Wooohooo! Yesterday was a blast! My son and I rode our mountain bikes. He’s turning 15 in a few days. We have been riding mountain bikes near our house for a few months now and it really has been good, quality time. This was different though, as we went with my brother in law (BiL) and my nephew to a set of trails that they knew about.
It was way cool!
We started out meeting them at their house and we followed them for about 15 minutes to this location. From there we staged a truck down at the bottom of a big hill for the last leg of our ride. More on that part in a minute.
Back at the top of the hill, BiL informed me that we were at a higher altitude and that It might be difficult for the first 15-20 mintues. I was like, “Nah, I lived at 4600′ msl for 22 years. I’m not worried.”
WHEEEEEZ……
Holy crap! He was right. I couldn’t beleive how effected I was by the altitude change. Time to readjust my cockiness level for sure.
Once riding for 15-20 minutes, like he said, it was not an issue. The first few parts of the trails were uphill a bit and the second trail was the most fun. We did that one twice. After riding around for an hour plus or so, it was time to hit the big hill trail, down a wash.
Wouldn’t ya know it…
My nephew started down the trail and my BiL followed. Just then my son call, out and tells me that he has a flat tire. He’s behind me and my BiL has the air pump. He’s in front of me and already pretty far down the big hill.
About four minutes go by and I decide to have my son ride my bike down the trail as I limp his bike down behind him. The trail was pretty washed out due to all of the recent California rains. It was even worse when your back tire is completely devoid of air. Yeah, quality time.
No too far down the trail, we come across my BiL and we pump up the tire and send my son on his way.
That lasted 60 seconds…..
We hadn’t gone far at all when he tells me that it’s flat again. Fortunately, we had a spare tube. The wrong size, but a spare none the less. So yada, yada, yada, we are good to go and on our way.
The trail was the coolest of the cool trails we rode. There were “features” that brave folks, different from myself, would attempt and a few surprises that were enough to keep you on your toes and expand your ability a bit.
We arrived at a shaded area with big trees around it. Others had built jumps there and my son wanted to try some. His first attempt didn’t go so well….
He was ultimately successful though. That little fall didn’t hurt and got back up, and tried it again. After a few minutes of messing around there, we finished up the trail, loaded into the staged truck and went back to the top to say our goodbyes.
We both had an awesome time.
I know this because my son still hasn’t stopped talking about it. Which is great, for many reasons. Anyone that has had a 14-15 year old child knows that sometimes getting them to open up to you can be challenging at best. As a parent you worry and try to talk to them only to get the usual, non-commital responses. I don’t play Xbox, much, and when I do it’s pretty infrequent. Motocross and especially mountain bikes has allowed me to get to know my teenage son. Mountain bikes has that advantage of being able to talk to each other while riding as compared to motocross. Although anything that you can do the spend time with your kids doing what you both love, is quality time.
I write all of the time about paying down bills and getting into a Financial Freedom situation while trying to maintain a lifestyle for myself and my family. There are those out there that would have me sell the dirtbikes and mountain bikes to pay off debt. I have to disagree. Their solution for getting the child off of Xbox and into you living room is to sell the Xbox. I have to disagree there too.
But not for the same reasons.
The teenage years are difficult for the kids and almost more so for the parents. Taking things away is usually not the answer. Conversely, adding things may be the answer you seek. Such as sports, bicycles, and activities in general that you can share. These activities strike up conversations and add smiles from both parents and children alike. They open lines of what could be already closed communication, or at least they help to keep them open. Often in the most troublesome of times, when the kids tend to clam-up, out of fear. These activities help build that trust and understanding between you both. Quality time….
So they can say what they will about selling everything to pay off all debt. I’m going to quietly disagree, and I’ll do so while I’m enjoying fun times with my teenage children. Creating memories, opening lines of communication, andbringing our family even closer together.
I’m having fun with mine, you should go have fun with yours.
Dave
Economic Value
CONS: The cost of a mountain bike if you don’t already have one, the time you need to break-out of your already busy day.
PROS: The lines of communication that open up between parent and child, the indescribable smiles from you both as you enjoy time together, it’s healthy and it’s outdoors (not on Xbox), the time you need to break-out of your already busy day (you probably really need this too).