Originally Posted by
Machka
+1
my GF and I ride often, now married over 25 years.
Have to find a balance - before you get married.
1) Make sure the bicycle really fits her and that she feels comfortable on it. If she doesn't feel comfortable on it, she won't be inclined to ride it.
IMHO- the guy being a good chauvinist getting a bike for his partner is a major mistake. Each rider should pick our his/her bike - this fosters ownership. Now that said- sometimes one of the partners needs to help create a good opportunity for bike selection.
2) Even though it is a mtn bike, that doesn't mean you have to do rough trails and narrow track with it. Ride with her on the road (quiet roads) and on quiet paths.
After #1- if your partner has a mtn bike & does really ride over any mtns - put touring type tires on it.
they will be more comfortable on the roads and paths - plus a little more responsive.
3) Ride with her ... even if it means you've got to slow down and take it easy.
My partner and I ride - TWOgether. Once a month we, leave the kids home and go on a bike date.
Others have mentioned cycling, not for the only goal of cycling- but incorporate that into some
activity or interest. My partner can list a most of the ice cream shops within about a 100 km
and what she prefers to get at each one. Another example - on saturday we go grocery
shopping - with the car in the morning. However on sat afternoon [ not our bike date] - we
often cycle to an original country store with a great meat counter, its about 30 km round trip.
Just to get something for sat or sun nite dinner. They have ice cream and great oatmeal
cookies.
4) Know that you may never get her interested in cycling. But if she isn't interested in cycling, is she interested in doing some other form of exercise? Does she like going and swimming laps at the pool, or attending aerobics classes or something? If so, then you go for a ride while she's doing whatever she likes doing. However, if she is not interested in any sort of exercise and you now are ......... then you've got to make a choice.
Another good example- my partner goes to stretching and exercise once or twice per week - depending upon the season. It is about 15 km, I often ride there and get a lift home.
My partner has annual cycle trips outlined for the about next decade - this is another good way to keep everyone connected to cycling. Go where the partner wants [that is part of partnership], the between trip cycling is important to keep in cycling form for the trip.
I'll be quiet now.