Originally Posted by
SaiKaiTai
Yeah, even worse, that hill comes at the end. The beginning is all downhill
There is a shared interest in a tandem and a former co-worker has offered to loan his to us to try it out
But not for a "first" bike... maybe after she gets some miles under her belt.
I think you're quite right here.
If your SO has an interest in any kind of a bike, then my uninformed and unasked for advice would be to start from where she's at. Maybe get her a few trial rides on bikes with a similar geometry but a slightly brisker performance than the cruiser (my SO loves her Trek 7.5) - but the starting point has to be 'I like cycling' rather than the enthusiast's statement of 'This is great, try this'
Tandems, at whatever level, are a bit hard core. Folk call them 'amplifiers'. If you like each other and you both like cycling, then the experience will turn up the amplifier to 11. If not.....
As you say, enjoyable single bike miles at a speed and distance that she chooses, so the decision is to try a bit more next time, possibly coupled with an expression of 'why'd we turn back already?', is a wonderful and fun achievement. And, incidentally, that spirit is absolutely necessary if you want your SO to help you get a long bike (tandem) home!
Enjoyable, social, fun biking first. Tandems second. Forgive me for unasked-for opinions - well meant.