She exclaimed "you're going back next year?!" after my long description of the awesome, but quite dangerous mountain biking adventure from this past weekend. Verbal blunder was giving her so much detail - like riding downhill at 30 mph, or the sheer cliff just 12 inches to the left of the trail, or...you know...and then saying this time next year would be a good time to go again.

No but today before kissing me goodbye she said "see how far you can go no hands on your way in to work this morning".

Should I be worried?

Ok I have one. It was just a few months back at the San Diego Century.

My wife is a really slow rider so when we bike together I ride with her for a while then power ahead and wait - sometimes for long periods of time - for her to catch up. Then I tag along for a while and repeat the process.

Anyway, at the San Diego Century bike ride, she was having a particularly rough day but I was at my best. After (another) long wait, she rolled on by me but this time I gave some rope and let her go out ahead for a minute. After starting back up again, as I gained on her and while hammering up a slight incline I was able to dial it up another hundred watts or so.

Just as I passed her, pulling out in to open road, I took my hands off the bars, sat up and shot back "kiss my asphalt!". I was already at least 30 feet in front but heard her say "what?". I just yelled back "nothing" and went on my way.

I sure dodged a bullet on that one.

haha oh man, my wife would hate it if I did that. Whenever we get a bike for her I'm sure I'll be riding my KHS when we go out together, and not my (soon to have) road bike. Last time we went on the MUP with her on my sis-in-law's bike, she was in front of me and not doing too well, nervous and all, as she had not ridden a bike in many years. I think next time we go she might do better if she followed behind me.

She probably meant your parents are dangerous, not the cycling.

haha no, she generally thinks cycling on roads with any more than the occasional car to be dangerous, even when there are adequate shoulders, bike lanes, or if the traffic generally moves slowly, i.e. 30 mph or less.

Considering your post that follows, I think it all makes sense

You're insured, right? (My wife likes to point that out to me on occasion, usually with a wicked glint in her eyes....)

There are two kinds of marriages: The ones where the man thinks he's in charge, and the ones that last.

WoW! This thread delivers! There is more bashing than a typical 41 thread!

No verbal blunders for me (yet). I will post when I do though

That is teh funny!!

I tried the no hands thing like my wife suggested. The problem is the stop light.

My biggie wasn't a verbal plunder but more of a visual one. I showed her the video of my accident I got into before I reviewed it to see how bad it really looked. That was a BAD idea. She flipped out. I was able to calm her down and show her everything was fine. Then when she found out I didn't call the police or get the guys insurance info she really lost it. I certainly learned my lesson there.

It's hard to flip off a-hole drivers with both hands on the bars.

I have; for 34 good years. I do make one voluntary concession when I ride with my wife, and not wear headphones. Not to avoid a safety lecture but only to facilitate conversation. Our conversation never involves how or when I should or shouldn't ride as my wife never interferes with my bicycling and I don't interfere with what she holds important.

Sounds like a darn good arrangement ILTB.