tankman10024

I would really like my wife to join me and the kids when we go out riding, how do I get her into cycling with us? I know this might be a weird question, she doesnt know how to ride a bike right now so maybe this is one of the reasons but any advice would be great?

caligurl

has she ever ridden a bike? even as a kid? then she still knows how! it's one of those things you don't forget! she may be insecure at first...

getting her into it? if she has no desire.. gosh... can't help! i had no desire for years! "I" decided on my own that i wanted to ride... and of course.... than a mileage monster was born... but it's all me!

maybe you can rent a bike and go on a couple short and easy rides with her???? so she can see how much fun it is!!!!!

Cyclist0383

The most important thing is not to pressure her and let HER set the pace. You are used to riding much faster and further than she can ride. Let her choose when to end the ride. Encourage her and let her know how happy you are that she is riding with you.

I got my wife into cycling a few years ago and now she is a three season commuter, rain or shine! Good luck!

bbattle

I got my wife a Trek hybrid a couple of years ago. When I rode with her, I'd ride my mtb. so it was easier to stay together. Now she's riding a faster Trek FX and I can ride my roadie if I choose. She doesn't like climbing so we ride the flat neighborhoods together then if I want to ride further, I can take off on my own once I've gotten her back to the neighborhood.

I'd like for her to ride more often but she hates the summer heat and prefers to do yard work in the mornings on the weekend. But a little riding together is better than nothing.

Wait for weather that's not too hot, not too cold, not too windy. Then casually ride around the neighborhood as though you've not a care in the world. If she hasn't ridden in a long while/ever, she won't be able to go far or fast; don't worry about that. Don't be impatient and let her set the pace.

This afternoon I get to pick up my 10 yr. old granddaughter from school and we'll go riding. Maybe my wife will then go on an evening ride, the weather is perfect.

WillisB

I, too, would like my wife to ride with my our son and me. She has no interest. Would rather just putter around in her garden.

froze

It's not a weird question at all, I just wish I had an answer for that one! I failed that question myself. About 20 years ago I bought her a mountain bike that she wanted and claimed she would start riding...well since then she's rode it maybe 6 times and that was like around the block and that was enough for her. All I can say is GOOD LUCK!

I have a plan that when I retire I'm going to ride across the USA and was hoping she would want to go as well but that dream when poof long ago. Oh I'm still going to do the trips, just without her! She has suggested that she would drive the motorhome to some camp site everyday of my trip and I meet her at those sites each day.

Unfortunately I haven't ran into anyone as nuts as I am that even remotely wants to ride across the USA when they retire where I live.

ken cummings

My wife is willing to ride on a tandem as a stoker under ideal conditions. She would prefer a rear steared recumbent trike. if a spouse is happy with you and is not riding do not push your luck. Spoken with 37 years of experience. To the guy with the wife who is willing to leapfrog with a mobile home, go for it. Just let a lot of women cyclists know you are looking for a partner, have your wife as a chaperone, and are providing great sag support. As soon as the wife knows you have female companions flocking to you see how fast she starts riding

wild animals

i don't know about spouses, but i have people in my life i'd like to take riding, but they won't go! they say they want to, then it just doesn't happen. but the times they really seemed to want to go most were when i brought home pictures of beautiful things i saw, or fun things i did, or when i said i'd lost weight and my blood pressure went down maybe you could try that. hope it works better for you than it has for me! the thing that's kept my sister from riding more with me is an uncomfortable bike (too big, w/mediocre saddle) and less stamina than i've got. so if you can get your wife out there, make sure her bike fits well and she has an acceptable saddle, then make sure you don't ride too fast (and you head home as soon as she says she wants to go) good luck!

Caspar_s

Took my wife garage saleing (?) She ended up riding 34km.
Went to a nearby peach festival (two servings of peaches and ice cream) 56km round trip.
Rode to her mothers house - 110km one way.

So that's what we did for the last three weekends...

DnvrFox

My wife started "serious" riding at age 60.

She had never ridden much as a child, and never learned some of the basic skills nor gained the confidence that comes when you ride at an early age.

1. I NEVER push her to do anything she doesn't want to do. I can guarentee you that the first time you do this will be the time that she falls and injures herself, and guess who gets the blame?

2. I have instilled in her that she should never do anything that she feels unsafe doing. For that reason, we stop a lot while she dismounts to go around a tight corner or over a curb.

3. I try to make things enjoyable and social in that we frequently go somewhere where we stop for coffee or lunch. She loves the sociability, as do many women.

4. We go on "group" rides which I lead for couples in our age range (over 65). She loves these. They are slow but fun. We regroup often so no one gets left behind.

5. She will push herself to go faster and doesn't need me to do it.

6. She first rode a mtn bike, then wanted a roadie. We tried a Cannondale for about 600 miles, but she never felt comfortable. I think inline brakes would have helped, but I didn't know about them at that time. We ended up with a Trek hybrid and still the mtn bike. She loves both.

7. As a result, she dearly LOVES bicycling. At age 69, she has many thousands of miles of bicycling behind her. We did this at her pace.

8. She knows I need faster and longer rides, so she has no problem with my going out on long rides on my roadie.

9. She has recently begum riding by herself for short rides, and last week she found her own lady riding partner who goes at about the same speed.

bikebuddha 

When you find out let me know. My youngest daughter and I have been trying for years to get my wife and my oldest daughter to get on the bikes with us.

Whiteknight

Willis,

If you wife likes gardening she might like to ride on rail trails in your area.

I started to ride the rail trails around here in eastern PA. I commented to my wife about all of the floers to be seen along the trails. Seeing them at slow speeds on a bike beats trying to look at them at 65 mph on the highway.

I ended up buying a Trek Navigator with a step through frame for here to go with my Trek Navigator.

In a few years she is now up to 40 to 50 miles per day several times a week.
Trouble is that I must now carry the digital camera, close-up lens and the short tripod on the rides. She leads the way and points out the flowers she wants photos of.

You can also find some very nice eating places along the trails and return later in the car for a good meal.

From a woman who thought the idea crazy at first she now would rather ride a trail rather than sit home.

A good comfortable bike is one of the secrets of getting the wife involved in bicycle riding, especially one in their 60's.

teamcompi

My wife was a great rider in the past but age and diabetes has taken its toll, she was willing but unable to ride more than 10 minutes even on the flat. The rest of the family rode across the country North to South, East to West and North West to South East, we got stronger she got weaker and more isolated.

We bought a tandem and now she comes with us on self supported tours, we give the kids trailers with enough stuff to slow them down and we chug along on the tandem. On day trips she is good for 60 to 80 miles which is fine and she has even been known to grabed a ride when she has had enough, (tandems are fine solo). The point being the tandem allows one who can't ride to come along, have fun get stronger and be part of the action, its great.

We recently bought a tandem with independent coasting, for a non-cycling partner this is a real advantage. Even with our old regular tandem, its easy for one to dog it. Another plus with a tandem is you never have to wait long for your partner to catch up.

Dr.Deltron

Y'all need to get the wife on the back seat of a tandem
RECUMBENT TRIKE!

3 wheels, so you won't fall over!
And you can go as slow as you want.
The kids and I got passed by a lady pushing a stroller the other day!

p.s. I have an extra ICE X2. PM me.

Sci-Fi

A trike is a good idea...maybe one of the more traditional adult ones rather than a recumbent (unless it's a side-by-side one where she can grab on to you if she gets scared...lol...j/k). Retired guy down the street has a 6-speed(?) model and I've seen his wife ride it to the grocery store and the mall. That big basket in the back seems to be able to haul a load of groceries. He might have installed an electric motor in it by now. In any case, it was an ideal solution for them since they have a balance (dizzyness?) problem that prevents them from riding a regular bike, reminds them of riding in/using a golf cart, and it seems to be able to go at a pretty good clip when needed. Pretty stable platform for somebody that hasn't ridden or is not comfortable/confident in their abilities on a traditional bike.

But it may not matter if your wife refuses to ride any form of pedal power...so you would have to ask/talk it out before you buy anything. The hardest part would be to get her to try it out, even if it's a rental, so she can make a decision.

djembob02

Good question. My wife got remotely interested last summer a few months after I did (1.5 years ago). Basically she felt left out. We bought a cheap walmart bike (at the time, I was using an even cheaper old ten speed with a child seat on the back). Problem was that our performance differed greatly.

Solution....

We ended up getting a three seat tandem (triplet). While my daughter and I often ride the triplet without my wife, the rear stoker, she does get on about once a week. In addition all three of us rode most of the Bike Across Kansas and we all completed the MS 150 together. The bike saw 3,000 miles in its first year with us, probably half of that included my wife.

A couple other things I have done to help is that I am constantly trying to find ways to make her more comfortable and I am always thanking her for riding. She also picked out her own bike horn and cycling gear. She rides nicer clipless pedals than I do and a cushy saddle. Having said all this, she still isn't exactly interested in cycling. She's interested enough to ride with us sometimes, but she doesn't really get into it. She's happy to be with me and the little one and she's happy to helping her health, but she doesn't exactly have fun on the bicycle in the same way that I do...

jwh

I got my wife a new bike for Christmas for the same reason.
I bought her a "Rans Citi" crank forward design. We haven't had a chance to try it out yet but it feels really comfortable sitting on it in the living room. LOL