Gravel/Off Road Fear

[2LZ]

Hi all,

As you know, Mrs 2LZ rides her own....and has for about 15 years now. She's been through both the MSF courses (beginners and advanced) and now has a total of about 60,000 miles under her belt since then, between a Yamaha Virago, an HD Sporty and her Victory Kingpin. She's a natural talent on two wheels having ridden horses competitively in her younger days and local semi-competitive Jet Ski'ing (the real one you stand on) when I first met her, and she pilots snow machines in Alaska when she goes, so she's not without experience or ability when it comes to things you pilot that move forward.

When we had our little Hensims, we used to love to dirt bike camp and ride some fairly treacherous fire roads (see pic) and we had a great time with that. I sold the Hensims and bought a Q for me and I got her a Hondanoid that we were having fun with.

Now that you know the background....here's the problem.

About 2 years ago, we rode the Vic's to a friends who lives up a badly rutted gravel/dirt road. Long story short, when we were leaving, she caught a layer of slippery oak leaves in a tight, right-hand downhill turn, front end washout on the street tires and FLOP, over it went. She was fine but had a bruised ego. The bike was fine but upside down and it's not light....so I helped her upright it....and I rode it to the bottom of the road for her.

Since then....even on the Hondanoid....she won't do dirt or gravel. I've been trying to work her slowly back into it. You know how you can't push your significant other without looking the part of the jackass....so I've been trodding lightly. I got her to do a single lap on our property on her Honadnoid yesterday but it seemed more "had to" than want to or curiousity....or Lord forbid, actual fun.

Any suggestions??? I WANT TO GO RIDING AGAIN!!

[SpudRider]

I understand your problem, and I sympathize with you. However, I am a bachelor, so I'm sorry I can't offer you any advice. The best I can do is bump your thread, and wait for the married guys to offer some good counsel.

[FastDoc]

I am also a successful bachelor, and was a failure at wife picking and maintenence so take what I say in that context...

Women are women. Even the smartest women, including PhD's and MD's and research scientists I have dated still lack basic logic skills and risk/benefit assessment.

From your perspective I think a good strategy is to do nothing. Rejoice in the fact that you are ahead of 99% of guys in as much as your wife rides, much less is happy to ride with you. If she never rides off road again you still have an awesome wife and a great situation.

In other words you have little to gain by her riding off road and much to lose.

[cheesy]

As one with almost 40 years of marriage under my belt, I would say 'tread lightly and don't push'. She'll come back when she's ready. Push it and she'll dig in her heels and be able to teach a mule a thing or two about stubbornness.

Been there, done that, got the t-shirt.

[Killerbracing]

My wife doesn't ride. So, I go solo or the kids ride with me.

[Weldangrind]

I might be able to convince Mrs. Weldangrind to ride down a gravel road, if I placed red wine and chocolate at the end.

[FastDoc]

Another good idea! Weld you can take advise from on this topic. He is successful at 'Family'.

[Weldangrind]

It can't be just any red wine. To maximize on success, it would have to be Cupcake Red Velvet.

[FastDoc]

She will drink that California dreck? At least get her a proper Washington State wine!

LOL!

[2LZ]

LOL! You guys are great! :-)
I'll stick with the "trod lightly".....and combine it with the wine technique. Could be promising.
Funny thing is it's only dirt! That 'skittery' feeling under her tenses her up now.
Thank the Good Lord she thinks nothing of jumping on her Vic and tearing down the canyon. Still makes me nervous when she scrapes the boards though. What's good for the goose is not always good for the gander.

[Weldangrind]

Originally Posted by FastDoc

She will drink that California dreck? At least get her a proper Washington State wine!

LOL!

Some people's taste is all in their mouth. What can I say.

[Weldangrind]

Originally Posted by 2LZ

LOL! You guys are great! :-)
I'll stick with the "trod lightly".....and combine it with the wine technique. Could be promising.
Funny thing is it's only dirt! That 'skittery' feeling under her tenses her up now.
Thank the Good Lord she thinks nothing of jumping on her Vic and tearing down the canyon. Still makes me nervous when she scrapes the boards though. What's good for the goose is not always good for the gander.

Perhaps Mrs. 2LZ is so accustomed to street riding, that she doesn't modulate the front brake on dirt / gravel. Just a thought.

[2LZ]

Originally Posted by Weldangrind

Perhaps Mrs. 2LZ is so accustomed to street riding, that she doesn't modulate the front brake on dirt / gravel. Just a thought.

Could be but she never had a problem on her little red bike in the pic. She'd forded rocky steams, washouts, steep, rutted hills, etc....without a problem.

I think this one is 'in her head' like a haunt or something. I know when I was younger and used to race local moto-x, I was about the top guy out there in the 125 amature class, but when one other guy came out in that class on any given saturday evening, suddenly I sucked and spent my whole time looking over my shoulder, making mistakes berm after berm. He was "in my head".............

[pchitti]

She was on a victory cruiser on gravel, and now wont take the enduro off road?
Maybe see if there is a off road school near you.

In my experience everything I tell my wife, is ignored quickly.