Your Wife Likes to Ride Bikes
09-22-11 | 11:38 PM
#1
Thread Starter
Brown Bear on a Bike : )
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
From: El Monte, CA
Bikes: beginner road bike, but it has STIs
Your Wife Likes to Ride Bikes
Hello,
I am a noob-sauce to this forum and riding.
I joined because my husband encouraged me to sign up. We usually ride together, but he always leaves me behind, so if anyone could give me some endurance tips, that would be great.
Thanks
I am a noob-sauce to this forum and riding.
I joined because my husband encouraged me to sign up. We usually ride together, but he always leaves me behind, so if anyone could give me some endurance tips, that would be great.
Thanks
09-23-11 | 01:23 AM
#2
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 1,079
Likes: 1
From: Potashville
Bikes: Reynolds 531P road bike, Rocky Mountain Metropolis, Rocky Mountain Sherpa 10, Look 566
This topic has been covered a lot on the Clydes and Athenas forum, although offhand I can't remember the exact thread.
Basically, the suggestions boil down to:
- You need to be riding an equivalent bike. In other words, if he has a decent quality road bike, you should not be trying to keep up with a heavy cheap mountain bike.
- If he knows he's faster and he really wants to ride with you, he should let you set the pace, or at least double back to join you if he drops you.
- If you have the room and the budget, consider buying a tandem. You will always be able to keep up while on the same bike!
Basically, the suggestions boil down to:
- You need to be riding an equivalent bike. In other words, if he has a decent quality road bike, you should not be trying to keep up with a heavy cheap mountain bike.
- If he knows he's faster and he really wants to ride with you, he should let you set the pace, or at least double back to join you if he drops you.
- If you have the room and the budget, consider buying a tandem. You will always be able to keep up while on the same bike!
09-23-11 | 07:17 AM
#4
CRIKEY!!!!!!!
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 4,276
Likes: 702
From: all the way down under
Bikes: several
A few tips for you...
let some of the air out of his tires
Slip a couple of valium into his drink bottle
adjust his brakes so they're rubbing on the rims ever so slightly
...and welcome to bikeforums.
let some of the air out of his tires
Slip a couple of valium into his drink bottle
adjust his brakes so they're rubbing on the rims ever so slightly
...and welcome to bikeforums.
09-23-11 | 07:26 AM
#5
Galveston County Texas
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 33,335
Likes: 1,285
From: In The Wind
Bikes: 02 GTO, 2011 Magnum
He needs to Slow down until you get faster.
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Fred "The Real Fred"
Fred "The Real Fred"
09-23-11 | 12:41 PM
#7
Senior Member
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 584
Likes: 66
From: the LOU, Mo
Bikes: Bianchi Nuevo Alloro, Cannondale ST400, Fuji Palisade, GT Timberline FS, Raleigh Technium 420, Schwinn Moab, Schwinn Passage, Schwinn Tempo, Specialized Sirrus Elite (aluminum), Specialized Sirrus Triple (steel), Trek 7.6, Viner Road Record
- You need to be riding an equivalent bike. In other words, if he has a decent quality road bike, you should not be trying to keep up with a heavy cheap mountain bike.
- If he knows he's faster and he really wants to ride with you, he should let you set the pace, or at least double back to join you if he drops you.
- If he knows he's faster and he really wants to ride with you, he should let you set the pace, or at least double back to join you if he drops you.
I built my gal a lighter bike and she enjoys riding so much more now.
We play "Hare and Hound" sometimes, too. I'll sprint out and she tries to catch up, or I'll let her get ahead a bit and then sprint to catch her. It's made a great improvement in her stamina and speed. And I bark really loud just to embarrass her.
09-23-11 | 01:11 PM
#8
Riding Heaven's Highways: In Memoriam
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 678
Likes: 2
From: It is North.. of Florida
My wife was always behind me ..until she decided to start ...weightlifting a year and a half ago.
Yes... not running, not any cardio training (she does it too and she always did), but the simple weightlifting.
She is 5'2" and it was always difficult for her to keep with big and strong man.
Her average speed increased dramatically - 15-16 mph when she was 30.. Today she is 41 and it is no problem for her to keep 19 mph for more than an hour..
It is more than enough for me.
Of course I'm trying to stay in the front and she is sitting on my wheel.
Of course she has comparable bike and decent wheels, nice shoes etc...
But she was riding the same level of equipment and 10 years ago and it did not work unitl...like I said.
Also, she is not only faster on teh road, she became much better on the trail....
Yes... not running, not any cardio training (she does it too and she always did), but the simple weightlifting.
She is 5'2" and it was always difficult for her to keep with big and strong man.
Her average speed increased dramatically - 15-16 mph when she was 30.. Today she is 41 and it is no problem for her to keep 19 mph for more than an hour..
It is more than enough for me.
Of course I'm trying to stay in the front and she is sitting on my wheel.
Of course she has comparable bike and decent wheels, nice shoes etc...
But she was riding the same level of equipment and 10 years ago and it did not work unitl...like I said.
Also, she is not only faster on teh road, she became much better on the trail....
09-23-11 | 01:14 PM
#9
You gonna eat that?
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 14,917
Likes: 543
From: Fort Worth, Texas Church of Hopeful Uncertainty
Bikes: 1966 Raleigh DL-1 Tourist, 1973 Schwinn Varsity, 1983 Raleigh Marathon, 1994 Nishiki Sport XRS
As the hubby, I always ride as slowly as the wife. There are two kinds of riding for me- riding with the wife and all other riding. When I'm riding with her, the emphasis on the her. It's time spent together, just the two of us. When I'm not riding with her, I'll ride at whatever pace I want. But when I ride with her, I ride with her.
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I stop for people / whose right of way I honor / but not for no one.
Originally Posted by bragi 
"However, it's never a good idea to overgeneralize."
I stop for people / whose right of way I honor / but not for no one.
Originally Posted by bragi "However, it's never a good idea to overgeneralize."
09-23-11 | 01:23 PM
#10
Riding Heaven's Highways: In Memoriam
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 678
Likes: 2
From: It is North.. of Florida
As the hubby, I always ride as slowly as the wife. There are two kinds of riding for me- riding with the wife and all other riding. When I'm riding with her, the emphasis on the her. It's time spent together, just the two of us. When I'm not riding with her, I'll ride at whatever pace I want. But when I ride with her, I ride with her.
I also ride with my 7 y.o. daughter next to me or 2 y.o. son in the trailer.... This is third kind of riding for me. Sometimes pretty fast too.
Last edited by justfitme; 09-23-11 at 06:59 PM.
09-23-11 | 01:45 PM
#11
pedallin' my life away
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 145
Likes: 0
From: Ohio
Bikes: handbuilt tandem from Santana tubeset, 1976 Le Grangot frame road bike, Montague biframe folding mtn bike, rebuilt Schwinn Twin Doo-Dah tandem, garage-built beater recumbent
09-23-11 | 02:07 PM
#12
Pint-Sized Gnar Shredder
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 3,549
Likes: 1
From: Somewhere between heaven and hell
Bikes: '09 Jamis Komodo, '09 Mirraco Blend One, '08 Cervelo P2C, '08 Specialized Ruby Elite, '07 Yeti AS-R SL, '07 DMR Drone
As the hubby, I always ride as slowly as the wife. There are two kinds of riding for me- riding with the wife and all other riding. When I'm riding with her, the emphasis on the her. It's time spent together, just the two of us. When I'm not riding with her, I'll ride at whatever pace I want. But when I ride with her, I ride with her.
Congratulations on taking up the sport, and welcome to the forums! Now, get your husband on here so we can kick his butt and make him understand what it means to ride WITH someone!
In the meantime, check out the training forum!
09-23-11 | 08:17 PM
#13
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 153
Likes: 0
From: El Monte
Bikes: Motobecane Vent Noir. Masi Nuvo Strada
So... I've been on the BF for a while now and after reading all of your responses I may not be able to come back. I'm the OP's husband. I have, for the most part, let my wife set the pace. However, I become a bit inpatient and end up leaving her behind. I will definitely take all of your advice and let her get away and sprint to catch her. That sounds like a lot of fun. She's reading all your posts over my shoulder and said "awww" to you all welcoming her to the forums.
09-23-11 | 08:23 PM
#14
Riding Heaven's Highways: In Memoriam
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 678
Likes: 2
From: It is North.. of Florida
09-23-11 | 08:33 PM
#15
Thread Starter
Brown Bear on a Bike : )
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
From: El Monte, CA
Bikes: beginner road bike, but it has STIs
I actually crashed last summer going downhill on a bike path near Azusa thus resulting in my slow downhill speeds. So please no tandems. eek....
I am definitely going to check out the Clydes and Athenas forum for tips. Thanks a lot ladies and guys.
09-23-11 | 08:45 PM
#18
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 5,929
Likes: 1
From: On the bridge with Picard
Bikes: Specialized Allez, Specialized Sirrus
Thanks for all the advice. I will try all of the above. I am too afraid to go fast on my bike, the max speed that I will hit is 25 mph, so a tandem is out of the question because my husband likes to go 35+ down GMR and Azusa.
I actually crashed last summer going downhill on a bike path near Azusa thus resulting in my slow downhill speeds. So please no tandems. eek....
I am definitely going to check out the Clydes and Athenas forum for tips. Thanks a lot ladies and guys.
I actually crashed last summer going downhill on a bike path near Azusa thus resulting in my slow downhill speeds. So please no tandems. eek....
I am definitely going to check out the Clydes and Athenas forum for tips. Thanks a lot ladies and guys.
