chute would not open, then what?

SPLAT!

[DirtyDan]

  Gotta love it! The time I spend with my kids riding, either on the back seat or now *Gulp* in the driver's seat of my spare Valk, are memories me and the kids will cherish forever!

Riding bikes with Dad and skydiving with Mom! No one will be able to say Kali had boring teen age life.      Some of the other parents are probably wondering what kind of parents that girl has? Keep up the good work!!

do not forget shooting guns!   

Yah,  only one I know probably ever that jumps out of a perfectly good airplane,  rides cycles, and goes thru buckets of ammo....    I do not have the balls to ever jump out of an airplane let alone barely going up in an airplane.   My luck the chute or back up chute would not open, then what?

SPLAT!

BOUNCE is the way I’ve heard it described

So a little birdie told me

Dan

[mbramley]

 That's great, making memories.

[mbramley]

  Gotta love it! The time I spend with my kids riding, either on the back seat or now *Gulp* in the driver's seat of my spare Valk, are memories me and the kids will cherish forever!

Riding bikes with Dad and skydiving with Mom! No one will be able to say Kali had boring teen age life.      Some of the other parents are probably wondering what kind of parents that girl has? Keep up the good work!!

do not forget shooting guns!   

Yah,  only one I know probably ever that jumps out of a perfectly good airplane,  rides cycles, and goes thru buckets of ammo....    I do not have the balls to ever jump out of an airplane let alone barely going up in an airplane.   My luck the chute or back up chute would not open, then what?

Tuck and roll man , tuck and roll 

[Farside]

  Very nice. Looks like a great ride and the trip with your daughter, priceless.
With her ability to recognize and over come her anxiety issues this is very positive experience. The motorcycle truly is therapy for many, including myself. 

[Rams]

Just re-looked at the linked trip.   Hadn't clicked on the map thing tracing your trip but I have to say, I'm envious.   I don't know how you did that but, that's pretty cool.   

Rams

[Bret SD]

Wow that is so awesome, congrats. 

I taught my son, son in law and a couple of friends and its always white knuckle in the beginning.

Thanks Robert, I told her we could pull the plug anytime on it, but she just kept going.. I couldn't believe it.

[Bret SD]

That is a great story, and thanks for sharing.

And FWIW, in nearly 50 years of riding, I cannot stand to be the passenger on any motorcycle.  It's obviously a control thing, but even with a good careful rider, it scares the crap out of me.  Not that it's happened much.

Years ago, after a very spirited, peg dragging Valk group ride through the Eastern Mountains (with some wives on back), I raised a toast to the backseaters at a rest break, for being the bravest souls in the crowd.

I don't do well in the passenger seat of anyone else's car either (but at least there I have a seat belt and wrap around protection).  Driver's always laugh when I am stomping for my (nonexistent) passenger seat brake pedal.  LOL

Jess,
I'm with you on not liking to be a passenger, she said she felt more comfortable on  mountain roads being on the bike rather than in a car. We talked about that and I think it came down to the experience on the bike being more immersive, where you're actually "in the movie" vs being just a spectator.
It's funny as I was driving her home on the freeway she noticed motorcycles more.. I said uh oh you have the bug now haha

[Bret SD]

  Glad you had a great time with her. My children are way past being in back. I am working on grandkids.  In a couple years , great grandkids.

                                              da prez

Ha yes! We didn't have our first kid until I was 38, so I've had sort of a quasi parent grandparent thing going on I think with the kids.. Maybe not quite that extreme but definitely not the prototypical young family.

[Bret SD]

I tend to not dwell on it but, I get a little sad about never having a daughter. That is now offset with the joy of having a granddaughter. Doubtful I will ever have her ride with but plenty of other memories to be made and shared.

Wonderful you had this opportunity with your daughter!

John,
I got lucky with two girls and one son, and you're right not to dwell on it, daughters are great but honestly I wouldn't care if they were all boys or all girls, I'd love them  just the same.
Glad to hear of your granddaughter, that must be very special.. Hopefully I won't be a grandfather for a while haha

[Bret SD]

Gotta love it! The time I spend with my kids riding, either on the back seat or now *Gulp* in the driver's seat of my spare Valk, are memories me and the kids will cherish forever!

Serk,
It really blows my mind how your daughter rides a Valkyrie, it must be crazy cool and frightening at the same time. I'd be very proud of her too.

[Bret SD]

           Daughter and 2 of my 3 Sons from first marriage Loved to ride with me. 1st Daughter needed Zero excuse to gear up and ride with Dad. Oldest Daughter from marriage 2 Loved to ride. My Youngest Daughter from marriage 2 tolerated riding. She Never fought the lean nor helped BUT-again Always a BUT-She made it Very Clear she did NOT want to exceed 70 M P H while on Phatt Ghurl. Wife 1 wanted me to sell my M/Cs-plural-and I did NOT sell them. Wife 2 on the other hand enjoyed the ride. Glad yer Daughter had a Good Time!  Lookin back wish those Rides had been recorded.  RIDE SAFE.

O2S,
All of my kids are up for riding on the motorcycle, which blows my mind and kind of scares me all at the same time. I like the girls to be adventurous but... They have good heads on their shoulders so I'm not worried.
Rachel didn't want to ride on the freeway when we took off so I told her I'd find an alternate route coming back, then later on I said 10 minutes on the freeway will save us 40 minutes coming back and she said okay.
My daughter was actually easier to ride with on the back then my significant other, I told my daughter that and she said oh you better not tell Susan..  I expected it to be more difficult with my daughter on the back and was pleasantly surprised that I hardly felt her there. Before we left I didn't give her any instructions on leaning, I just wanted to see how it went, later on she said she was leaning with me, likely a little bit.
I asked her if she was scared when we were leaning kind of hard on the sharp turns going up the mountain, to my surprise she said she wasn't scared at all. 

[Bret SD]

Great that your daughter enjoyed the ride.   Don't let it be the last, and maybe get her hands on the handle bars.

Of our three daughters only one has had any interest in riding.  She has her own bike (1100 shadow) and rides in of all places, Phoenix.  The other two firmly like 4 wheels, and both share my problem of driving over the speed limits.  Gave them something.

The Grandsons also do not share the motorcycle bug.  Not yet anyway.  Though two of them are into mountain biking and paid the price in broken bones and scraps. 

Oleman,
Whoo boy, I've driven in Phoenix and seeing how they drive in that City, even I'd be a little nervous on a bike there simply because it feels like a free for all. The fact that your daughter rides a motorcycle there is pretty impressive, drivers here in San Diego aren't too bad overall about you always have your complement of idiots on the road. I always thought California drivers were the worst until I got into Phoenix 
Will be out on the road again she said she really enjoyed it and wants to go another time, I joked about riding out to Sedona and she was actually seriously thinking about it, of course her mom with have a cow haha

[Bret SD]

That's awesome, looks like a great day
My daughters...especially the youngest...used to ride with me as a passenger when they were younger. Whether it's riding or anything else, the times I've spent with my daughters have always been and will continue to be the best times of my life...though it's less frequent now that they've moved to live in other parts of the Province and I've kinda been relegated to being the #2 man in their lives   

MSB,
I think about these things quite often, my oldest girl is 23 now, son is 18 and Rachel is 17. I Do Cherish the time we have together because I know that they will be moving on with their lives and possibly changing geographic location where I won't get to see them as often.
I read a story about people being interviewed on their deathbed, all of them said they regretted in life not spending more time with their loved ones, nobody mentioned money or fame or any of the other superfluous BS that some concern themselves with.
I'm a rich man in the things that count, the things you can't buy.. Love and health brother. Nobody's rich enough to buy those.

[Bret SD]

that is cool that she wants to ride along at that age 17 range most do not having other things on their minds at that timeframe.  My boy taught how  to ride 3 years ago now he is buying/selling cycles right and left lately told him to chill out since they all under my cycle insurance.  Daughter age 22 never had a desire to be a passenger thinking cycling is too risky.  Her choice, did not push it.  I attempted with her to ride my 250cc scooter but is pretty tall I can barely go flat footed and she is 5 inches shorter even though scoot only weights 350lbs.    She took it up the hill (no license) once and said not comfy doing it, same way with the wife doing same thing both not liking it.

That is a VERY long ride 1st time out for sure I can barely get my wife to go 100 miles if lucky since she is more of a WARM weather rider than me.

Cookiedough,
It was a long ride but she said she didn't feel like we went that far, I think the fact that we had a lot of different topography, views and lakes and such, it just kept her interested and having fun. There's a lot of drawbacks to living in San Diego or California in particular, however I'm getting much better at milking the things that do bring me joy here. Concentrating on those has helped me quite a bit in the mental health department, it's not easy for me to live in the belly of the Beast. After being here 40 years I've seen this place change, and I don't like what I see.. But, that's for another thread I suppose haha

[Bret SD]

Very nice. Looks like a great ride and the trip with your daughter, priceless.
With her ability to recognize and over come her anxiety issues this is very positive experience. The motorcycle truly is therapy for many, including myself. 

Farside,
Indeed this is true, I think being out on a bike is far better than any drug, and yes the therapy works or both of us.. My Valkyrie is truly one of the best things in my life. I told Rachel she was possibly being spoiled for going out on her first ride on a Valkyrie, that it's for sure one of the best motorcycles ever built.. if not the best. 

[Bret SD]

Just re-looked at the linked trip.   Hadn't clicked on the map thing tracing your trip but I have to say, I'm envious.   I don't know how you did that but, that's pretty cool.   

Rams

Rams,
It's just an app you can download on your phone called 'Relive', I think the first relived video I saw was by Britman 

If you download it it's free and you can easily record your rides, runs, mountain bike etc.

[Bret SD]

All others I didn't reply to specifically in this thread, thank you! I wish we had a like button or something here, otherwise it feels like ignoring or something, which I don't do.. IDK..

Anyway I do enjoy the supportive atmosphere of this board, and the sharing of our great experiences on our great motorcycles!

Cheers 

[old2soon]

 cookiedough-on the chute not opening. I worked out of the parachute loft on the ship and also on the shore station in VS-23. Had a Lot of Pilots ask the very same question-what happens if the chute no open? My stock answer with a Very Straight face-bring back the D-ring and I'll issue you a new chute.
                                                                                        RIDE SAFE.

[NewValker]

Great story Bret!
I enjoy giving kids their first ride, my kids & all the grands have taken a spin with me. I bought a kid size helmet and an adult small for them.
Few weeks ago, a co-worker told me his daughter liked my bike so I offered a ride for her sometime.
He said she would be thrilled! Couple days later we got her on back and rode around the neighborhood. After about 5 minutes she tapped my back and asked if we could go faster...



We got back and she said “Daddy you have to get a bike”.  I looked my friend in the eye and said think we created a monster!

Craig

[Jess from VA]

Way to represent Craig.   

Wow is this the new you?   

[NewValker]

Size & attitude, yes hahaha


This grandson was 4 when I got my Valk. Not tall enough to ride but he was adamant about being the first kid on the new bike!



Craig

[Bret SD]

Great story Bret!
I enjoy giving kids their first ride, my kids & all the grands have taken a spin with me. I bought a kid size helmet and an adult small for them.
Few weeks ago, a co-worker told me his daughter liked my bike so I offered a ride for her sometime.
He said she would be thrilled! Couple days later we got her on back and rode around the neighborhood. After about 5 minutes she tapped my back and asked if we could go faster...



We got back and she said “Daddy you have to get a bike”.  I looked my friend in the eye and said think we created a monster!

Craig

Craig,
Your little granddaughter looks so teeny on the Valk Haha, it cracks me up to see really little ones on the back, and I can picture her saying 'go faster' 

My son's 18 now, we talked about him getting a bike but his mom's a little nervous about it, living in SoCal with crowded everything makes it very stressful for her, though she's not anti-MC. They live 100 miles North of me so I don't have day to day interaction with them.

We'll see where life goes I guess. We're lucky to have little ones in our lives I think