Great idea for getting your wife to ride more.

[PoWdErCuRlGiRl]

Nice to see there are so many supportative, cool, dudes out there.

Ditto That!!!!

I know I wouldn't be where I'm at today if it wasn't for the awsome support I had from a patient amazing guy when I first started. As well as all the encouragement from all his riding buddies!!! Which are still some of my favorite riding buddies!!!

 

[HOBB-Z]

things to remember

When I got Tonya into riding I bought her the best of everything knowing if it was going to be fun for her she had to be 1-Warm 2-Have a capable sled.

The mistake I made was buying a brand new sled that was above her riding skills. In the first 75 miles she had it on top of her acouple of times, rolled numerous times and rear ended my buddy caving the front end in and smashed the pipe.

One day at my parents I was complaining about the fact that I bought a new sled and that it now looked like a couple year old piece of crap. My dad owned a sled shop selling Coleman Skiroles until they went out of biz, so I grew up riding sleds at the age of 2 sitting in front of mom till I was old enough to ride my own and I thought I would get a little understanding from both mom and dad about the sled we wrecked.

My mom listened as I complained without saying a word until I stopped long enough for her to to talk, what she said shocked the chit out of me.

I got my azz riped about buying her to big of sled, what the helll was I thinking? And if you think for one minute it is any fun getting stuck, rolling it on top of you, being scared chitless to follow up steep hills that we had no bussiness being on, and being yelled at every time something didn't go just right, then you had better sell everything.

You spent alot of money in an attempt of having fun, and if you ever want her to go with you again you better get your chit together mister.

I just sat there blown away at the azz chewing I just got, and realized she was right in every way.

We spend alot of money to have fun sledding, make the day the best day of your lives every time out. My wife is my best friend and favorite riding buddy. I love the guy rides, pushing each other and pulling insane stuff but I'll take the wife and kids any day of the week.

HAVE FUN

 

[snoman159]

So what are the main things you guys are doing to set the sleds up for your girls? I got an 03 RMK 800 144 as a "backup" that I'm going to set up for her to ride. I was planning on buying her something that she wanted but couldn't sell this one. She said she liked driving it when we were riding 2 up but I'm guessing the extra ski pressure helped. Tightening up the limiter straps, loosing the spring preload, valving the shocks softer, anything else I'm missing? She likes the 800 so I guess to I'll be building big power motors for her from now on. Was planning on building something with a 660 but we'll see how that goes...

 

[Bronjuan]

I thought the reason for going sledding was so you didn't have to hang out with you,re wife

 

[eddy]

Wife

Leave her home to cook dinner. Male bonding session in progress on the mountain. Bros before hoes!

 

[live2ride]

So what are the main things you guys are doing to set the sleds up for your girls? I got an 03 RMK 800 144 as a "backup" that I'm going to set up for her to ride. I was planning on buying her something that she wanted but couldn't sell this one. She said she liked driving it when we were riding 2 up but I'm guessing the extra ski pressure helped. Tightening up the limiter straps, loosing the spring preload, valving the shocks softer, anything else I'm missing? She likes the 800 so I guess to I'll be building big power motors for her from now on. Was planning on building something with a 660 but we'll see how that goes...

The sway bar?? If you ride behind her and you see where she is struggling then find a fix for it (riser, bar position, shock pressure, sidehilling/swaybar etc). Good luck, I hope it works for her. It sounds like you know basically what you want to do for her.

 

[PoWdErCuRlGiRl]

So what are the main things you guys are doing to set the sleds up for your girls? I got an 03 RMK 800 144 as a "backup" that I'm going to set up for her to ride. I was planning on buying her something that she wanted but couldn't sell this one. She said she liked driving it when we were riding 2 up but I'm guessing the extra ski pressure helped. Tightening up the limiter straps, loosing the spring preload, valving the shocks softer, anything else I'm missing? She likes the 800 so I guess to I'll be building big power motors for her from now on. Was planning on building something with a 660 but we'll see how that goes...

Bar risers? Maybe a couple of inches. I'm only 5'5" and that is generally my very first addition. Helps me not feel hunched over and helps for a little more leverage. To me it is like a breath of fresh air with those babies on!

 

[JJFlash]

i got lucky, my wife has always wanted to tag along and learn new things. she rides dirt bikes and supermoto bikes, rides sportbikes, wake boards, skis (water and snow), and loves snowmobiling, hunting and fishing.

she truely is my best friend, and my favorite riding partner. she gets discouraged and hates getting stuck. not that she hates getting stuck as much as it is, she hates needing help getting out, and she thinks that distracts from our fun. but like i have said to her, and it has been said above... if you dont try and fail, and then try and do, you wont progress as a rider or person.

seeing her riding in the same areas we do, and out riding some guys in some cases really puts a smile on my face. most guys cant wait to get away from the wife, i for one embrace the times i turn around and she's right there by my side, riding the same lines, while the other guys ask... how can i get my wife more interested to do that??? that my friends is priceless.

and i for one would much rather wake up next to her in the hotel or lodge than some sweaty snoring guy. LOL! i need to get her to the girls ride site. she is a member of femoto, and cycleangels. cant wait to go out west this year with her. ski

Good for you two......I scored big in the wife department too, although (unlike you) I never got Missy to climb on the Gixxer or the ZX7R. She DOES love her ATV and her sled.

The key for Missy was finding her a ride that fit HER, not something she'd grow into, or something for my deadbeat buddies to ride. We rented a pile of different sleds (she hated them all) until she rode a REV. Even after riding a new XP, she doesn't want to change sleds, and I'm not going to push her. She's getting better and better off trail, and I might even have convinced her to go on the ladiesride.com outing. She's even springing for new PowderPros for BOTH of our sleds this year. Being supportive WITHOUT being pushy is an art unto itself.

I never understood guys who get married and then salivate at every opportunity to go somewhere or do something without their wives. I got married because I LIKE doing stuff with Missy...It's simply more fun to ride with her. If I wanted to spend more time with my buddies, I'd still be single.

Anyway.....word to the wise: If you want wifey to join you in your sledding adventures, take some time and listen to what makes her comfortable (sled, helmet, boots, etc) Let her know that you WANT her there. Let her learn at her own pace, and don't make her feel like a buzzkill. Most of all, when she gets stuck or frustrated or whatever, remind her that YOU were not born with a snowmobile protruding from your azz, and that YOU have been in the exact same frustrating position more times than you'd care to admit. Share a laugh, help her tip her sled back upright, and enjoy sharing SOMETHING you love with SOMEONE you love. In no time at all, SHE will be highmarking YOU......After all, she IS lighter than you right??

 

[Colorado4fun]

Good for you two......I scored big in the wife department too, although (unlike you) I never got Missy to climb on the Gixxer or the ZX7R. She DOES love her ATV and her sled.

The key for Missy was finding her a ride that fit HER, not something she'd grow into, or something for my deadbeat buddies to ride. We rented a pile of different sleds (she hated them all) until she rode a REV. Even after riding a new XP, she doesn't want to change sleds, and I'm not going to push her. She's getting better and better off trail, and I might even have convinced her to go on the ladiesride.com outing. She's even springing for new PowderPros for BOTH of our sleds this year. Being supportive WITHOUT being pushy is an art unto itself.

I never understood guys who get married and then salivate at every opportunity to go somewhere or do something without their wives. I got married because I LIKE doing stuff with Missy...It's simply more fun to ride with her. If I wanted to spend more time with my buddies, I'd still be single.

Anyway.....word to the wise: If you want wifey to join you in your sledding adventures, take some time and listen to what makes her comfortable (sled, helmet, boots, etc) Let her know that you WANT her there. Let her learn at her own pace, and don't make her feel like a buzzkill. Most of all, when she gets stuck or frustrated or whatever, remind her that YOU were not born with a snowmobile protruding from your azz, and that YOU have been in the exact same frustrating position more times than you'd care to admit. Share a laugh, help her tip her sled back upright, and enjoy sharing SOMETHING you love with SOMEONE you love. In no time at all, SHE will be highmarking YOU......After all, she IS lighter than you right??

NICE POST!!!!!!

 

[snoman159]

Yeah that's a good point on watching her from behind but she generally wants me leading. I'll have to figure that one out. Yeah I thought about the bar risers but forgot to mention it. I modified my steering post to get a more rider forward position but I think I'm going to be tipping the risers back toward her a bit. Its about about chin level for her right now when she is sitting, and she still doesn't feel super comfortable standing and riding...yet. Good call on the sway bar, I would have never thought about that. For now most of the riding will be in Minnesota, but that will be something to think about if I ever convince her to come out west with me. Any other input from the ladies? I only had the one sled last year so we did some 2 up riding which she enjoyed but I want her to get used to the fact that she has her own sled now. Need to make it comfortable so that she will WANT to take it out, as opposed to me wanting her to take it out.

 

[JEEPER]

There are some very good comments on here....

Without a doubt my girlie is my favorite riding partner, i have a ton of fun when watching her ride. I'll look back after a hard section to watch her tackle it and find her right there "giving Er a Go" and just think wow "I'm a lucky dog". Most of the time it's just me and her, other people just don't seem to prioritize riding as high on thier list as us.

We live to head up to the cabin every weekend, ride and enjoy mother nature. Summer or winter.

my biggest problem is... she now has a better sled than me, better gear and is a better rider... it's gonna be hard to keep up! i hope my man berries can take the ego hit!

 

[flatlander_99]

Good for you two......I scored big in the wife department too, although (unlike you) I never got Missy to climb on the Gixxer or the ZX7R. She DOES love her ATV and her sled.

The key for Missy was finding her a ride that fit HER, not something she'd grow into, or something for my deadbeat buddies to ride. We rented a pile of different sleds (she hated them all) until she rode a REV. Even after riding a new XP, she doesn't want to change sleds, and I'm not going to push her. She's getting better and better off trail, and I might even have convinced her to go on the ladiesride.com outing. She's even springing for new PowderPros for BOTH of our sleds this year. Being supportive WITHOUT being pushy is an art unto itself.

I never understood guys who get married and then salivate at every opportunity to go somewhere or do something without their wives. I got married because I LIKE doing stuff with Missy...It's simply more fun to ride with her. If I wanted to spend more time with my buddies, I'd still be single.

Anyway.....word to the wise: If you want wifey to join you in your sledding adventures, take some time and listen to what makes her comfortable (sled, helmet, boots, etc) Let her know that you WANT her there. Let her learn at her own pace, and don't make her feel like a buzzkill. Most of all, when she gets stuck or frustrated or whatever, remind her that YOU were not born with a snowmobile protruding from your azz, and that YOU have been in the exact same frustrating position more times than you'd care to admit. Share a laugh, help her tip her sled back upright, and enjoy sharing SOMETHING you love with SOMEONE you love. In no time at all, SHE will be highmarking YOU......After all, she IS lighter than you right??

dido - great post!!! you hit the nail on the head. the #1 thing i hated when learning was pressure. your wife is very lucky jj! now tell her to join the ladies ride!

 

[bakininthesun]

I have been reading this and thought I would chime in for the women. I started my wife way back in the stone age on a Yamaha SRX then on to an SRV then to a phazer then to polaris and on and on. My wife is now riding a 2006 m7 153 with some mods,she has passed the 50 mark and still rides as hard as she did 10 years ago. After all these years I would take her into the back country before I would take alot of guys. She has turned out to be the best partner I could have asked for. As for all the other women we ride with it has become a a little thing between the girls that they test each other every time we go out. They have all become very good riders. So for all the men that take their wives good on ya,and for all the women keep on the men. Just remember it takes all of use to keep the sport alive

 

[girlpowder]

Without a doubt my girlie is my favorite riding partner, i have a ton of fun when watching her ride. I'll look back after a hard section to watch her tackle it and find her right there "giving Er a Go" and just think wow "I'm a lucky dog". Most of the time it's just me and her, other people just don't seem to prioritize riding as high on thier list as us.

We live to head up to the cabin every weekend, ride and enjoy mother nature. Summer or winter.

my biggest problem is... she now has a better sled than me, better gear and is a better rider... it's gonna be hard to keep up! i hope my man berries can take the ego hit!

Good post JEEPER.
Sounds like me and my hub.

Man berries, I like that.

 

[sledhead ut]

I crack up when I hear about the frustrations of getting stuck or in a situation. I think it's the only time we stop and rest. We never have action shots cuz we just don't take the time to stop. We see it as a good chance to take a photo, drink a cold one, laugh and plan our next route. Jeanette has become such an aggressive rider, there are few people we can take with us. We've had to take her brother back to the main road before and send him home, Ha Ha, cuz we're sure as he11 not quitting on a powder day. When I think of all my best memories of spending time in the outdoors, my wife is next to me in everyone. Hiking, MX biking, boating and sledding. How can you beat 12 months of outdoor adventures with your best friend? I'm a lucky Dog.

BTW: loved the man berry comment.

 

[CoyoteGirl]

This has turned out to be a fantastic thread. Thanks Flakey!

Lots of good advice on here.

All of you ladies ROCK! (insert the little headbanger dude here)

 

[JEEPER]

ohh by the way.....

when we built these bikes... i was told explicitly, there was NO WAY she was getting a smaller motor in her bike... NOT GONNA HAPPEN .... that's my kinda girlie

 

[Scott]

Sledhead,
Our first was born in 2000...last in 08.

Spud,
Who knows.

 

[sledhead ut]

when we built these bikes... i was told explicitly, there was NO WAY she was getting a smaller motor in her bike... NOT GONNA HAPPEN .... that's my kinda girlie

Those are TRICK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Good timing for the gas crunch.

 

[bakininthesun]

Found the pic I was looking for.This is for all the women that think they can't do it or keep up. This is a friend of ours that we ride with,her name is Sandy and she just turned 62 years young. This photo was taken last year at the sinks around Bear Lake.