Southern California - Looks Like My Wife Wants to Join in the Fun

So... last night as I was making plans for another ride with another rider my wife got a little peeved, but wouldn't tell me why. Eventually, it came out that it bothered her that I was going out and doing rides with others, but not with her. She said it was her problem, as it's hard for us to ride at the same time due to the kids, and that she's had one reason or another to not ride most of this year.

However, we decided that the oldest should be able to watch the other 2 for a couple hours here and there, and may behave if he's getting paid to do it, so that would solve one problem.

The other problem is she's riding an old, slow hybrid. I've wanted to buy her a new bike, but she didn't want it until she was sure that she wanted to ride. Apparently, she's now sure as she's told me to order her a new bike! :D

I had offered her my Synapse since it's a really, really nice bike, but she's afraid of the CF, so it looks like we're going to get her an allow one, instead. Besides, if she really gets into it we can ALWAYS get her a better one later! ;)

Congratulations!! I ride with my wife all the time. She does not ride at the same pace as I do, but she is getting there. My wife in the begining was a slow,but with much patience on both ends she is now up to speed. I plan on building a single speed so when we do our rides together I will be limited on fast I can go.

nice, look forward to seeing you both out there!

I've been hoping she'd want to do more, but haven't wanted to push her and piss her off.

I think that's great, John! You should get her on here and "geek"ified. Also, let her know that there are other women to ride with. I'd love if she'd join! :)

Congratulations John!
Well, my solution to getting my wife to ride with me after getting her a single bike which failed miserably, was to get a tandem. So we got a new Santana in 1995 and that worked well for as long as it lasted. We sold that tandem 5 years later and she hasn't ridden since as she took up salsa dancing quite seriously. I don't dance.

I think that's great, John! You should get her on here and "geek"ified. Also, let her know that there are other women to ride with. I'd love if she'd join! :)

I will definitely extend the invitation to her.

We sold that tandem 5 years later and she hasn't ridden since as she took up salsa dancing quite seriously. I don't dance.

I can't dance, I've got a bad knee! At least, that's my story and I'm sticking to it!

I am jealous and happy for you both. I tried but it failed. Spousal Unit only rides what needs riding and she is a good sport about it.

that's very cool, I wish mine would show an interest in the biking.

Very cool...how old are your kids?

Spousal Unit only rides what needs riding and she is a good sport about it.
:eek: Well, that's one way of putting it...;) :p

it sounded like a headline from a swingers forum

After about a year and a new bike she will be riding like this :
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/159/387586111_fce9f5e3d0_b.jpg

Very cool...how old are your kids?

7, 11, and 14 next month. All boys. I've got to be optimistic about this... ;)

it sounded like a headline from a swingers forum
:roflmao: :roflmao: :roflmao:

After about a year and a new bike she will be riding like this :

I love that photo, John. She looks so gorgeous and HAPPY and digging the ride. She's representing quite well. :)

7, 11, and 14 next month. All boys. I've got to be optimistic about this... ;)
My 9 year old does 20 mile rides almost every Sunday with us. You should try to get the whole family involved.

it sounded like a headline from a swingers forum

This isn't one? That explains the odd responses I got at the other forum for fluid intake during a long rides. :o

My 9 year old does 20 mile rides almost every Sunday with us. You should try to get the whole family involved.

If I could hook up a tv and a computer to their bikes I'd stand a chance. My kids are allergic to exercise.

I am working on it, though.

That's awesome, man - doing activities with the other half is a great thing -

My wife runs and occasionally rides her mountain bike with me, but has little interest in road biking. I try to keep up w/ her on runs, but crap out after 3 miles or so (she runs 8+ miles three times a week) . . . while it'd be fun to get her on a road bike, I don't push it as different people have different hobbies/things they enjoy. -

Looking forward to seeing you (two) on a ride!!

This isn't one? That explains the odd responses I got at the other forum for fluid intake during a long rides. :o
:roflmao:

I am jealous and happy for you both. I tried but it failed.
Same here. She tried a 4 mile ride with me and can't stand the saddle. I kept trying to convince her that it was uncomfortable because she insisted on wearing underwear under her cycling shorts. Now she just tells me she gets sick to the stomach when she sees a cyclist now because she knows he's going commando.

I was thinking of getting her on a recumbant to see if that fixes the sore butt problem, but she really doesn't seem interested.

I am jealous and happy for you both. I tried but it failed. I knew things wouldn't work out with my ex-fiancee when I bought her a bike, we rode together and the most critical skill she learned was how to light a cigarette mid-ride. :rolleyes:

My wife rides doubles with me, but she insists that I ride my own speed and not wait for her. So I see her at the start, and I stay with her until it gets light (ask Ron Smith Jr!), but then I take off at my own speed.

Then I usually shower and change into street clothes and wait for her at the finish. Not that this will work for you jp, but just another suggestion.

Best Reg,
Rick / OCRR

I've been having similiar issues. Our daughter is 12 but we're not ready to leave her alone for a few hours yet.

My wife is plenty strong and we got her an OCR3 a few years ago. She does all kinds of workouts including some tough Spinervals on our trainer but says she hates hills!

Really, just need our daughter to visit with the grandparents (who live close by) a bit more. I told Vicki if she wants to do an organized ride, such as Cruising, Cool Breeze, etc., I would ride her pace and we could do a short course. When the weather changes, I'm going to see if I can get her to the shop ride on Saturdays.

Sheldon

My wife actually started bike commuting before I did -- on her Electra Townie :) This inspired me to replace my stolen MTB, I did so and we started riding together, then I replaced the replacement with my do-all touring machine. Thanks to BF feeding my penchant for obsession, I got her a road bike and she's committed to riding with me a couple of days a week when it stays light longer -- she works later than I do. I guess the moral of the story is that the wife got me back on the bike, but my obsessive behavior got the best of both of us and we're riding more and more. It's nice to be a team with your best buddy :love:

Dear JP:

Our club, PAA, just started a new monthly ride -- Sunday mornings, 8:00am, starting from the Rose Bowl, going east to Arcadia/Sierra Madre, and then back, with coffee and socializing afterwards. It's a nice easy paced ride, ~15-16 mph, about 30-35 miles total, with mostly women from our club whose husbands/boyfriends are absolute gladiators, and who are too intimidated to come riding on the club's big Saturday rides. If your wife would like to join us, she would NOT be the only gal on a hybrid (a couple of the ladies have orthopedic issues that make a racing road bike out of the question). A lot of the fellas came out to support the ride, so it was a lot of fun. The next one is March 11th, if she'd like to join us. The two gals who started it up are absolute sweeties, and I know they'll make her feel welcome. I'm also planning to be there, and I'd be sure and take her under my wing.

Velodrome Phoenix, transforming into Mother Hen

My bike is trying to get me a wife to join in.

My bike is trying to get me a wife to join in.
:lol: Maybe your bike could put out an ad. ;)

Congratulations John,

My wife started last year, after a few rides together and talking to a few friends, we decided that the best training would be Team In Training. She received better coaching from one of their certified coaches than I could ever provide and we raised $2,500 for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society fight against cancer.

While she was training for her 1st century, I would ride a recovery ride with her on Sunday. It allowed me to ride at my level on Saturdays. Four months after starting the program she completed her first Century, the 109 mile El Tour de Tucson. Now she is mentoring other newbies for the Lake Tahoe Century in June. She has really taken to cycling and loves it.

I'm going to suggest the Team in Training to her, again, once she gets the bike and has ridden it a couple times. I think she may be more receptive this time and is more willing to find the time.

Congratulations John,

My wife started last year, after a few rides together and talking to a few friends, we decided that the best training would be Team In Training. She received better coaching from one of their certified coaches than I could ever provide and we raised $2,500 for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society fight against cancer.

While she was training for her 1st century, I would ride a recovery ride with her on Sunday. It allowed me to ride at my level on Saturdays. Four months after starting the program she completed her first Century, the 109 mile El Tour de Tucson. Now she is mentoring other newbies for the Lake Tahoe Century in June. She has really taken to cycling and loves it.

Lee, I'm interested in this ride and was considering signing up with Team in Training for it but I'm really not sure about being able to raise enough by the deadline. :o Does she lead training rides and, if so, where?

My bike is trying to get me a wife to join in.

http://www.cyclingsingles.com/

Dear JP:

Our club, PAA, just started a new monthly ride -- Sunday mornings, 8:00am, starting from the Rose Bowl, going east to Arcadia/Sierra Madre, and then back, with coffee and socializing afterwards. It's a nice easy paced ride, ~15-16 mph, about 30-35 miles total, with mostly women from our club whose husbands/boyfriends are absolute gladiators, and who are too intimidated to come riding on the club's big Saturday rides. If your wife would like to join us, she would NOT be the only gal on a hybrid (a couple of the ladies have orthopedic issues that make a racing road bike out of the question). A lot of the fellas came out to support the ride, so it was a lot of fun. The next one is March 11th, if she'd like to join us. The two gals who started it up are absolute sweeties, and I know they'll make her feel welcome. I'm also planning to be there, and I'd be sure and take her under my wing.

Velodrome Phoenix, transforming into Mother Hen
Can you provide the route you are talking about. I am a newbie looking for some routes to practice. I often go round & round Rosebowl

My lady rode alot with her parents as a teen but got burnt out by the time she graduated High School and started College. Since we've been together she's ridden very sporadically. In '05 she got rid of her MTB and got a Giant flat bar rode bike. Then around the middle of last summer she decided to sell the flat bar and get a true roadie. She went and bought herself a really nice Specialized woman's specific bike with an aluminum/carbon frame and full 105 10 spd. ( I call it the Pink Nitemare) Anyways, she did ride with me quite a bit but then something happened, it's like she just all of a sudden lost interest. Well, her new bike had been sitting collecting dust in our home office and the tires were almost going flat and she pulls out one of these "OMG I'm so fat, I really need to get back on the bike" kinda deals, would you fill my tires for me and oh BTW would you mind talking me out for a ride on Sunday? So I took her out to do laps at the Rose Bowl and she loved it. I'll admit, I was really frustrated having to do 5 laps with her at her pace but at the same time I was very happy. After she tired out she agreed to wait at the truck while I broke loose and did 6 laps at my pace. For some reason I think she feels a bit intimidated by all the men that ride and I think that she would feel better if she were to talk to other female cyclists. I've been thinking about maybe introducing her to m.e. to see if that might possibly motivate her to stick with riding.

For some reason I think she feels a bit intimidated by all the men that ride and I think that she would feel better if she were to talk to other female cyclists. I've been thinking about maybe introducing her to m.e. to see if that might possibly motivate her to stick with riding.

Go ahead and try but M.E. is pretty intimidating too. :rolleyes:

My wife rides doubles with me, but she insists that I ride my own speed and not wait for her. So I see her at the start, and I stay with her until it gets light (as Ron Smith Jr!), but then I take off at my own speed.

And this is because she is really good at navigating, which is essential when you are riding your bike in the early morning hours and are half asleep. See, I am paying attention! :D

I knew things wouldn't work out with my ex-fiancee when I bought her a bike, we rode together and the most critical skill she learned was how to light a cigarette mid-ride. :rolleyes:


yeah... D-T-B is all I need to say.

My bike is trying to get me a wife to join in.
Funniest thing you have said in a while.

You need one of deeez!:D ........Since we got it, Gina's always ready to go for a little ride!:p

http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l267/gulpxtreme/DSC04731.jpg

Wow...Gina is teesny.

You need one of deeez!:D ........Since we got it, Gina's always ready to go for a little ride!:p

http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l267/gulpxtreme/DSC04731.jpg
Small for a stoker? Mr. Beanz you’re not wearing a pink helmet are you?

Wow...Gina is teesny.

Yeah, but she's got a great power to weight ratio!:D


And don't tell anybody Mark, Pink is my fave!:p

My wife and I have a tandem also. It's really fun.

The other problem is she's riding an old, slow hybrid. I've wanted to buy her a new bike, but she didn't want it until she was sure that she wanted to ride. Apparently, she's now sure as she's told me to order her a new bike! :D


Very cool! My BF got me a road bike last valentine's day and the rest is history! For a while, I was riding more consistently than he was-- even got in my first century in December.

One thing I noticed and this might hold true for your wife too-- I didn't really get into riding that much until I started riding on my own. My BF is much stronger and faster than I was so riding with him wasn't a lot of fun for me. Once I started going out on my own, riding at my own pace, riding whatever route I was in the mood for, I fell in love with it.

Nowadays I'm alot stronger so I can hang with him and we ride together in the mornings and will try to do a longer weekend ride together. Make sure you give her a change to build up to your level or ride slow if you're riding with her.

One BONUS of havig a significant other who cycles is I never get a complaint from him when I come home from Performance with jerseys and all manner of other goodies!

I plan on building a single speed so when we do our rides together I will be limited on fast I can go.

Your singlespeed idea *might* work on a road bike, if all you do is flat rides but my experience with singlespeed mountain bikes leads me to believe otherwise.

When I started riding singlespeed mountain bikes, that was part of my reasoning, that it'd slow me down enough to stay with the group on a regular Wednesday night group-ride I was doing at the time. The group consisted of mostly older, and some younger, but less fit, riders. The singlespeed had the opposite of the intended effect, in that I could no longer "take it easy" on climbs. As soon as you hit a hill on a singlespeed you're going to be out of the saddle attacking it to maintain your momentum, or grinding along in a big gear leaving your geared companions spinning behind you. You'll drop your wife on every hill on a singlespeed, and then when it gets flat, or turns downhill, she's going to get bored 'cause you'll be spun out before she ever shifts into her big ring.

In my experience, in all but a race situation or a competitive group ride, a singlespeeder is going to be faster than a geared rider 'cause they have no choice but to push a bigger than normal gear on every climb. Keep in mind though that the closest thing to a singlespeed that I've ridden on the road, in a group, is my fixed-gear. That presents a whole new set of problems, e.g. not being able to maintain the spin when the pace gets quick. Being able to coast might make it a little easier.

By all means, get a singlespeed if you want one (They're great. I'm seriously addicted. Haven't ridden a geared bike off-road for over 3 years.), but don't expect it to make riding with your wife any simpler. If anything it'll complicate matters. You're probably better off just spinning an easy gear. If you train at all, just use rides with your wife as "recovery" rides...

My experience is different that Flip's. I bought Gina a Bianchi back in 96. She rode it a bit but not really into it. Then we bought the tandem and it was over. Got a real good deal on a used Bianchi that she loved. We alternate back and forth on the tandem. First was hard cause she wanted to mash all the time.

We started riding the tandem a bit more then she started to realize her mistakes. Since, she has found the inbetween and now does quite well.

When she's on a low, we'll whip out the tandem. I'll really push just get her legs going. She says it's really a good jump start to get her legs moving.

Nowadays I'm alot stronger so I can hang with him and we ride together in the mornings and will try to do a longer weekend ride together.



Oh, it's common knowledge that you drop him like a hot potato in the hills, no need to be modest :)

I'm going to suggest the Team in Training to her, again, once she gets the bike and has ridden it a couple times. I think she may be more receptive this time and is more willing to find the time.

I can't recommend this option enough. I happen to have a very personal reason to support the cause, but I'm now in muchbetter riding shape than I've ever been.

Enrollments for Cool Breeze should start in a couple of months, so you've got some time.