Wife and I back on bikes
10-30-19, 07:29 PM
#1
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Wife and I back on bikes
Wife and I are just about ready to turn 65 and have not been on bikes in years, my old Centurion was hanging in the garage for all that time and I have begun to clean it up, get a few new places for it and she bought a new Treck Verve II from a local bike shop. I even built a bike carrier for out pickup out of PVC and we hauled it to Sacramento last weekend for some riding along the American River. We are both in decent shape and getting back on the bike has been fun.
10-30-19, 08:00 PM
#2
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Do you wear helmets?
10-30-19, 08:43 PM
#3
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Yes, in fact, my wife forgot her helmet when we went to Sacramento and she fell and bumped her head, not bad but enough so she won't forget it again.
10-31-19, 09:07 AM
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heartwarming. riding with Wifey is one my favorite things to do
the one day my 61 yr old wife & I (60) didn't wear helmets, last year, she crashed & broke her wrist. thinking maybe we should start wearing wrist guards ...
the one day my 61 yr old wife & I (60) didn't wear helmets, last year, she crashed & broke her wrist. thinking maybe we should start wearing wrist guards ...
10-31-19, 10:07 AM
#6
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we began riding because my wife had begun walking every day, sometimes up to ten miles on local paths and I had decided to get my old Centurian back on the road, she bought a Terk and off we went. Been nice to ride together.
10-31-19, 10:51 AM
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10-31-19, 11:07 AM
#9
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How great is it that you can hop on a 40 year old bike and start enjoying it enough that you want to share the good news with strangers?
There's a bit of time machine-like magic with bicycles.
There's a bit of time machine-like magic with bicycles.
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10-31-19, 11:29 AM
#10
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Seeing all the cool bikes in the classic and vintage threads I find I am not alone, justs makes me want to shine the old girl up (the bike that is)
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10-31-19, 02:11 PM
#11
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My wife is no longer interested in riding beyond the neighborhood, but I enjoy that little bit with her on our cruisers. Enjoy it while you both can.
10-31-19, 03:32 PM
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Good to hear you and your wife are riding together. My wife just recently retired, and is getting back into riding more again. When near PA, though, we rode rail-trails and mtn.bike trails. Not so many around us now, but we are finding places to ride, just not as plentiful. And we have road bikes now also, in addition to our old mtn.bikes.
11-05-19, 07:58 AM
#13
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Wife and I are just about ready to turn 65 and have not been on bikes in years, my old Centurion was hanging in the garage for all that time and I have begun to clean it up, get a few new places for it and she bought a new Treck Verve II from a local bike shop. I even built a bike carrier for out pickup out of PVC and we hauled it to Sacramento last weekend for some riding along the American River. We are both in decent shape and getting back on the bike has been fun.
11-05-19, 05:29 PM
#14
Junior Member
Recently bought my wife a very nice used Specialized Sirrus Sport. She's a good strong rider but refuses to wear a helmet. (she's a farm girl) I recently bought a new Kask since I had a Bell that was 13 years old. That didn't even motivate er to wear hers. Oh well, at least she will ride with me.
11-05-19, 07:04 PM
#15
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My wife had not been on a bike for the entire 50 years we have been married. I could not get her to try riding again as she was afraid of falling and breaking something. Could not get her to go to a shop and even look at a bike. So I just bought her a bike myself a few weeks ago.
She did not want to get on it but I finally talked her into trying a short ride on a very scenic, very flat, very wide paved bike path where I knew she would see plenty of other older ladies on bikes. It worked and she is getting stronger and more confident every ride.
They are slow rides but it is very nice to ride together and to see her enjoying the bike in spite of herself. Bikes are just magic machines, as someone already mentioned.
She did not want to get on it but I finally talked her into trying a short ride on a very scenic, very flat, very wide paved bike path where I knew she would see plenty of other older ladies on bikes. It worked and she is getting stronger and more confident every ride.
They are slow rides but it is very nice to ride together and to see her enjoying the bike in spite of herself. Bikes are just magic machines, as someone already mentioned.
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11-06-19, 01:23 PM
#16
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Here is a link to the site where they give instructions on how to build, with photos. https://www.instructables.com/id/Truckbed-Bike-Rack/
It works quite well, with a couple hold down straps the bikes don't move around. We are thinking of getting a hitch mount as we would like to carry some things in the bed of the truck.
It works quite well, with a couple hold down straps the bikes don't move around. We are thinking of getting a hitch mount as we would like to carry some things in the bed of the truck.
11-06-19, 01:35 PM
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At 65, I am not sure exactly just how long you have been married, but a tandem could end your marriage! 
Kidding of course but I have heard plenty of comments from others who have tried. Riding along with my wife and I on our tandem, and on cycling forums, people have said, "you guys ride a tandem and you're still married!".
Some make the move to tandem but plenty don't from the comments I have heard. We had some pretty serious arguments while adapting to the tandem. It is pretty different aiming for centuries and such. Rolling around the hood, no problem. But it takes a lot of work and compromise to really get rolling. I am a spinner and she was a masher. I have to drop my cadence on rides and she has to spin more. Actually changed her ride style plenty having to adapt to a faster cadence which really worked out for her cycling. But it was a major period for adapting and compromise.
I say pass on the tandem at your age. Your heart may be too weak to take it!
Kidding of course but I have heard plenty of comments from others who have tried. Riding along with my wife and I on our tandem, and on cycling forums, people have said, "you guys ride a tandem and you're still married!".
Some make the move to tandem but plenty don't from the comments I have heard. We had some pretty serious arguments while adapting to the tandem. It is pretty different aiming for centuries and such. Rolling around the hood, no problem. But it takes a lot of work and compromise to really get rolling. I am a spinner and she was a masher. I have to drop my cadence on rides and she has to spin more. Actually changed her ride style plenty having to adapt to a faster cadence which really worked out for her cycling. But it was a major period for adapting and compromise.
I say pass on the tandem at your age. Your heart may be too weak to take it!
11-06-19, 05:11 PM
#18
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Thread Starter
At 65, I am not sure exactly just how long you have been married, but a tandem could end your marriage!
Kidding of course but I have heard plenty of comments from others who have tried. Riding along with my wife and I on our tandem, and on cycling forums, people have said, "you guys ride a tandem and you're still married!".
Some make the move to tandem but plenty don't from the comments I have heard. We had some pretty serious arguments while adapting to the tandem. It is pretty different aiming for centuries and such. Rolling around the hood, no problem. But it takes a lot of work and compromise to really get rolling. I am a spinner and she was a masher. I have to drop my cadence on rides and she has to spin more. Actually changed her ride style plenty having to adapt to a faster cadence which really worked out for her cycling. But it was a major period for adapting and compromise.
I say pass on the tandem at your age. Your heart may be too weak to take it!
Kidding of course but I have heard plenty of comments from others who have tried. Riding along with my wife and I on our tandem, and on cycling forums, people have said, "you guys ride a tandem and you're still married!".
Some make the move to tandem but plenty don't from the comments I have heard. We had some pretty serious arguments while adapting to the tandem. It is pretty different aiming for centuries and such. Rolling around the hood, no problem. But it takes a lot of work and compromise to really get rolling. I am a spinner and she was a masher. I have to drop my cadence on rides and she has to spin more. Actually changed her ride style plenty having to adapt to a faster cadence which really worked out for her cycling. But it was a major period for adapting and compromise.
I say pass on the tandem at your age. Your heart may be too weak to take it!
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11-06-19, 05:20 PM
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We were doing 45 mile rides no problem on singles then got on the tandem and thought we were going to fly. Increased the ride to 60 thinking it would be a breeze, boy was I wrong. I almost passed out half way through the ride. The extra balance, counter balancing, not being able to move freely adjusting, really took its toll.
I also tried with a really strong male friend after the wife and I worked it out. Few years later it was second nature so I tried with a buddy who is much stronger than my wife.
The coordination was very different and we really sucked ha ha! My wife and I were much faster than I was with a stronger friend.
If you do have the physical conditions, I kid around but seriously, I would not recommend the tandem. You might end up selling it 2 months later.
11-06-19, 05:41 PM
#20
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I'm actually having fun kidding about it but it really is difficult for some people. One thinks double motors, double speed. Not so. takes plenty of adjusting.
We were doing 45 mile rides no problem on singles then got on the tandem and thought we were going to fly. Increased the ride to 60 thinking it would be a breeze, boy was I wrong. I almost passed out half way through the ride. The extra balance, counter balancing, not being able to move freely adjusting, really took its toll.
I also tried with a really strong male friend after the wife and I worked it out. Few years later it was second nature so I tried with a buddy who is much stronger than my wife.
The coordination was very different and we really sucked ha ha! My wife and I were much faster than I was with a stronger friend.
If you do have the physical conditions, I kid around but seriously, I would not recommend the tandem. You might end up selling it 2 months later.
We were doing 45 mile rides no problem on singles then got on the tandem and thought we were going to fly. Increased the ride to 60 thinking it would be a breeze, boy was I wrong. I almost passed out half way through the ride. The extra balance, counter balancing, not being able to move freely adjusting, really took its toll.
I also tried with a really strong male friend after the wife and I worked it out. Few years later it was second nature so I tried with a buddy who is much stronger than my wife.
The coordination was very different and we really sucked ha ha! My wife and I were much faster than I was with a stronger friend.
If you do have the physical conditions, I kid around but seriously, I would not recommend the tandem. You might end up selling it 2 months later.
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11-07-19, 10:02 AM
#21
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I'm actually having fun kidding about it but it really is difficult for some people. One thinks double motors, double speed. Not so. takes plenty of adjusting.
We were doing 45 mile rides no problem on singles then got on the tandem and thought we were going to fly. Increased the ride to 60 thinking it would be a breeze, boy was I wrong. I almost passed out half way through the ride. The extra balance, counter balancing, not being able to move freely adjusting, really took its toll.
I also tried with a really strong male friend after the wife and I worked it out. Few years later it was second nature so I tried with a buddy who is much stronger than my wife.
The coordination was very different and we really sucked ha ha! My wife and I were much faster than I was with a stronger friend.
If you do have the physical conditions, I kid around but seriously, I would not recommend the tandem. You might end up selling it 2 months later.
We were doing 45 mile rides no problem on singles then got on the tandem and thought we were going to fly. Increased the ride to 60 thinking it would be a breeze, boy was I wrong. I almost passed out half way through the ride. The extra balance, counter balancing, not being able to move freely adjusting, really took its toll.
I also tried with a really strong male friend after the wife and I worked it out. Few years later it was second nature so I tried with a buddy who is much stronger than my wife.
The coordination was very different and we really sucked ha ha! My wife and I were much faster than I was with a stronger friend.
If you do have the physical conditions, I kid around but seriously, I would not recommend the tandem. You might end up selling it 2 months later.
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11-07-19, 03:30 PM
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11-07-19, 03:42 PM
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She "WAS" a masher! 
Once she saw that my side of the relationship was best for the family, we raised the kids as spinners. She also converted as well.
Son was a really good cyclist and bike handler at 15. Sadly his interest turned toward girls and it really messed him up.
Daughter is still very active and was spinning the bike like crazy at 30 years of age. I spin just above 100 rpm at 19 MPH in the 39 ring and I had a hard time matching her cadence when we were side by side. Sadly she took up running, got involved with RAGNAR, did some 200 mile relay runs and it messed her up.
Messed them up meaning it ended their cycling interest.
Once she saw that my side of the relationship was best for the family, we raised the kids as spinners. She also converted as well.
Son was a really good cyclist and bike handler at 15. Sadly his interest turned toward girls and it really messed him up.
Daughter is still very active and was spinning the bike like crazy at 30 years of age. I spin just above 100 rpm at 19 MPH in the 39 ring and I had a hard time matching her cadence when we were side by side. Sadly she took up running, got involved with RAGNAR, did some 200 mile relay runs and it messed her up.
Messed them up meaning it ended their cycling interest.
11-07-19, 03:49 PM
#25
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She "WAS" a masher!
Once she saw that my side of the relationship was best for the family, we raised the kids as spinners. She also converted as well.
Son was a really good cyclist and bike handler at 15. Sadly his interest turned toward girls and it really messed him up.
Daughter is still very active and was spinning the bike like crazy at 30 years of age. I spin just above 100 rpm at 19 MPH in the 39 ring and I had a hard time matching her cadence when we were side by side. Sadly she took up running, got involved with RAGNAR, did some 200 mile relay runs and it messed her up.
Messed them up meaning it ended their cycling interest.
Once she saw that my side of the relationship was best for the family, we raised the kids as spinners. She also converted as well.
Son was a really good cyclist and bike handler at 15. Sadly his interest turned toward girls and it really messed him up.
Daughter is still very active and was spinning the bike like crazy at 30 years of age. I spin just above 100 rpm at 19 MPH in the 39 ring and I had a hard time matching her cadence when we were side by side. Sadly she took up running, got involved with RAGNAR, did some 200 mile relay runs and it messed her up.
Messed them up meaning it ended their cycling interest.
I used to be a masher, but more and more, I'm now spinning a big gear. Big up front, 11t in the back. Zoom.
Don't try this at home, kids.
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