sandy_pangle

Today, I talked my wife into doing an organized ride on the Silver Comet Trail in Georgia. She did the 30 mile option on the trail which averages about 1% grade while I did a 57 miler on fairly hilly roads. She normally rides at about an 11.5 to 12 mph pace on fairly level routes of typically 6 - 12 miles. I threw down a number of 2 hours and 50 minutes for her completion as an attainable goal.

While at a sag at mile 48, she called me to tell me that she had just completed her route. Her time was 2 hours and 31 minutes. It was her longest ride ever and now I wish I had ridden it with her. She was "giddy" about it and now I think I've created a "Road Monster". It was a great Labor Day!!!

Nachoman

Fantastic! Just don't let her get a better bike than you!

Mr. Beanz

Why I oughtta!.........Gina's bike is 3 times the price of mine!

Actually, I'll give her every and any advantage just to make it more enjoyable for her. Now she's averaged 17.7 on a 42 mile flat course and 6 mph up GMR, 15-16.5 mile ride with close to 4,000 ft of climbing!

Much more fun when you can do a good pace and the wife can hang!

My friends think I'm crazy cause I buy her better stuff than what I have.

Keep the wifey riding, it only gets better!

SpongeDad

Wrong! Get her twice the bike you have now. In a year, you'll be putting in for a new dreambike for yourself!

Seriously, though, that's great. Bibi and I don't get to ride together to often (someone has to watch the kids), but it's a lot of fun when we do.

S_DOG34

Awesome. I am coaxing my girlfriend along to do a triathlon with me next summer. I think a road bike for xmas will seal the deal and hopefully she will catch the bug.

sandy_pangle

I have discovered that you must move slow. She keft falling on the road bike when I first got it for her and I thought she would give it up. Thinking back I should have waited awhile before taking her clipless. The secret is to nurture and not press. Now....If she gets better than me.....I'll just lock the brakes down and she'll never discover because she has no mechanical inclination at all.

jstream

My wife came with me on an organized ride last year. Riding her old Giant hybrid on the 30 mile route was just too much for her... she split off on the 15 and went off to the wine and harvest festival. At the beginning of this year, we did a 15 mile ride, after which she said "lets stop at the bike shop on the way home". Now she has a brand new Specialized Dolce, and rides it every chance she gets! Here's the problem, I'm on a 30 lb full suspension mtb. How the heck am I supposed to keep up with her now? It's great!

sandy_pangle

Sounds like we know who wears the pants in your family . That's why you should never wear Lycra in front of your wife until you have her into cycling. It gives them a psycological advantage of dominance. Nothing raises testosterone levels in a woman like her man in Lycra!

Drag

Good man!

mleess

I'd be a little reluctant to just surprise your spouse with a new road bike unless he/she has really expressed interest. A woman friend of mine bought a bike for her husband last Xmas to "encourage" him to get out there and ride with her. Here we are in September, and the thing has never even made it out of the garage. I talked to the husband about it, and he told me he had absolutely zero interest in riding. Then he started saying it was a dumb hobby because it's so dangerous and he would never take his life in his hands like that. So this was a man who did not want a new bike.

Of course there may be some marital spite or other issues that keeps him off the bike too!

damage24

I envy you. I cannot get my wife to do anything beyond four or five miles around the neighborhood. She's on a moutain bike and complains that it's too hard to ride up hills, but doesn't want to spend money on even a low-end or used roadie. She says she wants to get into shape and do more stuff together but it's like pulling teeth to get her to go on even a short bike ride. Very frustrating...

jstream

Actually, I'm quite happy. She now wants to get out and ride, and often (on days that I'm off teaching when she gets home) will go out and ride by herself now. Never did that before. I think it's great. BTW: I'm the house husband

Pugdawg1

Oh how nice. Just keep it fun. My boyfriend gave me a road bike I dunno.. week and a half ago. I'd actually picked one out online, and he ordered it, then he also ordered something else a few notches up in quality, for me to try, and that is what I wound up with (giant ocr c3). He knew I was wanting a road bike so much, heck I was putting 150 miles a week on my mtn bike, on the roads. LOL

We ride together as often as we can. Though it is nice to ride with others as well. As long as you keep it fun for both of ya. I sometimes have to very lightly put my foot down a bit, when he wants to do faster or farther than I am comfortable with (like an easy ride that turned into 80 miles last Sunday), and he is dying for me to do some racing. I'm not so sure I am up for that, this girl just wants to have fun.

jasonp

Actually, I'm in the same boat. I just bought myself a new Cannondale Synapse. When I brought it home, the wife immediately said, "Man, that looks like a good way to stay in shape, I want one!" So off to the LBS we went. She ended up getting the Specialized Allez with the 105 components. Hopefully, she'll like it and we'll be riding together. JP

Treefox

Regarding boyfriends in Lycra -

I think the sight of me in Lycra is the primary factor in my girlfriend tolerating this expensive hobby.