How do you get your significant other to ride?

[AZ Don]

My wife loves to hike and exercise but I can't seem to inspire her to ride? Does anyone have suggestions on how to inspire a person to ride in the mountains.

Already bought her a nice bike (Full Suspension Specialized)
A few wipe outs in the mountains when she first tried riding didn't help matters any...(She has been going on a few road rides lately which is nice)

Thought about getting a tandem bike so keeping up was not a factor.
(Right now I ride with 40lb X Vest to keep things more equal) She gets frustrated she can't keep pace. Has anyone tried the tandem route...did it work?

[Pman]

We just bought a tandem bike this year. My wife just got interested in cycling last year so we bought her a decent bike and had some lovely (meaning slow) rides together. It was always a nice recovery ride for me and she was working her tail off.

So now we are getting use to the tandem and so far it has been wonderful. We both get a good workout in and we always stay together! I recommend it highly.

[AZ Don]

Thanks for the input...I always wondered if that would help.

Do you still get a good workout on the tandem...more specifically are you able to work harder at your level and she is still getting a good workout? Or is she just coasting?

[Pman]

We both get a great workout. It boils down to the better she gets, the faster we will go. She helps more in the earlier miles than she does later in the ride, but that will improve with time. As she tires, we just go a bit slower. At the end of the ride, we both had a good workout.

[AZ Don]

Thanks for the input...I need to try that.

[Pman]

One key element that is a bit different than riding solo is the need for communication. Simple things like you want to stop pedaling and coast need to be communicated. I just say "coast" in that case. Everything needs to be communicated in advance if possible. I am much taller than my wife so she does not see what is coming up so I need to inform her when we will be stopping. It is funny when you see all of the little things you take for granted when riding solo.

[AZ Don]

Okay...next step(s)

What kind of bike did you get?
What do you look for in a good bike?
What are approx. costs?
Any other tips to add?
Do you keep up with other single riders or ride with just you two?
What is average speed vs. riding solo?

I have seen a large group of Tandem bikes that ride as a group in Phoenix...that would be fun...I will need to find them.

[Pman]

Originally Posted by AZ Don

What kind of bike did you get?

I ended up with a 1999 Cannondale MT3000 mountain bike style tandem. It has a front suspension fork and a cushioned seat post for the stoker.

Originally Posted by AZ Don

What do you look for in a good bike?
What are approx. costs?

It all depends on what kind of riding you will be doing and how much you want to spend. I found mine on Craigslist as I kept checking until I found one that fit us and met our needs.

Originally Posted by AZ Don

Any other tips to add?

I will provide more as I learn them.

Originally Posted by AZ Don

Do you keep up with other single riders or ride with just you two?
What is average speed vs. riding solo?

Right now we just do solo rides. It would be no trouble keeping up with single riders though. We will do group rides once my wife gets a little more stamina. Right now we ride a good 5+ mph faster that we could riding separately.

Originally Posted by AZ Don

I have seen a large group of Tandem bikes that ride as a group in Phoenix...that would be fun...I will need to find them.

Yes there are a lot of tandem rallys across the country. Those would be fun to join in some day as well.

[FishrCutB8]

You don't.

[jessegaw]

I find it hard to not get frustrated when riding my my guy and he feels the same. I just want to be able to keep up, but that'll come.

It does help to talk, he's full of great tips from his racing days and he always asks when I'm ready to go again, which I really appreciate.

But I think the best thing she could do is join a women's bike ride or find other people to go with. At least it helped me to learn what I was capable of doing by riding with people I can't yell at

[AZ Don]

But I think the best thing she could do is join a women's bike ride or find other people to go with. At least it helped me to learn what I was capable of doing by riding with people I can't yell at

The "KEY" words here are "Can't Yell At" - she get so angry she can't keep up - on hikes she keeps up fine / sometimes beats me up the mountains.

[jessegaw]

Hahaha, I feel her pain. My guy and I only ride together a few times a year b/c I get kind of angry. It's funny too when I crash that I get more upset when riding with him, if I'm out with other people I jump right back up on the bike. I need mental prep. to ride with him!

Sorry I don't have anything that might help. Good Luck!

[Antimonkeybutt Team]

Always wanted to try a tandem