Clydesdales/Athenas (200+ lb / 91+ kg) - THIS… Is what I wanted!

Howdy all! Well it’s only been one month. I had bought 2 Raleigh hybrids to try to shed a few pounds. I normally ride alone and try to just do at least 5 miles a night… It seems to be working. I started at 295 and at one point last week the scale touched 280. HOWEVER, that was before the local coondog trials… when a couple of Canadian friends spent the weekend, and I drank more beer in one day than I should in a month, then there was the chicken wings and pork rinds… But I digress…

Today, I got exactly what I wanted out of riding a bike. I took my lovely wife along for a bike ride. We put the bikes in the bed of the truck and drove to a nearby abandoned railroad line that has been turned into a bike path. In just one hour we had a little over 10 miles. An easy pace, but we talked the entire time… More than we had in quite awhile. We put the bikes back in the truck, drove home and I put some skinless chicken on the grill. And again we talked… Then we sat on the backyard swing and talked some more…

If we can do this once a week, every penny that I spent on the two bikes will have been worth it.

I won’t set any speed or distance records, but I sure am enjoying this.

Those Canadians sound like a bad influence, I'm sure they forced you into the drinking and eating.

Sounds like you have the makings for a wonderful biking partner, but to quote what Mr Beanz was told "she will never stick with it", how many years ago was that Mr Beanz I forget. I hope it works out for the best.

Sounds awesome goaly! It is soo much fun to talk and ride! Sounds liek this bike thing will reallly be good for your realtionship.

Good for you! I wish I could do the same, but my wife has too many health problems for bicycling to be pleasurable. I am looking into getting a vintage Raleigh 3-speed cruiser to fix up and maybe I can talk her into trying it. The major deal breaker though is that she's had several knee surgeries (5? 7? I forget) so it's hard to even get her to consider riding a bike.

Never occurred to me that I could talk to my wife. I'll have to try this sometime. ;)
Glad you had a nice time together.

Doohickey, riding a bike is good for knee strength and flexibility. She'll have to spin higher rpm rather than mashing to avoid stress, and be careful on her setup for saddle height, but remember, rehab after knee surgery is a stationary bike. ;)

and a moving bike is much more fun.

Hey goaly, good for you and your wife. My wife and I always ride together and it really has brought us closer. When we ride easy we have some of the best conversations, and when we ride hard we have a great time competing. Cycling is great for a marriage!

Doohickey, riding a bike is good for knee strength and flexibility. She'll have to spin higher rpm rather than mashing to avoid stress, and be careful on her setup for saddle height, but remember, rehab after knee surgery is a stationary bike. ;)

No, listen. 7 knee surgeries. No cartilage in one knee. Add to that arthritis and fibromyalgia. Her knees are so bad she hasn't done stationary bike rehab since the 1980s.

goaly, that may have been the best post I have ever read.

Congratulations on the "new" riding partner.

Ouch! Sorry to hear. :(
No, listen. 7 knee surgeries. No cartilage in one knee. Add to that arthritis and fibromyalgia. Her knees are so bad she hasn't done stationary bike rehab since the 1980s.

Thanks for the encouragement! The fact that the trail looks like this helps:

http://img253.imageshack.us/img253/3684/trailkg1.th.jpg (http://img253.imageshack.us/my.php?image=trailkg1.jpg)

It’s 10 miles away from us, but being 16 miles of pretty scenery and flat pavement makes it worth the drive.

Doohickie, I wonder if there is an adult version of those “Tag-a-long” third wheel bikes that the kids use? Your situation originally made me think of a tandem, but then she would not be able to pedal (or coast) at her own pace…. Just a thought.

A very nice post to read. Congrats on working on communication with your wife - those talks are priceless.

The coondog trials would not happen to be the ones in Kenton Ohio are they? And that trail - we have one that is an abandoned rail line up here in Northwest Ohio but I know they are all over.

Just wondering where you call home... sounds familiar in a way...

Regardless, nice post. I really enjoyed it. :thumb:

Yes, the coondog trials are in Kenton. And the bike path runs from North Baltimore to Bowling Green, Ohio.

Goaly-great post! Be very careful or before you know it you'll be tandem shopping!

Nominated for post of the year...if we have such a thing :D

Most of my weight "regressions" have to do with a weekend of beer drinking too :)

Thanks for the encouragement! The fact that the trail looks like this helps:

http://img253.imageshack.us/img253/3684/trailkg1.th.jpg (http://img253.imageshack.us/my.php?image=trailkg1.jpg)

It’s 10 miles away from us, but being 16 miles of pretty scenery and flat pavement makes it worth the drive.

Doohickie, I wonder if there is an adult version of those “Tag-a-long” third wheel bikes that the kids use? Your situation originally made me think of a tandem, but then she would not be able to pedal (or coast) at her own pace…. Just a thought.

10 miles, uh could you not ride there, ride the trail, then ride home? Great way to add in a few extra miles....

Wow- those Canadian friends made you drink *lots* of beer & eat tons of chicken wings & pork rinds? What a bad influence! Shame on them. You should- lemme think...hmm...uhh... you should send 'em down here for a visit, yeah, that's it! :D:roflmao2:

All the best to you & your wife.:thumb: