Why your kids should race bikes...

[cdovego]

Why your kids should be racing.

Racing is the most perfect of sports. It teaches you how to win and how to lose. There are no judges or participation medals, there is a timer and your competitors. Your preparation between races will often decide your performance in the race. You can be seriously injured or killed on the race track, this teaches you restraint and patience as well as respect for your surroundings and fellow competitors. Racing teaches you that yes, life is a bitch and sometimes someone with more money and less talent than you will win. Racing will teach you that even with the most meticulous preparation and planning life will reach out and punch you right in the face and remind you that luck is real and sometimes bad. Its up to you to put your head down and keep pushing to make your goals and dreams come true. Racing is not tolerant of mistakes or lack of focus. Racing does not give you a redo if you screw up, it gives you a concussion and a broken collar bone and says "come back and see me when you get your shit together." Racing will teach your kids that you dont have to be the biggest, strongest or richest... you dont have to be black, white or whatever.... you have to be committed and focused and fearless to achieve your dreams. You have to work hard for a very long time to succeed. It teaches your kids how to fall down and get back up, how to face their greatest fears and how to treat others. All of those skills will be used in their adult life, teach it to them on a motorcycle and enjoy the ride.

(I did not write this, a friend did - great message. Hope you enjoyed!)

[scottieducati]

Plus, they'll never have enough money for a drug addiction.

[RyanNicholson]

Racing does not give you a redo if you screw up, it gives you a concussion and a broken collar bone and says "come back and see me when you get your shit together."

This made me laugh. Well done.

[scottieducati]

This made me laugh. Well done.

Sounds like an abusive relationship to me...

[Chippertheripper]

It is an abusive relationship.
I've been dragging rebecca around to multi disciplined events since she was 4mos old. You should've seen her eyes light up as she realized kids can race, while we were at the Freetown50 this passed weekend. It's on.

[Stoneman]

While my kids don't race, they've been riding for as long as I can remember. I was taking my middle daughter out with me on the ATV since she was 6 (she's almost 15 now). She's been riding her own now for who-knows-how-long and is currently on a 250. She's an ATV'er through & through...

The boy started on his own ATV when he was 5 (now almost 9). He's currently on a 125 ATV, but regularly throws his leg over his buddy's 50, 60 & 85cc dirty bikes. All he wants to do his ride. ATV's, bike's, sno-mo's...ANYTHING!

And they both started riding snowmobiles this past winter as well...

No, no racing. But riding has given them an awesome direction...

[cdovego]

It's all about accountability.

[Stoneman]

After teaching my 10-year old niece from NY City how to ride an ATV this summer, she wanted to move in with us. She asked if at the very least she could spend the rest of the summer with us. That says a lot about what 'riding' can do for a kid...

[cdovego]

After teaching my 10-year old niece from NY City how to ride an ATV this summer, she wanted to move in with us. She asked if at the very least she could spend the rest of the summer with us. That says a lot about what 'riding' can do for a kid...

Your story makes me smile. I was the same kid!

[Garandman]

Dirt bike riding is a terrific activity for kids. We like to let them go out, fall over, get lost, get stuck, get unstuck, and get unlost.

If any of them want to race I'll entertain it but kids are in so many structured activities today I'd rather let them figure out what they want to do on their own.

[scottieducati]

Your story makes me smile. I was the same kid!

I still am that kid. Anyone want to adopt me?

[cdovego]

I still am that kid. Anyone want to adopt me?

I've adopted no less than 6 into my family over the past year, what's 1 more - come on over. Do you want a twin or full size bed?

[Stoneman]

Your story makes me smile. I was the same kid!

We talked to my sister about taking her for the summer rather than her send them away to camp for the ENTIRE summer. She's expressed her extreme desire to live 'in the woods with uncle Jay & Tovah' instead of getting shipped off. Yeah, my sister is wunna those...

Dirt bike riding is a terrific activity for kids. We like to let them go out, fall over, get lost, get stuck, get unstuck, and get unlost.

If any of them want to race I'll entertain it but kids are in so many structured activities today I'd rather let them figure out what they want to do on their own.

That's how we feel. We brought it up to both of them and both would rather do it casually, at their pace for now. But yeah, we let the boy & his buddies *KIND OF* wander out on their own from time to time. We know where they are & can get to them in an instant. But leaving them to their own devices once & a while really shows you what type of rider you've nutured...