Clydesdales/Athenas (200+ lb / 91+ kg) - Terrific Evening!

The wife has been talking about riding for several years now, but she never pulled the trigger and did it. Over the weekend she commented she was ready for a bike, gave me specifics on what she wanted, and I ended up getting her a Trek Navigator from my favorite LBS.

Part of me expected it to just sit in the garage and collect dust, but tonight our son wanted to go riding at the park and she asked to come along. We only rode for maybe 2 miles total, but it is a start. She was tired, and her legs are a little numb, she took some Advil so she should be fine by morning.

Most importantly though, she felt like a kid again. She had not ridden a bike in at least 30 years. Hopefully this catches on. I can only hope.

EXCELLENT! That's just great. It's wonderful to have someone to go out with and have a good time... and a thousand times better when it's your loved ones! I hope she decides to stick with it and you all have a blast at it. If she seems uninterested at times you may be able to make it more appealing if you guys plan a picnic or other connected event along with the riding; it works for my wife and me. ;)


Same boat here. I've only recently started riding again myself, but I've always loved it. I knew I needed something more to flesh out my new lifestyle and exercise regiment and cycling was it. My wife however never really rode much (as an adult or child) so wasn't very interested. I persisted in watching CraigsList for a bike, forwarded a couple ads and was stunned when she replied to one while I was at work with "this one" (a vintage Motobecane mixtie in very good shape).... She even rides it!!!!

One more tip would be to make sure she experiments with the gearing and shifting quite a bit once she's able to keep moving in a straight line. My wife did 8 miles her first outing and hurt for a week because she worked too hard. I had told her a few times to shift, but she later said she only used the same two gears the whole time (the two highest).

I hope you all have blast with this!

+1 on Excellent! My wife and I both started riding in our 60's after a 20 year layoff and are enjoying it tremendously.

My fiancee and I do a lot together, but we've only ridden together a few times. It's been a lot of fun when we've done it, but she wants to replace her MB with a roadie or a cross bike like mine, and right now there isnt funding with the wedding and such.

Sounds like a perfect item for the gift registry. Seriously, we put candle sticks on the registry and never really used them...

She already went out again today. I am at work, but she home schools the kid and they both went to the park together. I really couldn't be happier. If we can continue this path, it will be so much better for her (and us) in the long run.

In a recent doctor's visit she was told that her knee was so bad the only physically strenuous activity she could do, for the rest of her life, is either cycling or swimming.

She hasn't done much shifting yet, but she doesn't have to. That is also the beauty of all this because our son is 7 years old and has a typical starter bike (no gears). When we all go out together we can't go any faster than he can pedal.

That is great news! Awesome that she is now enjoying going out on the bike. I am sure the more she does it, the more she will like it.

You've done it now! I talked my wife into riding with me when I returned to riding nearly 2 years ago after a 30 year hiatus. She now has 3 bikes (new road bike, vintage road bike & MTB) 2 pair of cycling shoes and an entire wardrobe for riding. But we are having a heck of a good time riding together.