I love him because he's a really sweet and intelligent guy (aside from the bike issue). He just won't go anywhere over 1/4 mile without a car, though. Tomorrow, I have to drive him back from his car mechanic drop-off, which is less than 2 miles away. There's a city bus that runs down the street, and there are places to pedal.

Meanwhile, I rode my Beach Cruiser 15 miles from work when my car was in the shop earlier this year. It didn't even occur to me to ask him for a ride.

I probably shouldn't enable him, but he got so emotional the last time he had to ride back on my bike from the mechanic. It was under a mile on a MUP, and he kept saying, "I just had a really hard time coming home on your bike."

Bottom line is that he owes me one.

Is he fat?

Yeah, but so am I.

Plan #1 - Take the TV remote and place it somewhere on the MUP. When he asks, tell him where it is and that he should go get it. Every day place it 20 yards farther away.

Plan #2 - Go to Home Depot and pick up a bunch of those paint chip sample things. Tell him you want to spend the day talking about his feelings on these paint chips match different items in the house. This is how most guys got started riding.

Plan #3 - Buy a smaller size of every article of clothing he has, switch out the closet and drawers one day.

Plan #4 - Some how, arrange to break his tail bone. He won't be able to sit in a regular chair or car seat for about a year. Inflatable donuts won't help because the weight of the internal organs. The only way he'll be able to sit down for more than five minutes is to get on a bicycle seat. This technique worked on me.

boy unkchunk!
thats there is some funny tough love!

Being a fat guy myself, I vote for the clothes too small...always a motivator.

LMAO!!

Another option would be to blow up a big picture of Brad Pitt on a bicycle for the wall (a quick Forum Search will turn this up). He'll get the idea.

Most Americans would opt for a car ride in similar circumstances. Not saying that it's right, just that in his mind it's a perfectly normal thing.

My guess is that your enjoyment of bikes is just one the quirks that he tolerates out of love for you. Maybe he'll catch the bug and maybe not. It would be nice if that were something you could share.

+1

Be careful when trying to change someone.

In the meantime, get him some sharp cheddar to go with the whine. Get some Ritz' also.

I saw that shot, too. He's all bike from the neck up, eh. Gotta love those 'biking/clippable' shoes.

I often times feel bad for my girlfriend. She gets discouraged on a bike, because she isn't as in shape as I am. She isn't fat, but she doesn't really work out. And her dad is an avid cyclist, so between me, and her dad, she can't keep up. I am hoping she sticks with it, as she'll feel better the more she cycles.

Is he healthy? Does walking/riding cause him pain? Don't answer because chances are if it does, he won't tell you-he's a guy.

I wondered why my wife did that to me!

Does he have his own bicycle?

Get him a bike and do it together. Start off short, like 400 yards, then the next day increase it, blah blah blah. Or like others said just start taking walks together. If you think you guys are in it for the long haul, it will be better for both of you if he is in better shape. Fewer medical bills to worry about, you will feel happier, blah blah blah, you already know the benefits of exercise.

Find a tougher boyfriend! I ride my bike mostly for fun, but I also enjoy riding it to a destination. Maybe plan a bike ride/picnic for you and your dude. Sometimes people have never experienced getting somewhere under their own power. It can be a really good feeling!

That's how I feel about my wife, also, but it sounds as though the bf has no intention of dealing at all.

I really like the paint chip idea, but if you over do it, you'll just put him back in a car, driving 90, doesn't matter where the road goes.

I can relate a bit about riding being "hard." Some time ago, I took my old Schwinn off the garage wall and went for a spin for the first time in years. When I finished the 4.5 mile loop, I could barely stand up. My legs were like rubber. I wasn't in super bad shape, I had been roller blading quite a bit, and I always walked to the train station to get to work. The muscles used for those activities, apparently, are not the same as cycling muscles.

Now, thousands of miles later, I don't have any problem knocking off my 16 mile each way commute, or longer rides on the weekend. But that first bike ride nearly killed me.

I wouldn't be surprised if he RAN away. If he doesn't, then ask him to go clothes shopping with you.

Once you get him on a bike, LET HIM LEAD! Seriously. My wife and I's first real conversation was about cycling; I was wearing a t-shirt from a tour I had just done, and she has always wanted to do RAGBRI. Needless to say, we like riding.

Anyway, just after we started dating, her birthday present from her folks was a new bicycle to replace the one that had been stolen. We rode all the time, but for the past few years, I have done a lot more riding than her, just because that is the way it has worked out. Anyway, I figured out real quick that now, if I lead the ride, we will only be out for about 30 minutes, and she'll be ticked off and not want to go. But, if I let her lead and set the pace (remember, this is supposed to be fun and time together), we'll go for 3 hours and have a good time doing it. What's the difference, about 5-7 mph, play speed for me, comfortable for her, and it's fun.

My advice, make it kind of a date type thing. Plan a day to go for a ride, stop somewhere for lunch on the rout, don't have a specific distance or time set, just have fun with it. Once you get to that point, he won't think twice to hop on his bike to go pick up the car.

D

My wife tolerates my riding too..... Its just part of life in America now a days.

I hate riding a bike that isn't perfectly adjusted for me. 99% of beach cruisers are not setup for proper leg extension.

Tell him to HTFU cuz when the apocalypse comes, if he can't keep up w/ you, you won't think twice about leaving him behind for the zombies to snack on.

That might change soon, and then he'll feel bad about it, that he's a fat man with a fit girlfriend.

And then he'll feel really bad when the fit girlfriend leaves him for a guy who wears color-coordinated spandex.