General Cycling Discussion - Bike for my wife: get what she wants or what she thinks that she wants?

We rented a bike on Holliday on the cape. My wife loved it. Rode around with a big smile on her face like a little kid! This is a big deal for her since she has a MTB and a road bike that leave her wanting for more. She hardly ever rides them finding them uncomfortable. Being the smart kind of guy that I am, I googled the bike while we were on the ride, only to find that they no longer make that model. Being the smart kind of guy I am, I offered to buy that very bike, cost irrelevant, from the shop at the end of the ride. They did not want to sell it.

They DO sell a very similar copy though, only he shifter is different as far as I can tell. The bike in question is the jamis explorer

However, in our bike-shop visiting yesterday we stopped into a specialized store and she rode a (2012) Ariel. She did not like the riding position as much as the explorer but thought that the bike rode nicer and shifted cleaner. It LOOKS to be a nicer bike, but vastly un-popular. I wonder why.

So, shoul I encourage her to get the specialize or get the jamis. Price is a wash. Usage is dirt roads and easy trails, bike paths and bike lanes on suburban roads.

No matter how smart you may think you are, it is your wife's choice that matters. Get her the bike that she wants and everything will be fine.

If you get her the bike she wants, she only has herself to blame for any things she doesn't like. If you get her the one that you think is best, then she can blame you.

It's not about the bike. It's about interpersonal relationships.

Get her the one she'll ride.

A friend's wife bought an Ariel (back around '07, I think) and she loved it. You might mention that drop bars can be converted to flat, or other minor changes, depending on what it is your wife likes/dislikes about it.

Get a person what they want, full stop (unless they're a child). Once upon a time I wasted a lot of money getting a racer wannabe road bike, because you know, surely since I was riding mainly on the road surely that's what suits me. How wrong I was.

EDIT: this the first image that comes up for Ariel bicycle

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_MyG8Fo6Lp64/TStRUTnmOkI/AAAAAAAAACg/DnrJQyCeSSo/s1600/1870%2527s+Ariel+bicycle.jpg (http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_MyG8Fo6Lp64/TStRUTnmOkI/AAAAAAAAACg/DnrJQyCeSSo/s1600/1870%2527s+Ariel+bicycle.jpg)

UGH! Violet, she is SO picky! Honestly, any of the bikes that she looked at would suit her IF she wanted to ride a bike! IF she wanted to ride a bike she could swap bars or seats or stems on the MTB and be happy. I think that she wants to want to ride and I want to do any thing that encourages this. I just don't think that she is being realistic or reasonable in her demands or expectations. Sorry, it turned into a rant a little bit there.

IF she wanted to ride a bike! IF she wanted to ride a bike

Well, maybe this is the root problem. Maybe she has conflicting feelings, wanting to be with you on a ride, wanting to ride and not wanting to ride, fears of what might happen on the ride, money issues, being baffled by the array of choices she must make to get a bike that fits. There could be lots of other things if she's waffling about what she wants.

Lance Armstrong said one thing very applicable in this situation. "It's not about the bike." So relax, be patient. It will all work itself out. On a scale of 1-10 in regards to problems, this is about a 1, maybe less.

When I bought my wife a new bike a couple months ago I just told her to pick one. She got the one she wanted and still loves riding it.

UGH! Violet, she is SO picky! Honestly, any of the bikes that she looked at would suit her IF she wanted to ride a bike! IF she wanted to ride a bike she could swap bars or seats or stems on the MTB and be happy. I think that she wants to want to ride and I want to do any thing that encourages this. I just don't think that she is being realistic or reasonable in her demands or expectations. Sorry, it turned into a rant a little bit there.

Doesn't matter. Just don't make it be your fault.

UGH! Violet, she is SO picky! Honestly, any of the bikes that she looked at would suit her IF she wanted to ride a bike! IF she wanted to ride a bike she could swap bars or seats or stems on the MTB and be happy. I think that she wants to want to ride and I want to do any thing that encourages this. I just don't think that she is being realistic or reasonable in her demands or expectations. Sorry, it turned into a rant a little bit there.

Haha, maybe this is more a marriage discussion than a bicycle one :D Is it a big deal if she doesn't ride her bike with you? Couples need some time apart don't they?

Haha, maybe this is more a marriage discussion than a bicycle one :D Is it a big deal if she doesn't ride her bike with you? Couples need some time apart don't they?
Haha. No, it's not a big deal. Honestly, she's too damn slow any way. Also, of course it's NOT about the bike. She tried out so darn many of them that are a hairs breath to each other in geometry and fit that any one of them would be "fine" but each has some rediculosly subtle detail that somehow makes it unacceptable. Frustrating but not the end of the world. I'm just tired of spending money on bikes that she doesn't ride.

Specialized Ariel's are popular hybrid bikes. Trust me, I'm a women who frequents a lot women forums and the Ariel and the Vita are very popular bikes. At the end of the day, let HER pick the bike - you'll have a better chance of her riding it if she picks it out.

Haha. No, it's not a big deal. Honestly, she's too damn slow any way. Also, of course it's NOT about the bike. She tried out so darn many of them that are a hairs breath to each other in geometry and fit that any one of them would be "fine" but each has some rediculosly subtle detail that somehow makes it unacceptable. Frustrating but not the end of the world. I'm just tired of spending money on bikes that she doesn't ride.

So how many bikes does she have now? I sense a bigger problem here, but it's not visible. Of the bikes she has, how many did she buy without your guidance? It would help to have her side of the situation.

So how many bikes does she have now? I sense a bigger problem here, but it's not visible. Of the bikes she has, how many did she buy without your guidance? It would help to have her side of the situation.
She has three. A MTB that she has had for ever that is suddenly too small and un-comfortable and a MTB that is the next size up. She also has an old-school road bike that is comfortable and hard to shift (friction).
Specialized Ariel's are popular hybrid bikes.
Cool. Good to know. I haven't seen a lot of reviews or even mention of them on-line. It helps me get over the"they are pushing a left-over lemon on us" feeling a little bit.

Trust me, I'm a women Um...err....

They DO sell a very similar copy though, only he shifter is different as far as I can tell. The bike in question is the jamis explorer

Well there you go. When buying a bike, I look at how it rides, any components I don't like can be switched out. Not terribly expensive:
https://www.google.com/shopping/product/11209314723528174888?q=shimano+altus+m310+set&hl=en&safe=off&prmd=imvns&biw=1920&bih=955

The Ariel is the WSD variant of the Crosstrail- which ain't no slouch. Specialized has been doing the Dual Sport thing with the Crosstrail/Ariel way before the marketing term 'Dual Sport' was first used...

We rented a bike on Holliday on the cape. My wife loved it. Rode around with a big smile on her face like a little kid! This is a big deal for her since she has a MTB and a road bike that leave her wanting for more. She hardly ever rides them finding them uncomfortable. ... So, should I encourage her to get the specialize or get the jamis. Price is a wash. Usage is dirt roads and easy trails, bike paths and bike lanes on suburban roads.
Two sugestions:
...a lot of non-bicycle-enthusiast people REALLY don't like the clunky-shifting gears. Internal-gear hubs are much appreciated, and the 8-speed hubs offer plenty of range for casual riding. Problem is, you almost have to do that yourself these days. US bike shops rarely ever stock IGH bikes it seems. The Shimano 8-speed hub will cost about $220 alone.

...the RANS crank-forward bikes are WAY more comfortable than a normal upright bike, yet they are easy to ride and still look fairly normal. They are also WAY better than other comfort bikes like Townies, Day6 and so on. The RANS bikes have a better seat, and come in different frame sizes (unlike the Townie and the Day-6). They are expensive, but (as you are seeing) a bicycle so uncomfortable you won't ride it is not a bargain at any price.

Well there you go. When buying a bike, I look at how it rides, any components I don't like can be switched out. Not terribly expensive:

OP's problem is he still has to resolve the purchase with his wife. A lot of people can be really fussy about wanting their new bike to be completely factory standard with absolutely no aftermarket or replacement parts.

She has three. A MTB that she has had for ever that is suddenly too small and un-comfortable and a MTB that is the next size up. She also has an old-school road bike that is comfortable and hard to shift (friction).
....

What's wrong with the MTB ? Can it be made more comfortable ?
- Different saddle
- adjust bars
- different tires or lower pressure

If she has 3 bikes, is getting her a 4th bike really a good idea ? Will she like it for a month then never ride it again ?

Personally I think your wasting your time. I've been there and done that way too much.

There was a time where my wife had more rides than I did. Every single one of them had a 'problem'. All but one bike she picked out and each and everyone got parts swapped,upgraded,downgraded to no end.

Bottom line was she just didn't like to ride. She liked bikes, she liked the idea of riding, she liked having common ground with me.

When it came right down to it, she only wanted to ride when she felt like it. Much like she felt like wearing a certain pair of shoes on a certain day.

Curiously though, she often wore shoes that didn't fit or were uncomfortable but were expensive or in style. :) Not so much for the bike.

I'm gonna get my wife to try a tadpole trike this weekend. I think not having to worry about balance, and being able to relax while riding might get her actually interested in riding. Of course, like a lot of things, that might mean I spend a lot more $$$ on hers than mine, even though for me, it's my main commuter.

Did you do data collection as to size and reach, etc. on that bike?

I love the cape. where did you rent? where did you ride?

FIRST, tell her you'll get whatever she wants, but she needs to get a bigger sampling of what's out there. If you're going for comfort, don't forget to have her try a 'bent or two. A Sun EZ-1 would be fairly inexpensive, too. But if she has her heart set on the Jamis, go for it.

Of course, like a lot of things, that might mean I spend a lot more $$$ on hers than mine, even though for me, it's my main commuter.

Getting a bike that she likes for her, automatically puts you in line for a nice N+1. :)

Couple of years back I bought my wife what she wanted not what I thought she should get after two rides she hated the bike. So I sold that bike asap and got her what I thought she should've gotten in the first place. Well...after her first ride she fell in love with the bike and now she rides as much as she can.

Getting a bike that she likes for her, automatically puts you in line for a nice N+1. :)
I like the way that you think. :). I see a hard-tail 29er in my future.

I love the cape. where did you rent? where did you ride?
First week aft labor day. The little rental booth right outside of Nickerson. Rode the rail trail with less "purpose" this year. Peddled home a little wobbly and very full! Deffinately more fuel in than out that day.

Did you do data collection as to size and reach, etc. on that bike?
Yes. They look a lot different but numerically are nearly identical.


https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10152175542120599&l=d8645709ab

She picked this one:

http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff57/noreasterDL/th_photo-52.jpg (http://s236.photobucket.com/albums/ff57/noreasterDL/?action=view&current=photo-52.jpg)

update:

Bike is a great success! She LOVES it. She rode the heck out of it and is already talking about putting the stock seat back on (as opposed to the Comfy Seat: I'll get her a "good" seat when she wants a "smaller" one, not the stocker).

If it were me in your current situation, I'd sell the bikes that she's no longer interested in riding, first.

Next, I'd plan at least a week of bicycle shop hopping, where she can test ride as many new bikes as possible.

Of course, she could select her bike of choice, as you've already stated...

Bikes and relationships are a tricky thing. Getting my wife to ride with me involves quite a bit of, um..., foreplay.

No kidding. For several days, I will compliment her at key moments. Wash all of the dishes. Do something romantic together. Spend time listening to her about whatever's on her mind. Then finally the moment ...

"Hey, would you like to ride together tomorrow afternoon for a bit?"

She agrees and we have a nice time. Of course, there's snuggling after...

It's more about the relationship than about the activity of the riding. Funny how life is.