ltmax2001

Those tandems look like something we can do. I was googling tandems last night. I think with the IPS, tandem would be a good idea. The I can just put as much as I need to into it, if she is tuck erring out. Plus, she liked the idea of a tandem.

Thanks again all. This forum and cyclests in general are great people. Thank you.

Keith99

Might I suggest taking Machka's idea a step further. Plan a route that splits apart into 2 separate routes. One longer and harder than the other. Not every route lends itself to this, but some do. Any out and back does, one person just goes farther out.

Early on I rode a lot with a rider who was much better than I was, but he was smooth and following his wheel was quite reasonable. On quite a few rides of a half dozen or so of us it was 5 working to keep his wheel in varying degrees until the climb before the rest stop, then he got the chance to work a climb and the rest of us came in a few seconds to minutes later.

A key there is someone wanting to keep the wheel. It won't work if the slower rider is not trying, and it also won't work unless the leading rider takes some pride in giving an easy to hold wheel.

ThermionicScott 

Some things I've learned:

- Have a fun mid-point destination, like a restaurant, that gives you more of a goal ("treat") than just to ride around for exercise.
- Make sure her brakes work well. If she isn't confident in the stopping power, she won't want to go faster.
- Learn not to mind riding slower. Use an upright bike like an MTB or hybrid or 3-speed that won't tempt you into going fast, and use your mirror to make sure you don't get too far ahead of your partner.

cplager

That's the most important part of your message. Your path is now obvious.

storckm

My wife is much more willing to ride with me when there is tasty food involved. Also, have you considered a tandem?

On the other hand, if she isn't interested, then I wouldn't make an issue of it.

Machka 

Regarding the "fun mid-point destination", a few people have suggested food-related places (restaurants, cafes, bakeries, etc.), but there are lots of other choices as well ...

Cycle to the beach and go splash in the water
Cycle to a museum, art gallery, festival, market or historic site ... lock up the bicycles and go wander around
Cycle to a nature reserve or park, lock up the bicycles and go for a hike

Make an afternoon of it.

Keith99

Heck pack a lunch, including a good wine. Then make sure the stronger rider carries it, one more thing to slow him down.

One thing you can do with a midway stop you are familiar with is slightly different routes to it.

daihard 

Very good point. I've carried my wife's pannier on my bike (as well as mine, of course) in the last couple of rides. She is pretty happy about it. Not only does it lighten her load, but it can also show that you can be a good husband.

rumrunn6

do more leisurely rides together. maybe find some rail trails and get a motel room and go out to eat. less emphasis on the speed and more emphasis on spending quality time together

wahoonc

My wife is not a strong rider. When I ride with her, she chooses the bikes, she chooses the destination, length of the ride and the intermediate stops. I pull the dog trailer. We do have a tandem that we use occasionally. I have been looking at the Hase Pino as a distinct possibility. We currently own a Raleigh Companion which doesn't work as well for me as it does for her, due to extreme height differences, but the price was right.

Also make sure the bike is what SHE wants to ride. When we first got married ~15 years ago I bought her a really nice GT Slipstream hybrid, IIRC it was 24 speeds. She never got the hang of shifting it. Back in 2006 we went to MSP to the ABCE Tour she did not ride, went shopping and had fun. However she did join in the festivities after the ride. We won the door prize, a 1971 Raleigh Colt, just her size. Added a wicker basket and it fast became her favorite bike. Rode it more in the next 6 months than she did the GT in the previous 7 years. I think the IGH shifting works the best for her. Now she has 3 Raleigh bikes and I am going to be building up another bike with an 8 speed Nexus coaster brake hub. Probably a Mixte frame if I can find one small enough.

Aaron

GeorgeLeslie

I don't know. I will have to ask my wife

Seriously, before Electra started riding, I did my two or three charity bike rides, then she wanted to ride too, so she hauled her old truck of a bike from her childhood. We did short easy rides together. Finally the old truck broke and she put the bike on curb one large trash day. A little old lady drove away on it and that was the last we saw of it. He got heself a Univega and was amzed at the difference in performance.

To better even out our riding differneces, I got a special needs trailer to haul my growing son. I pull the load and she hurries ahead, only to wait for the old man. She has since lost interest in cycyling, but the bike is there for her when she is ready to ride. I will take my own ventures in the meantime, hopefully making her envious enough to want to join me.

Garfield Cat

Maybe the answer is not bike riding at all. Some other activity. It would depend on her "serious health issues". Nobody focused on that. That comes first, then your "stupid" bike riding.

Myosmith

My wife does not have anywhere near the interest nor ability that I have, but we still bike together, it just takes some consideration and planning. I try to go on several of "my" rides per week which means 30-50 miles, hills, sprints, group rides, a few charity or other organized centuries, etc. My wife has a rigid MTB turned commuter/cruiser and isn't interested in road biking, touring, group rides or gravel but likes to cruise around quiet neighborhoods, parks, etc. So to get some quality time together, I take out my general purpose flatbar and we ride 10-15 miles around town at 10-12 mph in the evenings or on my off days. These make good recovery rides for me and enjoyable recreational rides for her.

rumrunn6

this year wifey picked up a Trek FX and has been enjoying some additional speed. new wheels always make for added interest. maybe the OP's wife would enjoy a new (or used) bike

Kidd69

x2

esther-L

While you are riding together, do you tell her what is going on when you ride 20 feet ahead of her? If not, try doing that. She doesn't know about riding, so she may not know why you are doing stuff.

When we are not on our tandem, if my husband is in front of me, he zones out and gets way, way in front of me. Once he is out of view, he forgets to look back for me. My rule is that he needs to ride behind me, unless I really need to draft him in a headwind.

Your wife might like to do your own version of the coffeneuring challenge. The official 2013 challenge has ended, but you could look at the rules and create your own version. https://chasingmailboxes.com/2013/09/...ing-challenge/ . If the weather is warm where you live, feel free to substitute frozen goodness.

DnvrFox

Seconding some of the thoughts. My wife (76yo) and I ride together a bit. We used to do more. But, it always is important to have some place to stop and socialize - eat, an apple, a McD's yogurt parfait. A gentle relaxed ride where she sets the pace and we are there for enjoyment of each other. I do my fast and long rides solo and she appreciates my need for that.

As to the Zumba comments, she loves aquaerobics Zumba - particularly both the exercise, but more importantly the socialization. I get my socialization in other ways, and I often swim laps while she water aquaerobics the Zumba activity.

Artkansas 

How about a Christmas ride and go rolling around the neighborhoods with the best light displays?

fietsbob

... and ride around with the back-seat empty Until Someone is interested in the Position?

Ramona_W

I like this idea and I'm going to suggest it to my BF. For all intents and purposes, I learned to ride a bike a couple of months ago. My BF has been on one practically since he could walk. One of the reasons I was so persistent in learning to ride was so we could go places together. At the same time I know that, especially going downhill, I am damned slow. He says he doesn't mind riding ahead a block or so then doubling back or riding round and round me and I believe him but I also feel I'm holding him way back. There was a morning though when we were going to breakfast at the same place and partway into the trip he realized he needed to hit the ATM. I rode the rest of the way alone and, to be completely honest, it was a relief. I rode at my own pace. I experimented with the shifting. I looked at the houses in the neighborhood I was passing through. And I didn't feel I was slowing anyone else down. (He did text me when I was almost there to see if I was okay since I hadn't arrived yet so I guess next time we do this I might need to leave first. )

zonatandem

One ride on a tandem does not a tandem couple make . . .
Like anything new, some practice will improve the experience.
Communication is key to tandem riding.
BTW been tandeming for 38+ years (and 235,000+ miles) TWOgether!
Rudy and Kay/zonatandem