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I've ridden bicycles for a long time. Back when I was a kid, and even into my twenties, I rode bicycles to school and work. I took mountain bike camping trips with my son's Boy Scout troop so they could get the Cycling Merit Badge. I rode my 2001 Giant Yukon SE mountain bike --- converted to a comfort bike --- to work and back through a lot of 2008. And, of course, with my brand new Sun EZ Sport I'm planning on doing a lot more riding, touring, commuting, etc., via bicycle.
My problem is I would love it if my wife would accompany me. The last time SHE rode a bike was back when she was a little kid. She has a lot of trepidation about getting on a bicycle since she hasn't ridden in so long. She isn't convinced it is all that safe, and certainly would need some kind of serious encouragement about getting in the saddle once again. She has a ... (ahem) ... weight problem she is fighting, and has always fought, so I am sure bicycling would be a terrific strategy for her to attack weight loss. My first attempts at convincing her to give it a shot have sort of fallen on deaf ears.
I'm sure that women riders face this same kind of thing when they talk to their friends about joining them in the joys of cycling, since it seems to be a type of sport/recreation which is dominated by men. I'm really interested in all of your opinions about what you have found to be the most successful strategies in convincing your friends to give cycling a shot.
I'm serious as a heart attack about this, so I need all of you wanna-be-comedians guys out there to put a cork in it while I get some feedback on this.
Thanks,
BluesCat
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Most users ever online was 48 on Sun Jun 06, 2010 9:00 am
I need a woman's advice
BluesCat- Moderator
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I bought my first recumbent, a Sun EZ-Rider, the next day I found the Infinity on Craigslist and bought it too. I told her I was going to get rid of the EZ-rider but she looked at it and decided she might like to have it. Why? It was blue! My wife hadn't been on a bike since she got a driver's license (think Nixon administration). She's also working on a "weight problem". Cycling is something we can do together. She's only up to 3 miles and we don't leave the subdivision yet. She won't ride without me so I try to make time for the both of us to ride, even if it's after I've been on a longer one. We only have one day a week off together and we work different shifts so sometimes it's hard. Tomorrow I'm going on a 30+ mile ride, when I get home I'll take my bike off the rack and pull hers out of the garage and she and I will do another 3 miles.
Suggestion: Find a bike you think your wife will like and buy it, preferably used. Tell her you’re going to ride with her somewhere it’s safe, around the neighborhood or a bike trail. Only go as far as she wants to. If it’s only a mile the first couple of times, don’t push it. Don’t take her on a busy road until she’s comfortable. After a couple of months, if she’s still not into riding, maybe bikes just aren’t for her. At that time you can sell her bike for about what you have in it, that’s why you get a used bike for her. If she starts to really get into biking get her a new one for her birthday, Christmas, etc.
By the way, I liked your first avatar. Post pictures of your bike in the LWB section and bring the cat back.
Suggestion: Find a bike you think your wife will like and buy it, preferably used. Tell her you’re going to ride with her somewhere it’s safe, around the neighborhood or a bike trail. Only go as far as she wants to. If it’s only a mile the first couple of times, don’t push it. Don’t take her on a busy road until she’s comfortable. After a couple of months, if she’s still not into riding, maybe bikes just aren’t for her. At that time you can sell her bike for about what you have in it, that’s why you get a used bike for her. If she starts to really get into biking get her a new one for her birthday, Christmas, etc.
By the way, I liked your first avatar. Post pictures of your bike in the LWB section and bring the cat back.
The "boss" thought I should answer this, so here's my take on your situation.
Have you thought about a trike for her? They are very comfortable and she doesn't need to worry about falling over. And in my opinion they are very safe. See if you can find an organized ride in your area where there will be a trike or two. She will probably find the riders to be very friendly and willing to share their experience. And no offense to anyone, but many trike riders aren't in great shape, so she can see that you don't have to look like Lance Armstrong to enjoy riding. (And yes, I ride a trike.)
Speaking from personal experience here, another problem wives have, is the fitness level difference between the two of you. Sure, you may think you're going slow, but it probably isn't slow enough for her. Remember she hasn't ridden for years and you've been a regular rider. It would be beneficial if she could find another beginning rider to start. I know Ric would get frustrated when I couldn't keep up and even if he didn't I felt bad that I was slowing him down. As Pete said above, a mile or two at a walking pace is a start.
Good luck!
Kat (Admins wife)
(I see Ric has a sig line so here's mine: Hotmover...Greenspeed Tandem...Rans Formula)
Have you thought about a trike for her? They are very comfortable and she doesn't need to worry about falling over. And in my opinion they are very safe. See if you can find an organized ride in your area where there will be a trike or two. She will probably find the riders to be very friendly and willing to share their experience. And no offense to anyone, but many trike riders aren't in great shape, so she can see that you don't have to look like Lance Armstrong to enjoy riding. (And yes, I ride a trike.)
Speaking from personal experience here, another problem wives have, is the fitness level difference between the two of you. Sure, you may think you're going slow, but it probably isn't slow enough for her. Remember she hasn't ridden for years and you've been a regular rider. It would be beneficial if she could find another beginning rider to start. I know Ric would get frustrated when I couldn't keep up and even if he didn't I felt bad that I was slowing him down. As Pete said above, a mile or two at a walking pace is a start.
Good luck!
Kat (Admins wife)
(I see Ric has a sig line so here's mine: Hotmover...Greenspeed Tandem...Rans Formula)
Racer46:
LOL! Your wish is my command, the cat is back! Thanks for your excellent suggestion, I will keep my eye out for a used recumbent.
And keeping it nice and easy and tame was going to be my plan, too. Heck, even I didn't leave the subdivision when I first started riding my EZ Sport, and she knew that, so hopefully she won't feel intimidated if I can just get her to try.
Kat:
I've been intrigued by trikes, myself, so maybe that would be a way to set the hook. What style do women bikers seem to gravitate to, the delta or the tadpole?
When I was a Scout leader, taking the troop on hikes and backpacking outings, my first instruction to everyone was that "you walk at the pace of the slowest hiker." That way, everyone has a good time and it is much safer. Thanks for reminding me that I will need to revive that mindset for her.
LOL! Your wish is my command, the cat is back! Thanks for your excellent suggestion, I will keep my eye out for a used recumbent.
And keeping it nice and easy and tame was going to be my plan, too. Heck, even I didn't leave the subdivision when I first started riding my EZ Sport, and she knew that, so hopefully she won't feel intimidated if I can just get her to try.
Kat:
I've been intrigued by trikes, myself, so maybe that would be a way to set the hook. What style do women bikers seem to gravitate to, the delta or the tadpole?
When I was a Scout leader, taking the troop on hikes and backpacking outings, my first instruction to everyone was that "you walk at the pace of the slowest hiker." That way, everyone has a good time and it is much safer. Thanks for reminding me that I will need to revive that mindset for her.
I let my wife lead the ride at whatever speed she's comfortable at. I stay at her side or just behind her if there's any cars coming. As soon as she says she's getting tired we plan the shortest route back to the house.
For some reason I hadn't thought of trikes. My sister-in-law wants a delta. I've been keeping my eye on Craigslist. They sometimes come up for under $300. I think a delta would be more attractive to a woman who hasn't ridden in a while. It's closer to what she's used to thinking of as a bike as opposed to sitting almost on the ground with her legs up in the air. That might remind her of visiting her OB-GYN.
For some reason I hadn't thought of trikes. My sister-in-law wants a delta. I've been keeping my eye on Craigslist. They sometimes come up for under $300. I think a delta would be more attractive to a woman who hasn't ridden in a while. It's closer to what she's used to thinking of as a bike as opposed to sitting almost on the ground with her legs up in the air. That might remind her of visiting her OB-GYN.
BluesCat wrote:Racer46:
LOL! Your wish is my command, the cat is back! Thanks for your excellent suggestion, I will keep my eye out for a used recumbent.
And keeping it nice and easy and tame was going to be my plan, too. Heck, even I didn't leave the subdivision when I first started riding my EZ Sport, and she knew that, so hopefully she won't feel intimidated if I can just get her to try.
Kat:
I've been intrigued by trikes, myself, so maybe that would be a way to set the hook. What style do women bikers seem to gravitate to, the delta or the tadpole?
When I was a Scout leader, taking the troop on hikes and backpacking outings, my first instruction to everyone was that "you walk at the pace of the slowest hiker." That way, everyone has a good time and it is much safer. Thanks for reminding me that I will need to revive that mindset for her.
My wife rides a Hotmover Tadpole, I don't think you would ever get her on a Delta because of the speed thing and it's my opinion that the Tadpole is faster, safer and more stable than the Delta. I myself ride a Catrike Speed and I prefer it to the Strada. When I go out on the trails most all the women I see are riding the Tadpoles if that's any indication. If you want to get her interested go to the video section and let her check out the villages ride.
Rick
Racer46 wrote:
For some reason I hadn't thought of trikes. My sister-in-law wants a delta. I've been keeping my eye on Craigslist. They sometimes come up for under $300. I think a delta would be more attractive to a woman who hasn't ridden in a while. It's closer to what she's used to thinking of as a bike as opposed to sitting almost on the ground with her legs up in the air. That might remind her of visiting her OB-GYN.
Admin wrote:
My wife rides a Hotmover Tadpole, I don't think you would ever get her on a Delta because of the speed thing and it's my opinion that the Tadpole is faster, safer and more stable than the Delta. I myself ride a Catrike Speed and I prefer it to the Strada. When I go out on the trails most all the women I see are riding the Tadpoles if that's any indication. If you want to get her interested go to the video section and let her check out the villages ride.
Rick
Dang, tadpole or delta, tadpole or delta, which would SHE like. I'm thinking (although I'm not sure) it would probably be a tadpole, and here's my reasoning:
1. From my limited experience, it seems to me that having two wheels in front of you just psychologically feels more stable, and safer, than having a single wheel out front.
2. Just west of us is Sun City, a lot of the retired bicyclists out there ride these full, upright trikes like the Schwinn Meridian; I think a delta trike with ASS, no matter how laid back it was, would create a feeling that she was a granny now, not able to ride a REAL bicycle.
3. Hey, I might want to ride it, too, and I am MUCH more intrigued by the tadpole design than the delta; also, if I am interested in the bike, as a real desirable ride, then I think it is much more likely that SHE will be interested in it.
Thanks for the heads up on the videos, Admin, I'll take a look at the videos and see if I can somehow use them in my quest to get her riding again.
Racer46: I have to chuckle at your OB-GYN comment, but I don't think that will be a problem.
Chack out the Tri-zard on the RANS website... slickest Delta I've ever seen
Tim,
We went to the Suwannee Sweetheart Ride today. Rides of varying lengths. I would say that 50% of the riders were women. They came in all shapes, sizes and ages, many older than me. This would be a nice atmosphere for her to size up the situation. If she is interested at all, then a club like this might push her over the edge.
If you can go to a recumbent rally, then she could test drive all the latest offerings.
I.M.Bent
We went to the Suwannee Sweetheart Ride today. Rides of varying lengths. I would say that 50% of the riders were women. They came in all shapes, sizes and ages, many older than me. This would be a nice atmosphere for her to size up the situation. If she is interested at all, then a club like this might push her over the edge.
If you can go to a recumbent rally, then she could test drive all the latest offerings.
I.M.Bent
Nightturkey wrote:Chack out the Tri-zard on the RANS website... slickest Delta I've ever seen
Ooo, yeah, that IS a nice Delta. Looks like it is an improvement on the idea behind the EZ-3 USX Delta (much lighter and no trick suspension). Shucks, you guys are supposed to be helping me, not giving me even more options to sort through! LOL!
I.M.Bent wrote:
If you can go to a recumbent rally, then she could test drive all the latest offerings.
I.M.Bent
Yeah, I’ve joined a local recumbent rider’s club. I’m hoping to ride with them soon and get an idea when they might have a rally with clubs from different cities. Maybe then I can get her to see these things in action.
Admin: Speaking of seeing these things in action, thanks for pointer to the Videos section and the excellent, extensive Villages Two Recumbent Ride video by Bob Emmerich. After watching that, I couldn’t resist: I had to get out on my bike and put in a quick 6 miles! I may just “accidently” leave it up and running on my second screen when my wife is back in my office sending out some emails!
BluesCat
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