You have any luck give away your secret to the rest of us. I bought my wife a hybrid..wanted a solid bike for her as a starter bike.. It gathers dust. and finally she backed into it with her car.
did go out a couple times. not enough to get the feel for the shifting.
couple suggestions. figure out what kind of riding would be a reward for her interests. maybe, buy her a starter bike and do what is fun for her..Maybe not hammering .
I have a picnic basket folded up into a back pack. thougth bike to some beautiful picnic spot might clinch her. never got to that stage. good luck...I wish so my wife would join me in my cycling.
she has not ruled out 100% that she never will try it. maybe later, she says.. but, she will never get into it as much as I have, she promises me. so there is hope. good luck.