no they won't let you ride behind, too self conscious.
Chat Forum
MTBing with the Missus?
-
Posted 3 months ago #
-
She wouldn't ride with any woman she sees as 'proper cyclists' unfortunetly.
Sounds a lot like a confidence thing, especially if she's not interested in wearing the "proper" gear. It's going to be hard to change the situation there without being very patient. Again, the best thing is to play to her strengths.
I agree that taking her to a trail centre might be a really good idea. Maybe get her to try out a couple of hire bikes too and see what she likes.
Posted 3 months ago # -
Objectives! We have different types of ride; training, competition (with PB or formal), leisure and pootle.
Her radometer is set to pootle. With time it'll shift up a touch. Maybe she's extra nervous riding on roads/thinks she's holding you up (can she hear your freehub buzzing behind?) or many other things.
I've accepted that Mrs Shake will not be motivated to ride in the same way as my mates, but then again I don't expect my friends to behave in the same way as my girlfriend when we're camping. Appreciate the fact that she is taking an interest and making an effort to share this with you.
I have been bothered by Emma's pace on the road before, but voicing it only leads to her being upset and me realising I've been a ****. Don't do it!
Your wife's improving off road where it matters, on the road doesn't really mean anything. Put your ego to one side and let the mums overtake you, they aren't bothered
Posted 3 months ago # -
Electric bike?
Posted 3 months ago # -
Ok, I will stick to being patient and giving trail centres a go.
Some useful feedback and things to think about thanks!
Posted 3 months ago # -
Sounds a lot like a confidence thing
you never tried to buy bike gear with a woman have you?
Posted 3 months ago # -
another thing on confidence, don't wait for them after something you think might be troubling or too technical, they will know something ahead is tricky and hessitate, best wait further on at trail end.
Posted 3 months ago # -
My wifes exactly the same. She does alot of running, shes even done a half marathon. Some days she's quicker than me running.
But both with both running and cycling if she wants to go slow she will and thats that.
Often, like you say, it will be on a slight downhill were you dont seem to need to pedal very hard. I always think its the bike but it seems to roll well.
Posted 3 months ago # -
If
she went off on one
and
she went mental at me
I'd struggle to want to ride with her much more.Mrs Grizla doesn't like to ride her bike (though she does occasionally come out for a summertime pub pootle), and I've come to the conclusion that women generally are less prone to enjoying it than men.
Though not all women of course...
Posted 3 months ago # -
Women and bike clothes, all subtitled so no need for sound.
http://www.pinkbike.com/news/Shit-Mountainbike-Girls-Say-2012.html
Posted 3 months ago # -
90% of the riding I do is with the wife, we're at pretty much the same level, she might be a bit fitter than me but i'm a bit quicker on the tech bits. We've been riding together that long that its wierd when riding with someone else.
One thing i'll say is to make sure you comment on things she's doing well, dont get annoyed as it'll just make you dread riding with her. Focus on the positive and there's no reason you can't go for rides by yourself if you need to get out and ride as fast as you possibly can!
Think i'm pretty lucky though!
Posted 3 months ago # -
Yeah, pretty well summed up.
My wife is just the same. I realised that she wanted to do things WITH me, but not at my level, so riding with her and the kids is wheelie practise time for me.
Everyone benefits and I'm normally the slower one.Unfortunately my lad now thinks this is normal behaviour and I can't really tell him otherwise!
Posted 3 months ago # -
never again will I try to get a partner to ride. The thing is with bikes is that I like the effort, and the challenge, and getting out of breath, if i'm not doing that then it's not really what I'm there for.
Nothing wrong with having separate interests, I for one will be keeping Bikes just for me (unless they already ride as fast or faster than me, which, in fairness wouldn't be that difficult).
Posted 3 months ago # -
Nothing wrong with having separate interests, I for one will be keeping Bikes just for me
amen.
Posted 3 months ago # -
My wife has this strange aversion to riding uphill... On the flat or downhill she flies and could easily join in our regular informal club rides. As soon as there is the slightest incline, she just gives in.
Very strange.
Posted 3 months ago # -
my beloved is the other way around. She climbs like a mountain goat!
Posted 3 months ago # -
Do what I do (I hate forcing a speed-up, it never goes down well). Just ride a BIT faster each time, she'll naturally keep up so as not to get lost off the back. The other option is a soft-target - we need to be back for 4:15 for a meal I've booked, lets see if we can make it...
Posted 3 months ago # -
Try taking her to a spin class. Lots of ladies. Lots of sweat and no one knows how hard or fast she's going. Maybe she'll get the idea and start to push it outside as well. And you can get a workout too.
Posted 3 months ago # -
Spin classes are a good idea!
Posted 3 months ago # -
Her radometer is set to pootle. With time it'll shift up a touch.
Woah, woah, woah, wait... it has a higher setting than pootle?
Posted 3 months ago # -
I ache, that vid.
Ermmmmm
LOL
Posted 3 months ago # -
Mrs R can keep up if she wants to but needs to know how exactly where we are going, how far it is, and when it will end. I'm keen to get her on a skills lesson to build her confidence and hopefully she'll join the ladies at Hervelo soon.
Posted 3 months ago # -
I ache, that vid.
Ermmmmm LOLDo tell then
Posted 3 months ago # -
I just built another bike for the GF (my brothers old dirt jump bike wasn't really right for her). I've made it as light as I can, but I'm still not holding out much hope she's going to love riding it. (If it wasn't about 4 sizes to small for me it'd be about the fastest thing I've ever ridden though)
Posted 3 months ago # -
We ladies really hate being told what to do by our other halves when it comes to mtbing.
Maybe you could invite someone else along on your rides, another couple for instance. Then she may feel some competition and put a spurt on.Also some woman really won't go any faster than pootle pace because real mtbing scares them. I'm still scared and have been mtbing for many years.
Promise of cake always speeds up my pace
Posted 3 months ago # -
go on a night ride with her, drop her, circle around and make strange noises and see if she speeds up
^^^This may work in the short term, long term consequences will be dangerous.
At the moment it sounds like she is comparing herself to you, accepting you're "better", and taking the option of not trying cos' you'll always be faster. Sort of saving her pride , in a way. You can help by not competing, or pointing out the differences, just being supportive.
The group ride (Ride it etc...) sounds like the best idea. There'll be people of all abilities (and shapes and sizes) and she'll see that going a bit faster is ok. She may even find a hidden competitive streak when she gets overtaken by someone she sees as more of a "peer".Posted 3 months ago # -
Have you tried telling her that she's ruining your favourite pastime?
Posted 3 months ago # -
I have two tips for riding with women
1. Accept any ride you take her on will be slow & scenic, don't get worked up about it.
2. If you get the urge for some alfresco sex use a condom or she will moan (probably justifiably) about her soggy chamois for the remainder of the ride.
Posted 3 months ago # -
Posted 3 months ago # -
Grizla +1.
If you are going to get an irrational and negative reaction to your help, why bother? You'd walk away if it was anyone else.
Posted 3 months ago # -
Ladders
You're a decent roadie so your always going to be a lot faster than her - when Mrs and I first started riding I often thought she wasn't trying but she would insist she was, it took a fair while for her to build up speed even though she was a strong athlete and could do the distances.
Rather than a trail centre perhaps take her out to peaslake / holmbury where there's less road riding involved and she'll have to work a bit more (not just speed but upper body as well) than richmond park and esher common.
Posted 3 months ago # -
Can you find another couple to ride with? Then the blokes can "race" and the girls can enjoy a pleasant ride
There's nothing worse than having to play "catch-up" - I should know!
Dunno where you live, but we have a quite active group of ladies who "enjoy the scenery" here in the North West - we love pootling* up hills, and down hills.
* for pootling, read walking
Posted 3 months ago # -
One of the advantages of being a somewhat sedate rider like me, is that most semi-competent women can keep up on a bike and are often faster in fact. I quite envy you all - being harangued by a furious partner for not being able to hack the pace is quite stressful. Be kind.
Posted 3 months ago # -
Go out on a 22x20 geared singlespeed and you'll be doing 8mph on the flat too.
Sorted.
Posted 3 months ago # -
BWD - it drives me mad though always having to wait for you
Lady Gresley - ah ha I know who you are now. I once led a beginners ride around Lyme park. Lots of wags on that ride, a few years ago now. I'm sure you must be a lot faster and fitter now?
Posted 3 months ago #
Reply »
You must log in to post.
