Fifty Plus (50+) - just say nothing at all..?

Mrs Geezer and I were out on the tandem this morning, enjoying the beginning of the cooler weather (relatively speaking - still high 90.s) and feelng good. Seana has a sweater wrapped around her waist in case we stop somewhere air-conditioned. ( I think you can see where this tale is going).
So, about an hour in, nicely warmed up, and we're going down a slight descent when the back wheel locks solid. I think I'm doing pretty well to keep the bike balanced and in line until we stop (leaving at least a thirty yard skidmark). As I was otherwise engaged, the unclipping from the pedals trick hadn't been on the top of my mind. Seana steps off daintily while I topple over with the bike on top.
As we set about unwrapping the sweater from the wheel and the seat stays and the brakes where it had slipped and jammed things, Seana helpfully points out "Well, if you weren't clipped in with those silly shoes, you wouldn't have fallen off!"
So, what do you think? Smile and agree and be grateful for a riding companion - or give some corrective feedback with the frame pump? I'd be grateful for your views.

...the unclipping from the pedals trick hadn't been on the top of my mind...

- isn't the first rule when going clipless to unclip before stopping? or is trackstanding on a tandem a difficult skill?

:-)

p.s. i hope the rest of the ride continued without incident!

Remember women are always right even when they are wrong. :)

or is trackstanding on a tandem a difficult skill?[/QUOTE]

normally its easy, its harder with your wife's sweater jammed in the wheel - makes the rocking backwards and forwards a little tricky!

Or, she might have steadied the bike to keep you from falling.
Oh, and your being clipped in with those silly shoes would be less than half so annoying to me as her error in allowing the sweater to get tangled up in the wheel to begin with.

That said, I assume that the two of you would not still be wobbling and geezing along if the shortcomings "apparent" in each of your characters weren't offset by more redeeming qualities.

I would probably brush off the bike, myself, and the incident (in that order) and move on with the happy relationship.

Caruso

"Grin and bear it."

Repeat after me: "I'm sorry. You were right and I was wrong, and I'll try to do better next time."

You can tell from the answers, this forum is full of 50+s. They're all advising you to put up with that kind of response.

The correct response would have been: "how are you getting home dear?" said loudly over your shoulder as you pedal away without her.

"yes dear.........":( :( :(

"You're right dear and I'm sorry about your nice sweater."

She was looking out for your safety by testing a new emergency stopping method in case of brake failure on future rides. And you had to go and screw it up by clipping in with your silly shoes.

It's all your fault Geeze. :fight: :roflmao:

Why that's easy: The very first rule in the tandem rider's handbook says: "The stoker is always right!"

Violation of that rule generally results in the ownership of a very large piece of expensive garage art.

Or, she might have steadied the bike to keep you from falling.
Oh, and your being clipped in with those silly shoes would be less than half so annoying to me as her error in allowing the sweater to get tangled up in the wheel to begin with.

That said, I assume that the two of you would not still be wobbling and geezing along if the shortcomings "apparent" in each of your characters weren't offset by more redeeming qualities.

I would probably brush off the bike, myself, and the incident (in that order) and move on with the happy relationship.

Caruso

Yup, thanks and thanks to you all -

the only reason I've posted this here is that we both thought the incident was funny, so we thought we'd share!
And I'm so glad that the geezette chooses against rationality to ride bikes with me - but at the same time I reserve the male right to assert that rear wheels and sweaters are better separated.
Pre- flight check next time - no shoe laces close to the timing chain, no waist bag loose ends close to the calipers, no sweaters at all .

We have a lot of fun on bikes together! Hope you all do so too

2 words make for a long marraige......."Yes Dear".

First rule of Tandemming- A stoker is NEVER wrong. Otherwise the Tandem gets very heavy when she catches a Taxi home.

First rule of Tandemming- A stoker is NEVER wrong. Otherwise the Tandem gets very heavy when she catches a Taxi home.

You're right of course -

I thought the McCready quote was " a stoker makes no mistakes", also true (.. till she does).

May the Lord forgive me!

You're right of course -

I thought the McCready quote was " a stoker makes no mistakes", also true (.. till she does).

May the Lord forgive me!

I am a stoker and I am never wrong- Unfortunately- this attitude can mean a long walk home if I ever get off the Tandem just after I have upset the Pilot.

!"
So, what do you think? Smile and agree and be grateful for a riding companion - or give some corrective feedback with the frame pump? I'd be grateful for your views.



Corrective feedback with the frame pump?? :D

Sorry, I meant :(


Loved your thread. You sound like a "professional husband" to me. :D

Buy her the nicest sweater you can find. Don't wait until the anniversary or christmas or birthday. Do it right away and surprize her. That sweater will forever lock in the "silly shoes" episode in your marriage.

Buy her the nicest sweater you can find. Don't wait until the anniversary or christmas or birthday. Do it right away and surprize her. That sweater will forever lock in the "silly shoes" episode in your marriage.

Thank you so much. I appreciate your post.

Two possible responses

Response one - Have you never read BF Skinner on operant conditioning? If I followed your advice, every time she hankers after knitwear she'll crash the bike.

Response two - Lovely idea, that's what I should and will do!;)

Correct response is "My fault! lets go shop for a replacement sweater"

http://i9.tinypic.com/4347qtd.jpg

Response one - Have you never read BF Skinner on operant conditioning? If I followed your advice, every time she hankers after knitwear she'll crash the bike.

Response two - Lovely idea, that's what I should and will do!;)

You realize, of course, how unfair this all is. From high school on the boys focus on cars and sports. The girls learn about relationships, operant conditioning and reward systems.

So, what do you think? Smile and agree and be grateful for a riding companion?

My favorite wife has suggested that she & I alternate days when everything is one of our faults. I told her I couldn't keep up with which day so why don't we alternate weeks: one week everything is my fault, the next week everything is hers.

But as a BF 50+'er, I'm having trouble keeping up with the weeks so I've told her not to worry about when it was 'her' turn - that I'd just assume the mantle of responsibility for everything that can & does go wrong.

If a tree falls in the woods when a man is there alone and no woman is around, is it still his fault?

possible answers: no, yes or probably

correct answers: yes or probably

I won the most arguments with my ex by simply remaining quiet and letting her get verbally overboard. Later on, she would find the need to apologize. The Mrs's chatter about your pedals sounds like typical defense by changing the subject and putting you off balance.

Can we assume that she will never do that again? Can we assume that the sweater suffered either black stripes from the rubber and grease or a hole from friction. Then the punishment has been meted. You can probably expect an unasked for favor soon as her way of apologizing without apologizing. We can only hope that its pie.

Before our current relationship began, my girlfriend was on a week-long cycletour of the Oregon coast with a bunch of friends. Early on the second day, she was riding her bike with a jacket strapped to the rear rack. She was just nearing the end of the long descent and exiting to Cannon Beach when the jacket somehow got caught in her back wheel, locking it up completely. I figure she should have been able to ride it out, except that the exit lane curved, and if she kept going straight she'd end up endo'ing off the side of the road. So she crashed hard enough that she couldn't continue the tour.

So I figure getting clothing caught in the rear wheel is just something women do...

- L.

If you have reached the age that you can post on this group and you don't know enough to keep your lip zipped you've led an unhealthily lucky life.

Just how smart an old boy are you anyway?

or consider the althernative:

Just how big an old boy are you anyway?

want to be smart or big?

Kiss and make up . . . and go for another 'cool' tandem ride in Bahrain!

If you have reached the age that you can post on this group and you don't know enough to keep your lip zipped you've led an unhealthily lucky life.

Yes, I certainly have been improbably lucky

And I've very much enjoyed all these comments and playful suggestions

I don't need to add, I'm sure, that the intention behind the original posting was to entertain rather than to ask advice. The stoking wife unit and I seem to get along just fine, on the basis of shared teasing!

Thanks for the fun!

As we set about unwrapping the sweater from the wheel and the seat stays and the brakes where it had slipped and jammed things,

That is why I carry a knife, a little slice here, a little slit there, all untangled.

As we set about unwrapping the sweater from the wheel and the seat stays and the brakes where it had slipped and jammed things,

That is why I carry a knife, a little slice here, a little slit there, all untangled.

Yes, I certainly have been improbably lucky

And I've very much enjoyed all these comments and playful suggestions

I don't need to add, I'm sure, that the intention behind the original posting was to entertain rather than to ask advice. The stoking wife unit and I seem to get along just fine, on the basis of shared teasing!

Thanks for the fun!


This thread made me chuckle too. I think the real question is why wasn't she up front and you acting as the stoker? That would allow you the opportunity to have a great view and the freedom to be a "back seat" driver as it were. Given the chance to ride in front of or behind those of a different sex, I know where I like to be.

>>> Mrs Geezer

Bad term STEEE-RIKE ONE!

>>> some corrective feedback

STEE-RIKE TWO!!!

You're two and "O", buddy. . .how's that celibicy plan comming?

>>> Mrs Geezer

Bad term STEEE-RIKE ONE!

>>> some corrective feedback

STEE-RIKE TWO!!!

You're two and "O", buddy. . .how's that celibicy plan comming?

I imagine Geeze is getting used to the couch by now. :lol:

Hey Wobbly'. . .hope you're taking this in the good natured way we're serving it up. Fact is, all I know about women I could fit in a thimble.

This is as close as I can get. . .remember WKRP in Cincinatti?

Johnny 'Dr. Fever': "Wudda' women want, Les?"
Les Nessman: [five second pause] "Tupperware."

Sorry, that's all I got. . .and a drawer full of Tupperware filled with bike parts.

This thread made me laugh so hard I brought milk up through my nose...and I wasn't even drinking milk! :roflmao: Frankp

Recite The Man's prayer. (From the Red Green Show)

I'm a man.
But I can change.................If I have to.................I guess.

That is why I carry a knife, a little slice here, a little slit there, all untangled.

To quote Red Green again..."if the women don't find you handsome, they might as well find you handy"

>>> Mrs Geezer

Bad term STEEE-RIKE ONE!

>>> some corrective feedback

STEE-RIKE TWO!!!

You're two and "O", buddy. . .how's that celibicy plan comming?


Let me see if I understand correctly ('cos us Brits aren't so used to the way you all play Rounders over there)

You're saying that two whacks with the frame pump is ok, but the third is excessive?