Dear Fifty Plusers
07-26-12, 09:03 PM
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Dear Fifty Plusers
Signed the wife and I up for a 55 mile ride this coming Sunday. Should I tell her about the hills or surprise her?
07-26-12, 09:30 PM
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Santa Cruz Mountains
Posts: 6,169
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
Tell her. If she likes hills she'll be pleased, if she doesn't then she'll know what's coming and won't get discouraged.
07-26-12, 09:35 PM
#3
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2012
Location: South Carolina
Posts: 269
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Been married for 47 years now but it took me awhile to figure out that making your wife happy is the smartest thing a man can do.
07-27-12, 06:26 AM
#5
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: N.W.Ohio
Posts: 1,205
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 18 Post(s)
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
If you don't think she is ready to do 55 miles with hills you might want to talk it over with her. It could really wreck a nice day if she gets blown up on the ride. Maybe there is a bail out along the route if the hills get to tough.Where is this ride at?
07-27-12, 06:42 AM
#6
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Huntington Beach, CA
Posts: 7,085
Bikes: Cervelo Prodigy
Mentioned: 4 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 478 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 87 Times
in
67 Posts
This, and in most sports its mental preparedness. Some riders are in tip-top shape and do a lot of 70 mile rides each week. They have a lot of aerobic capacity and the mental confidence to do it.
07-27-12, 06:46 AM
#7
Senior Member
Thread Starter
She can do the miles and the hills. She justs gets a little psyched out if she thinks about it before hand. Last Sunday we did 57 miles with around 1200' of elevation. The ride has around 1700' over the 55 miles. We often do a 46 mile local ride with around 1900' over 46 miles. I think she'll do just fine. It's on the north shore of LI.
07-27-12, 06:51 AM
#8
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Montgomery County, Pennsylvania
Posts: 6,489
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 6 Times
in
2 Posts
What would make it a surprise? Is she a novice rider; does she not know the geography of the area?
__________________
A conclusion is the place where you got tired of thinking. - S. Wright
Favorite rides in the stable: Indy Fab CJ Ti - Colnago MXL - S-Works Roubaix - Habanero Team Issue - Jamis Eclipse carbon/831
A conclusion is the place where you got tired of thinking. - S. Wright
Favorite rides in the stable: Indy Fab CJ Ti - Colnago MXL - S-Works Roubaix - Habanero Team Issue - Jamis Eclipse carbon/831
07-27-12, 06:54 AM
#9
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: 25 miles northwest of Boston
Posts: 29,546
Bikes: Bottecchia Sprint, GT Timberline 29r, Marin Muirwoods 29er, Trek FX Alpha 7.0
Mentioned: 112 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5223 Post(s)
Liked 3,579 Times
in
2,341 Posts
why would you sign the both of you up without first reviewing the route with her in advance?
07-27-12, 07:31 AM
#12
Pedaled too far.
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: La Petite Roche
Posts: 12,851
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 11 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 7 Times
in
7 Posts
One secret for happy rides is being prepared. If you do not go over the route with her, be prepared for an unhappy ride. You don't have to make the hills scary. Just go over the route with her and let her discover it and make up her mind. As you've said, the route is not beyond what she has already done. If you meet resistance, put a nice romantic dinner or something out there as a reward for riding the route.
__________________
"He who serves all, best serves himself" Jack London
07-27-12, 07:37 AM
#13
Banned.
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Uncertain
Posts: 8,651
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
2 Posts
She can do the miles and the hills. She justs gets a little psyched out if she thinks about it before hand. Last Sunday we did 57 miles with around 1200' of elevation. The ride has around 1700' over the 55 miles. We often do a 46 mile local ride with around 1900' over 46 miles. I think she'll do just fine. It's on the north shore of LI.
07-27-12, 07:40 AM
#14
Senior Member
Thread Starter
One secret for happy rides is being prepared. If you do not go over the route with her, be prepared for an unhappy ride. You don't have to make the hills scary. Just go over the route with her and let her discover it and make up her mind. As you've said, the route is not beyond what she has already done. If you meet resistance, put a nice romantic dinner or something out there as a reward for riding the route.
07-27-12, 08:13 AM
#15
Senior Member
So just tell her that it isn't really any different than an average ride.
07-27-12, 10:24 AM
#16
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Tallahassee, FL
Posts: 4,810
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1591 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1,017 Times
in
571 Posts
Been married for 47 years now but it took me awhile to figure out that making your wife happy is the smartest thing a man can do.
Alas, it's also the hardest thing a man will ever be called upon to do.
Alas, it's also the hardest thing a man will ever be called upon to do.
07-27-12, 10:43 AM
#17
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Suggestion:
If she’s ever complained about needing lower gearing for some of the longer and/or steeper ascents, then surprise her with upgraded lower gearing on her bicycle. That should go a long way toward nullifying the additional ascent elevation and it makes longer rides more of a pleasure on "tired leg days" which seem all the more prevalent with sweltering temperatures.
If she’s ever complained about needing lower gearing for some of the longer and/or steeper ascents, then surprise her with upgraded lower gearing on her bicycle. That should go a long way toward nullifying the additional ascent elevation and it makes longer rides more of a pleasure on "tired leg days" which seem all the more prevalent with sweltering temperatures.
07-27-12, 10:48 AM
#18
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Punta Gorda, FL
Posts: 270
Bikes: Specialized Roubaix road bike, Stumpjumper Comp hardtail, Trance X2 FS mountainbike
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 7 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
My wife never asks and never cares about the hills or the distance. She just likes to be out with the boys - showing them who can climb faster.
I don't understand why she is faster:
Me 65 BMI > 30
My friends all over 65 all with BMI > 26
Her 57 BMI < 22
How can she possibly be that much faster?
I don't understand why she is faster:
Me 65 BMI > 30
My friends all over 65 all with BMI > 26
Her 57 BMI < 22
How can she possibly be that much faster?
07-27-12, 07:37 PM
#19
Century bound
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Mesa Arizona
Posts: 2,262
Bikes: Felt AR4 and Cannondale hybrid
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3 Times
in
2 Posts
Don't say a thing. If she wants to know about the event she can always look it up.-:0)
07-27-12, 08:11 PM
#20
Senior Member
07-27-12, 08:24 PM
#22
Pedaled too far.
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: La Petite Roche
Posts: 12,851
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 11 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 7 Times
in
7 Posts
Many rides publish their route. How did you find out "The ride has around 1700' over the 55 miles." if you won't find out the route till you get to the start. I'm confused.
__________________
"He who serves all, best serves himself" Jack London
07-27-12, 09:16 PM
#23
Senior Member
Thread Starter
