When is started up with my significant other we made it a point to find scenic, less crowded roads to ride. I know this has been said, but it should really be OVEREMPHASIZED for, not just her purposes, but for the purposes of all people getting a beginner cyclist on the road for the first time. There absolutely has to be a level of safety, enjoyment and a feeling of success and accomplishment after each and every ride.

One thing i was really successful with was allowing her to feel comfortable with her own pace. Often, she did not want to ride with me because she felt too slow, or that she was taking time out of my training or riding schedule etc. I would tell her that I had already trained, and that I just wanted to spend time with HER.

Also, I like the idea of a 'carrot' that the poster 2 up from me added. We would sometimes stop off at breweries during or after the rides, or an excellent lunch, or we would use the ride as an excuse to pig out on some sushi. It really made the rides more climactic; we had something to do afterwards!

ultimately, she wanted to start cycling (and I helped talk her into it) not only because of the health benefits from training and riding, but because of the extra time that the two of us got to spend together during the hours we would spend on the road. hopefully things will improve, but safety is always key.