Fifty Plus (50+) - Does your spouse, or SO ride?.......

I am so glad my wife shares my cycling interest with me. Though I'm not nearly as crazy about horses as is she (bought our second horse the other day-beautiful Paso Fino). Anyway, I realized most of my posts include her, as she's my main riding partner, and doesn't care how fast or slow, whether I'm good with hills that day or not, we go out for the fun of it! And some exercise, of course.
How many are lucky enough to have the spouse/significant other share their cycling interest?

Not here, alas, but I'm fortunate that she gives me plenty of space to pursue cycling. I do wish that she'd come along though :(

My wife has riden since 1982 and rides about 2000 on her single bike (Trek 5200) and about a 1000 on our tandem.

How many are lucky enough to have the spouse/significant other share their cycling interest?

Me.

I kludged together a Schwinn Twinn tandem for my wife and I to ride together in 1976. We've been at it together every since. The tandems have gotten progressively more high tech and progressively more high priced.

My wife humored me by going on a Vermont Bike tour once and a couple of bike-and-barge tours in the Netherlands, but she really doesn't like riding on public roads around here. She hasn't ridden in several years now and we compromise by walking/hiking a lot. I don't want to sound sexist, but many couples I see out riding seem to be mismatched ability/strength-wise. Except for casual riding, that would be frustrating for all concerned.

Lovie owns a decent bike (at my strong suggestion) and has on occasion ridden with me, but the truth is, she'd rather be doing other things. I think it bothers her that our son Chris and I ride a lot and when she is there, we slow down a fair bit to stay with her. Sad but true. She could get to where she could kick my ass with a little effort, but time availability and priority setting has not taken her there as yet. Maybe someday. Her overall fitness is not bad, but it is not bike fitness, and there is a difference as I have and still am learning.

When we were dating my wife showed up for a ride with a junker. The chain was off the chainring and both tires were flat. In the last 22 years she has ridden about 2 miles. She is very jealous of my time cycling and I only get miles in by commuting.

Mrs. Slim doesn't ride, but is supportive of my habit. She sagged for me on my solo century and will follow me down California on my SF to La trip, picking up my laundry on Day 3 (and the laundry of others) and give it back the next day. She enjoys the peace and quiet when I am gone on my rides. She has never complained about any money spent on biking (albeit, I don't go overboard).

Mrs Roccobike used to ride when we first married. About 14 years ago we found out she has MS and can not ride. However, she is very supportive of my cycling, actually encouraging me to buy the dual susp. Specialized. She frequently holds up dinner so that I can get a ride in.

I once rented a tandem to ride with the Mrs. to see if she was interested in riding again. She used to ride with me, but that was more than 20 years ago. Anyway, after that ride on a tandem I figured she wasn't interested cause she told someone that she didn't have to pedal, that they just went around and around by themselves( at the time I couldn't figure out how riding a tandem should be so tiring).
She supports me riding, as long as it doesn't cost much and she will help on longer rides. So that's just fine with me.

My wife uses the very nice bike I bought her on a trainer. She puts in some serious miles on it too. She isn't much for riding outside because of fear of dogs. We have a tandem, but she really only likes to ride it on rails to trail places. We are going to try it here in Costa Rica, but I might have to kill a few dogs first...

Goaliemom toodles around with me from time to time on her comfort bike ... on really nice days, where she knows I'm not trying to go for a long ride but just get out, she'll ride 10 miles or so. Those days are about being out together, not hammering on the bike.

My 16-year-old son does like to ride, so he & I will ride together as often as possible, given that sometimes my only free time for riding is from 6-7 am before work, and he's not yet aware there's also a "6 o'clock" that doesn't occur in the evening ... :)

Maddy supports my cycling passion and I support her cooking passion (duh). I don't cook and she doesn't cycle.
She gets calls from everyone...family, friends, neighbors, even strangers who ask questions about cooking. I wish I was half the cyclist that she is a cook.

I've tried to get her to ride but she has a fear of falling, also of dogs, insects, cars trucks etc. etc.

No thankfully, it's my time for me. While I'm out riding, she's out working with our horses. A nice arrangement.

Nope. She made noises last year about riding some this year, but has shown no interest at all this Spring.

My wife and I ride together on Friday evening as a way to start the weekend by blowing the stink of the workweek off and we also do some fun rides usually in the 15 to 30 mile range. I commute 2-4 times a week 14 mile RT. She loves to ride but since she is stuck in an office all day and won't ride with out me she does not commute which I'm glad cause she has to go through some not so nice areas to get to work. She does jog 2 to 3 times a week but I am a much stronger rider and sometimes get a little frustrated but I'm ok with that. I'm just glad we can spend time together doing something good for us.

Mine is not fond of horses but shares my love of dogs, and finally bicycles, too. Last Oct. he bought a tandem for us and after 6 mos. bought his own half-bike. We still have 3 hang gliders in our garage as well, which I don't fly. We'll sort that out eventually.

Point is, by riding we can spend time together & fulfill our needs for exercise & competition. I believe (and I hope my dh agrees) that it's brought us closer together. And that's always a good thing.

My wife loves to ride.

She has been building up her miles since her total knee replacement in January. She did 8 miles yesterday. I love for her to ride, as I think it is outstanding that someone who will be 70 in November loves exercise and getting out.

She is currently riding very slowly and cautiously, which is totally understandable, given the knee situation.

Yesterday, I did MY ride starting at 6:00 am, and then joined her for OUR ride at 8:00 am.

She has two bikes - a mtn bike and a hybrid. She feels safest on her old mtn bike. She rode a Cannondale roadie for about 600 miles, but she never felt comfortable and secure, and we sold it.

Mine is my main riding partner and rides a Specialized Dolce. We did 55 miles together just this past weekend. She was the one that actually got me riding and we both ride at about the same pace. She still blows my doors off on hills. She does not however share my love of equipment. One decent bike is good enough for her. I really wish I could get her into the N+1 club.

bought her a city bike for errands with enough gears and street tires to maybe get her 10 Km's. distance. It helps to bribe her with an ice cream desert at the beach. I can only hope. She desires to get more exercise.

The wife and I bought hybrids a couple of years ago. She rides the bike paths with me on the weekends. We have planned destinations of shopping and restaurants. We have some very beautiful tree filled paths here in Ohio that we both enjoy. I'm retired, and she still works full time. I bought a road bike last year and started putting in more serious mileage totals. She envys me since I'm able to ride so much more than her. We'll put in more riding time together, as she is cutting back to part time soon.

My wife (the Kat in Bobkat!) rides with me all the time, and we do several tours and charitable rides each year. She also runs marathons, which I definitely don't do! Also is fantastic chef! I'm definitely the luckiest guy in the world! We both have different interests, and yet have enough of the same interests to do a lot of things together! If there's a prize for the best wife in the world, all you guys out there will be fighting for second place!
I ride a bent and she has a CF Trek, although after serious rides she is getting tired of sore arms, shoulders and neck stiffness, and she sometimes eyes my bent! So I suspect our bike stable may enlarge one of these days.

My sweet wife reintroduced me to cycling when she started bike commuting. She got a road bike last year and there's no stopping her. We ride to work on our own, and together on the weekends. We're all signed up for Seattle-to-Portland this summer. She rocks.
http://curtis.corlew.com/hosting/cccandTrish.jpg

My sweet wife reintroduced me to cycling when she started bike commuting. She got a road bike last year and there's no stopping her. We ride to work on our own, and together on the weekends. We're all signed up for Seattle-to-Portland this summer. She rocks.
http://curtis.corlew.com/hosting/cccandTrish.jpg

I've read about the STP ride and it sounds great.

Now for an important question:rolleyes: I love your wife's jersey.....where did she get it?
Your's is nice too but I don't want anyone knowing I'm full of anything, even beans.

Great thread...to see who got who into biking and how couples 'work together' whether they are together or not
Since I am a priest, my SF is the congregation/church community...and they encourage me to ride,,, as long as it does not mean I am not doing what I'm supposed to be doing (work). I have the idea to do a 'family bicycle sunday' one of these days when the weather will be nice. Now that we are into summer it will probably be in the fall after the heat has dissipated.
peace

I don't want to sound sexist, but many couples I see out riding seem to be mismatched ability/strength-wise. Except for casual riding, that would be frustrating for all concerned.

I'm not married but many of the couples I ride with are mismatched in ability and strength. One of the ways they solve this problem is entering club rides with different distances. They are together before and after the event but ride different mileage with people who match their riding level. The non-riding spouses often join us for the after event activities since they don't share their spouses love of cycling:)

Well, the best compliment I can make my wife of 45 years marriage and 65 years of age is to describe our Sunday ride.
We own a nice Tandem. I decided to change the tires from 2.5" wide to 1.5" wide. We bike on a MUP limestone cover (bumpy). Some time along the 50 mile trip I see that we had a chance to better our best time of 3:00 hours for the 50 mile round trip. My wife put up with that crazy urge without complaint. We biked furiously and shaved 30 seconds of our best time ever.

Well, the best compliment I can make my wife of 45 years marriage and 65 years of age is to describe our Sunday ride.
We own a nice Tandem. I decided to change the tires from 2.5" wide to 1.5" wide. We bike on a MUP limestone cover (bumpy). Some time along the 50 mile trip I see that we had a chance to better our best time of 3:00 hours for the 50 mile round trip. My wife put up with that crazy urge without complaint. We biked furiously and shaved 30 seconds of our best time ever.

Was she thrilled about the 30 seconds:rolleyes: :rolleyes:

My wife humored me by going on a Vermont Bike tour once and a couple of bike-and-barge tours in the Netherlands, but she really doesn't like riding on public roads around here. She hasn't ridden in several years now and we compromise by walking/hiking a lot. I don't want to sound sexist, but many couples I see out riding seem to be mismatched ability/strength-wise. Except for casual riding, that would be frustrating for all concerned.

You are describing my wife and me. Our solution was/is a tandem bike. I know the issues of tandem bikes in traffic and congested areas. We found (Rail to Trails) MUP's in non congested areas and having a blast.

Well, no, Mrs Kaitai does not ride. Yet. Maybe. I mean, she's been talking about it but hasn't yet taken that all important next step: trying out (and buying) a new bike. We used to ride together but she lost her confidence and hasn't been the same since I clipped her front wheel in '82 and she went down pretty hard. And I was a real jerk about it, too, on top of that. Supportive as can be, though, seeing as how she bought my Kaitai for me for our anniversary in March '06 and set me off on this chapter of my life. She let's me have my time and even let me buy the Reno (don't think I'll push her much more than that). I'd welcome her company on a ride -though it would be a different ride that what I do alone- but I enjoy and prefer the solitude.

Was she thrilled about the 30 seconds:rolleyes: :rolleyes:

Beverly-
Actually, yes. I overheard her talking to our son. (The new Road Biker) My wife was bragging to him of doing 17 MPH average on limestone for 50 miles. She was clearly proud of that achievement and she should. It was tough.:)

My wife loves to ride, but not quite as much as me. So we usually ride around 50 miles together 1x week. Her pace is slower which is fine, but she's picking up steam.

One of the stories she tells is she knew it was true love when I took her Schwinn Varsity in college and tore it down & rebuilt it for her. Man, that was one rusty bike.

I've read about the STP ride and it sounds great.

Now for an important question:rolleyes: I love your wife's jersey.....where did she get it?
Your's is nice too but I don't want anyone knowing I'm full of anything, even beans.

Last Thanksgiving I made my first trip out of North America. We went to Florence. I bought her jersey at the street market downtown. Usually when I buy her a present I can't stand waiting and I give it to her right away. This time I managed to wait until Christmas. She was really surprised. It is so her.

I bought myself an obscure team jersey that's all in Italian and not nearly as cool.

Last Thanksgiving I made my first trip out of North America. We went to Florence. I bought her jersey at the street market downtown. Usually when I buy her a present I can't stand waiting and I give it to her right away. This time I managed to wait until Christmas. She was really surprised. It is so her.

I bought myself an obscure team jersey that's all in Italian and not nearly as cool.
Cool. I'll be in Florence next week and wanted to pick up a jersey or two. Didn't think of a street vendor - was this in a market section or just your random street vendor?

How many are lucky enough to have the spouse/significant other share their cycling interest?

My bicycle IS my significant other. ;)

My wife, the triathlete, got me into cycling about 4-5 years ago because she was a runner and wanted someone to ride with; she created a monster. So she inspired me and I inspired her and we continue riding together (we did 93 miles together over this past weekend).

The "mismatch" issue is sometimes there but we're not that far apart. We also do some group rides as well as just the two of us, and we also ride alone at times. We've been learning how to ride a paceline, so I'm hoping that she'll get comfortable in riding my wheel which would help the mismatch. I spent decades not being able to keep up with her running, so we don't harbor any illusions :-)

My wife rode almost 3000 miles last year.

I ride with a virtual wife. Don't ask.

My husband and I ride horseback together, I don't think I will ever get him on a bike. Thats not true, he did take my road bike, when I first brought it home, for a 50 yard spin, and just shook his head.

I ride with a virtual wife. Don't ask.

What kind of virtual bike does she ride?

My wife has zero interest in getting on a bicycle. She doesn't mind if I ride, and encourages me to do so, like yesterday when I was pacing the house like a caged lion. I find when I start to talk to her about something bike related, her eyes just kind of glaze over.

There are times when I wished she did ride, but I also like the fact that it's my time to get out.

Cool. I'll be in Florence next week and wanted to pick up a jersey or two. Didn't think of a street vendor - was this in a market section or just your random street vendor?


It's in the main market where they sell endless leather goods, hats, sweatshirts and stuff. It was on a side street, still among all the shops. It wasn't a cycling place, but they had a rack of jerseys.

What kind of virtual bike does she ride?
See that's the cool part. Her bike is a mountain / hybrid / coaster / commuter / tandem / recumbent / road / singlespeed / unicycle / cyclocross / touring bike. It's all good!

My bicycle IS my significant other. ;)

+1 And it doesn't leave dirty clothes on the floor, toothpaste on the bathroom mirror and never misses the tiolet:rolleyes:

My wife and I almost always ride together. We have been married for 43 years, and just started cycling 2 years ago.

Sometimes we putter along at 10/12 mph and chat, other times we go for a good workout. For uncommitted Saturday mornings, we have breakfast routes of 10, 20, and 30 miles worked out.

Bikes figure into our vacation plans these days. And we're looking at some things we want to do after retirement that involve cycling.

I am a much stronger rider because of my wife. Once not long ago I was at 220 and my sweet wife would ride the top of many climbs stop and wait on me. As people would pass her on the side of the road they would ask if everything was OK. Sure everything is OK I am just waiting on my husband. Dang the love of my life is kicking my butt and other people know it. Today at 180 the only time she passes me is when I allow her.

Life is good
jimmy

My wife has MS and one of the things she has difficulties with is bicycling. She does enjoy walking, and works out a couple times a week on her eliptical machine. Once or twice per season she'll suggest that we take a ride on one of the counties MUPs, and we'll do about 15 miles at about 15mph. with her in the lead. She may have muscular problems, but she's strong!!

The rest of the time I'll ride on my own, which is enjoyable also. She doesn't really approve of my commuting, mainly due to the time of day. I work rotating shifts from 5 A.M. till 5:30 P.M. and 5 P.M. till 5:30 A.M. two days and two nights per week. My route skirts the edge of the city, and a freindly city sometimes it aint. She doesn't seem to mind me taking a few hours to ride on my day or days off, though she does give me some grief about having too many bikes.

We've tried the tandem, she hated it ...which is understandable with her legs and the MS and all. As much as I enjoy riding solo, there are also times out there that are somewhat lonely.

My SO has resumed cycling when we met a year ago. We tandem together often, but she commutes to work twice a week now. We have done two organized rides a 64 and a 60 and came close to that a couple of times on our own.

My wife and I work together (she's my office nurse). We bought a tandem so we could spend even more time together. We like it. It's one time I get to tell her what to do, and it's one time she's willing to defer to my judgment. She has a lot of orthopedic issues so we don't get to ride it very often.

She also owns an Electra Townie, powder-blue. It sits there unridden unless I need to go up to the hardware store and pick a fight with someone.

We own a nice Tandem.

Might you be attending the Prarie State Tandem Rally this June in Springfield? Mrs. Grouch and I will be there.