That is the good news. I have no idea what to do. She is 68 and marginal health. Have older womens mtn. bike she can get started on or should I go right away for something else. Any suggestions on equipment, cloths, riding, etc greatly appreciated. I will ride with her at what ever level she can do.

I think you would be better served letting your wife work this problem with you acting as consultant on an as-needed basis.

Have fun with her.

Take her to a large bike shop and turn her loose.(credit card)

She may even get a fast century bike.

As said, let her do the work on this. Maybe you should tell her to register here and ask the questions she has about starting up cycling. We would welcome her as we have you!

Bill

Over the years I have bought my wife 3 different DF bikes. She may have ridden each 15 times and then they hung up in the garage till we sold them. Last fall I bought a trike that we share. It is a TerraTrike Cruiser. She has already ridden it more than the other 3 bikes combined, and really likes it. BTW my wife is 68.

Yes by all mean take here to a LBS and more importantly one that has some trikes.

Fixed it.

I don't know what "marginal health" means but I wouldn't reject a recumbent out-of-hand.

One strategy would be to put lighter, skinnier, minimal tread tires on her mountain bike. Start riding a bike she has some familiarity with and take it from there.

If you could find a bike shop with a female salesperson to work with her that would be a plus,then all you do is stand back and get the credit card out.Not really,but they seem to be able to communicate with a female vs. a young dude trying to sell her a Madone.

+1!

I think this would be a good first step. She has expressed an interest in riding, so let her try riding in a low expectation setting before adding the flood of possibilities and pressures of a bike shop visit or all the special equipment and clothing options. Just a simple ride on a simple bike. If the interest grows from there, definitely let her make the choices.

By all means encourage her.

There is a woman that water areobics at the same time my wife does her training swims. Somehow, in one of their conversations I was volunteered to do some maintenance on her bike. Her story is amazing!

When my wife first saw her at the pool, the lady had trouble getting from the locker room to the pool with the aid of a walker, she was greatly overweight, and on many medications. Over the course of a couple of years she lost over 75 pounds, reduced the need for medications dramatically, and rides her bike everywhere. She does not have a car, and rides her bike to the gym and pool regularly. She is now thinking about riding part of the Pacific Coast Route with her children. Heck, she is only 69, and her bike only has 2 wheels!

My wife just turned 65 and has had two DF bikes and is on her second recumbent trike over a three year span. The first trike was a delta style, Sun EZ-3 (chromoly and very heavy) and her current trike is a tadpole, Performer FX (aluminum and very light) racing trike. She is riding everyday and is vastly improving her speed and distance with each ride.

To the OP, I would agree with rdtompki in letting her make the decisions about her riding as to how much or how little she wants to start off with. Also, give her the choice of what she would like to ride, especially if the mountain bike doesn't fit her or she feels it's too heavy or that she can't control it. I also would be very patient and not rush her to get up to or near your speed and/or distance. And a recumbent trike should be a consideration to look into. It's really great when the two of you have a common interest that you both love to do and do together.

I would never get involved it this. Let her do it, and if she ask you about something tell her to see so and so at the LBS. That way nothing can come back on you. just saying. Good luck

There are several older women in my bike club and by older women I mean older than just a little bit more than my 73 years. They look like great-grandmas. They appear to be totally un-athletic but have no trouble riding 40 miles or more or tackling some hills. Appearances are no gauge of anyone's ability or interest. Expose that lovely woman to trikes, and to trike forums, but then stand back and support her choice.