MSD

Hey, long time no post.

While I'm not as hardcore as most of you all, I try to get on the bike at least twice a week (and more if time and weather permits). My rides are 20+ miles long. Biking has been great excersise for me and I enjoy it. Recently, my good friend and his wife just bought new bikes. I started thinking it might be nice if my GF started riding with me.

Currently, she's not very active and she smokes. Luckily for her, she has a beautiful, slender shape. She use to be on the US diving team years ago, so she has been active in the past. She wants to quit smoking and is worried about gaining weight.

I'm wondering how I can get her into riding. Purchasing a bike that might not get used, or might put pressure on her is something I don't want. Furthermore, what would be the right type of bike? I mostly ride road (c'dale r600), and occasionally mountain (c'dale jekyll 800).

I really want her and I to have an activity together (I'm fairly certain she's the last woman I'll ever need to meet ) and biking seems like a good choice. I guess this is not the greatest time to get into it since winter is around the corner, but I suppose I could get a nice deal on a bike over the winter, if that's the route we take.

Thanks
Mike

djbowen1

Smoking to regulate weight is a stupid ass excuse, get her on a bike, go somwehere secluded like a bike trail or something and start with short rides.

larue

Talk to her about it. Let her know how much you enjoy cycling and how much more you would enjoy it if she was along for the ride. She'll probably think it's sweet and join you whether she really wanted to or not. But once she gets on the saddle she'll probably be hooked.

kerk

Try a tandem. I see more and more couples on them all the time.

Ebbtide

After half-a-dozen girlfriends and two wives I can say "don't get your hopes up".

Cycling is an either "I love it" or "I don't really care for it" type thing. If this is the woman for you it should not matter if she rides, but it would be nice.

Sorry this ain't good news, but I don't know of many couples that ride together.

SAB

I agree. Couples who ride together are more the exception than the rule - and most of them met at some cycling-related event... Tandem is a good idea. Also, you can take her to the store and let HER pick the bike she wants. If she wants the one-speed cruiser that has her sitting bolt-upright, fine. If she sits on the tricked-out fully suspended downhill-maniac mountain bike with mono-fork and disc brakes and feels like it's comfortable, fine. If it's not comfortable she won't ride it. In my experience women are less apt to try something again if they don't like it the first time, so she's gotta get something that's comfortable. Don't expect her to ride with you every time. If she starts out with riding once a month or once a week, that's great. Let her go at her own pace and hopefully she'll get more and more interested...

timmhaan

i'm trying to get my gf to ride with me. she crashed once as a kid (who hasn't?) and is skeptical about getting on a bike again. i told her i would be very happy if she at least tried it, and i think i'm making some progess. she supports my cycling habit wholeheartly, so i can't complain too much. i just wish she would give it a try.

ch0mb0

If she was physically active in the past, maybe you can re-kindle her interest by approaching it from that route. Or how about some sorta "double date ride" with your friend and his spouse?

Does she like the outdoors? I recall that there's quite a bit of space in SoNJ for riding, esp. down by them pine barrens...in that case you'd probably want to look at ATB's. Depends on your surroundings..


Good luck. If you succeed, the next big challenge will probably be "riding without leaving your girl in the dust". Unfortunately, I can't get past that stage.

MSD

She's not doing it to regulate her weight. She is worried about gaining when she does quit though. She's not quite ready to quit yet, and it will be hard for her. I know, it's been 2 years since I quit.

Thanks all for the suggestions... keep em coming

SteveE

Best way is to ride with another couple. That way, your gf has someone to ride with when you feel the need to "hammer". Unless the gf is a strong rider, you'll probably be faster than them. We've met quite a few riding couples through our club. Sometimes we'll ride as couples, other times the guys will ride together and the gals will ride together.

TheNJDevil

Where in South Jersey are you? I know the Pine Barrens are quiet sandy and found it pretty difficult to ride much in that sand. But there are Tons of backroads down there that would make for some great trips.

I grew up in South Toms River and would ride a loop down to Double Trouble State park, out toward the Miller Airfield, and back into the neighborhood. If 10 cars past me on those trips I considered it busy.

Anyway, as suggested above, let her choose a bike. Give her some pro's and con's to different kinds of bikes (MTB, Road, Recumbent). Riding is so much fun.

PainTrain

The ability to reach secluded sites for some outdoor lovin' might be a motivator. If she's into that kind of thing.

Wait, did I say that, or just think it?

BenyBen

Grins!

I have been trying to get my gf into any kind of exercise, but i'm def aiming for cycling. I think the idea first is to get her out, and apreciate the outdoors. I've been going on walks with her, and she is starting to enjoy the time together.

Also, we biked to this somewhat secluded place the other night, and it was abnormally warm next to the st-lawrence...

greenbreezer

Solid relationships are based on open communication. Tell your GF what you told us. That you'd like to have a shared activity together and that possibly biking would be it. Has she shown any interest in biking so far?

Double date bike rides are okay, but don't expect the other gal to take on the responsiblities of looking out for your GF. I wouldn't recommend using that as an excuse to hammer ahead. Do that on your own ride time. If your GF were to get a flat or just plain got tired, then what? Your GF would probably not be happy you weren't around to offer support.

Also, on a physiological level, smokers have less bone density than your non-smoking couch potato as well as having a damaged vascular system, thus her blood is not able to carry oxygen as efficiently as someone who just rolled off the couch and started to ride. So what I'm trying to say is that if your GF takes you up on your suggestion, be very patient as she will probably struggle just to ride even a mile on a flat surface.

The suggestions for a comfy bike are right on. Keep saddle comfort in mind, too. I'm a female rider and know how uncomfortable men's saddles can be. They can be so bad it burns just to pee and poor hubby doesn't get lucky for a few nights. Fortunately for me (and hubby ) I found the Terry Liberator saddle. I have the Ti Race model, but they also come in other less expensive models. If she likes her bike but complains of saddle comfort, run -- don't walk -- to the LBS and get a women's saddle for her. You know what's good for you

Lastly, keep in mind that this is about her. Support her as much as you can. You might get bored of her slower speed, but don't hammer ahead and leave her behind. You'll have your own time to ride. Ride with her so you truly mean it when you ask her to ride with you. Heck, she may reach a point where she's riding ahead of you someday.

Good luck!

jeff williams

Hide all the car keys...get a second bike, lean it against the garage door....

Then steal all her makeup, run to your bike and yell..
"I got the facepaint, all the cars are locked down, there is a chase bike next to the garage..Catch me if you can!!"

Just an idea 4 morning fun.

mocella

My wife has shared my interest in road cycling since day one, so I suppose I'm lucky like that. However, we've both been into working-out for over 10 years, so we're pretty like-minded.

The one activity I couldn't get her into was mountain biking when we had to ride in mud - that lasted one ride and I caught holy-hell over that one the whole ride home

My pitch to her with road biking is that I'm going to be out riding for several hours, you can try to keep up on your mountain bike, but I'm not waiting up if you fall behind. So, want that new road bike now?

Works every time. Too bad the TT bike idea isn't flying with the higher cost of entry. Oh well, next season.

lala

I know it sounds obvious, but ride at her pace. (once you get her up and out.) Many men seem to have a hard time pacing themselves. Call out directions/signal clearly and anticipate any troubles a newbie may have. Try to be relaxed and watch out behind, for her. Have a goal/destination like a coffee shop, a park, a movie, whatever.

twahl

I'm fortunate in that my wife and I have gotten "the bug" at the same time and equally hard. The one piece of advice I will add to what others have said is to put her on a quality bike, of a type that you currently have and plan to ride with her, and at least at first, look at your rides with her as pleasure rides. Same type of bike is important I think, for instance if you are on a road bike and she's on a MTB, she's going to be working harder than you on the road if everything else is equal, and that's not a good thing. Get her thoughts on the subject and then take it easy getting her into it.

gpsblake

If she isn't interested in bicycling and you really want her to get some exercise, why not something she likes? That doesn't mean you have to give up your bicycling though, it just means you have to compromise with her somewhat. Good luck.

AndrewP

Why dont you go diving and swimming together. She could show you how to be better, then she wouldnt feel inferiror when you try biking.

Dark Arrow

#1 Tell her you see hot women in spandex all the time when your riding
#2 Tell her she looks fat in those jeans she loves to wear.
#3 Buy her a bike at Wal Mart and then taker her on a week long 50 mile a day bike/camp out

And if that doesn't work

#4 Have her drive you out to neat places and ask her to wait 3 hours while you go a on a lovely ride.
#5 Find some women (not your gf) to start riding with and then come home and tell your gf what a great time you had with these other women and ask her to join in.
#6 Tell her that if she gets into biking you guys can shave your legs together
#7 Start working on your bike in the living room and kitchen so you can show her how great a bike is.

And you ask how I know these things?

2 wiives 21 girlfriends and 2 kids worth of experience.



btw none of these ideas ever worked

;P

Chris

TheNJDevil

#6 works sometimes

Retro Grouch 

That's what worked for my wife and me. Our first tandem wasn't a very good bike, but it's all that we could afford at the time and we were out on the road and together. Early on, we met another tandem couple and we've been close friends for almost 25 years now. Gradually, we got more and more into bicycling, the bikes got progressively higher end, and we even operated a bike shop together for five years. I attribute all of that to our first crummy old Schwinn Twinn tandem.

loriy29680

My advice is to take her to your LBS and let her try out a few models, ride around with them and see what she likes and is comfortable with. Tell her how great her a$$ looks and how hot and thin she looks on the bike. I think you shouldn't skimp on her first bike. She'll need a quality bike if she likes the sport, and if she doesn't, you can always sell on ebay or whatever.
Also, show her the cute cycling clothes for women now. TeamEstrogen.com, and several other sites have awesome clothes for women. They fit good and look good!
Last but not least, just let her know how much fun you think it would be to spend time with her doing something you love and involving her in this activity you enjoy. My guess is she does want to try it, but doesn't want to fail in front of you, so be sure and tell her you don't expect her to be Lance-like right away. You're just hoping to spend some quality time with her outside, enjoying nature, on a leisurely ride. If she gets the "bug", she'll be asking for more ride time, and upgrading that bike in no time!
Good luck!!

wabbit

Appealing to vanity is always a good idea. TEll her that if she quits and gets right on a bike, she won't gain weight or she'll gain a lot less. IF she's so slender, then five pounds won't matter too much, it's notlike 25. SHe'll gain more if she just sits around eating.Also, she won't get those saddlebags on her thighs. I quit smoking and thanks to my bike, only gained about 8 lbs, and I'm what people call slim.

I thought I was a chicken! Imagine being scared off a bike because of crashing. IF that had happened I'd have stopped the first day I got ON a bike. You can slip and fall on ice, too, you can't stay home all winter. I really can't believe it's so hard to get a woman onto a bike. No one had to convince me, although at first I didn't ride as much as I do now.