Despite my best efforts my Mrs. absolutely hates the idea of mountain biking. I'm not one for forcing my hobby on others, but she has recently said she would be interested in getting involved to a) get fit and b) share a hobby / spend time together etc.
I've taken her twice in the past 4 years and to be fair they were disastrous. The first time was a disgusting day in Gisburn, she couldn't get going on the wet bottom section and worst of all her chain kept slipping and jamming (from a hire bike). The second time was a quick jaunt round Phillips Park. I made the mistake of taking her down the red - she screamed down the hill and was pretty annoyed at me. My bad.
So basically I need tips, or a programme of progression for someone at the very beginning of riding a mountain bike. I just don't trust my judgement.
She doesn't want to join a group ride or go on her own - so it's down to me.
Really? She's a beginner. Take her on easy trails. Not trails you think are easy. Easy trails. The clue is there with the red trails - compared to other trails it's deemed relatively hard.
Be patient. If she says she's had enough after 10 minutes then be prepared to turn around and go home.
Ride somewhere nice. Pleasant trails with good views, not too techy (if at all). Good weather. Crank up the difficulty gradually.
Tandem? I jest, whereabouts are you based? Trail centres are maybe a good place to start as you can guarantee a hot chocolate and a slice of cake at the end, plus there's generally plenty of options for cutting it short if needs be, and maybe stick to greens/blues to start. Whereabouts are you based? Some very easy natural rides could also be a good option, disused railway lines and the odd bridleway, etc. Depends whether you want to risk spending the money on something you might not stick to , but some warm/comfy clothing might help a lot too.
Does she ride a bike any other time?
You might want to start off with towpath or green lane rides.
Ride somewhere nice. Pleasant trails with good views, not too techy (if at all).
I'm all ears!
Got to nice places, places where she might actually be able to ride, and enjoy herself (not where you want to go). Go to places where she can look at nice things, horses, or other stuff, maybe with a nice café for coffee and cake and where she'll tell you that she quite enjoyed herself.
But then you called her "my Mrs", and wrote "my bad", so forget all that stuff above.
As above, plus, from experience with my Mrs, watch what you say. If you try to be helpful and say "there's a bit down here where you need to watch out for the overhanging branch/little step/sharp bend/whatever" they may then start crapping themselves from the off, wondering what the thing is they're looking out for, as it must be pretty bad otherwise you wouldn't have mentioned it...
It's not going to happen. MTBing is one of those things that either grabs you or it doesn't. It clearly doesn't grab her, otherwise she'd have wanted to do it from the off.
She probably won't enjoy it that much; she probably won't do it enough to get good enough to do anything interesting; she will probably feel inferior or that she's ruining your ride etc etc.
Find something else active to do together, I reckon.
Sunny, flat, easy, wide trails with very nice views and a pub lunch at the end.
Something that allows them to enjoy the countryside, not the bike. They are not interested in the bike, what size wheels it has, the rebound settings, the roots you can get air off etc.
They want to see nice views with flowers and squirrels and a river and a reward at the end.
Family trail round FoD perhaps ?
slowoldman - MemberRide somewhere nice. Pleasant trails with good views, not too techy (if at all). Good weather. Crank up the difficulty gradually.
This really, remember to ride at her pace the whole time (yes, up and down). Starting in winter can be very ropey, for obvious reasons.
Plus, if buying a bike get her to involved to make sure she gets one she actually likes the look of - it does make a difference.
Ride somewhere nice. Pleasant trails with good views, not too techy (if at all). Good weather. Crank up the difficulty gradually.
+1
Go somewhere natural with easy bridleways, in summer.
Everyone loves a hack arround the fields on a summers evening, then she might get into more technical tracks, or suffering round the same fields in mid winter mud.
Most resevoirs have a flat-ish cycle path arround the shore, that's the kind of thing.
The approach you take totally depends on who she is doesn't it?
My missis hates cycling - really hates it! She loves hard exercise and adrenaline, though 🙂 I sorted her with a decent bike (actually, mine :/) got her riding fun stuff, taught her to corner and booked her in with Jedi straight away.
She still hates cycling, but loves uplifts 
I actively avoid involving the other half.
My hobby, my mates, my time out... the last thing I want is my bike time (limited) ruined.
Walking/hiking with the other half is great.... just not biking.
But if you want it to happen then nice rides with tearoom stops etc.
Get your mrs a really nice bike, and start with toe paths or quiet lanes. No more than 10 miles, and go to the pub, or a picnic in the summer. maybe a bit of off road if it's dry. make it enjoyable in other words No more reds!
Was in the lakes over Christmas with the family and took my sis around the Whintlatter Blue. She's fairly sporty but not really done any mountain biking. It was really tough for her, made me appreciate that trails I think are p1ss easy are not easy if you don't mountain bike. She enjoyed it but we stopped after 1 1/2 hrs as she was starting to wane a bit as the effort and concentration is quite high.
So, take a big step back. Think fire roads, land rover tracks and trail centre greens and easy blues. Think cafe stops. Think that <2hrs and 12km is a the best you'll manage. Choose good weather.
Had similar issues, on our first ride together I took her to Coed Y Brenin, bad idea, ended in tears. I've also found that I'm actually a pretty crap teacher and when we both went out just us it tended to end badly.
Getting her together with some female friends who also rode and getting them to take her out was far better, that or going out in a mixed group so the focus isn't all on her.
She's been totally focused on mummying these past 3 years, our youngest will be old enough to get in the Chariot this Summer and I'm really looking forward to getting her Orange Diva out and seeing her riding again.
You really need to build up to mountain biking if they're not confident on a bike. Start out with flat easy routes through picturesque countryside. Do rides that she will enjoy.
Bridgewater canal down to Dunham Massey is quite pleasant.
I go mountain biking once a year with my brother, we'll do a blue trail or similiar local XC, he'll have a comedy crash for no reason, I'll show off on some harder stuff, it's all very pleasant. He's pretty fit which helps a lot
Something that allows them to enjoy the countryside, not the bike. They are not interested in the bike, what size wheels it has, the rebound settings, the roots you can get air off etc.They want to see nice views with flowers and squirrels and a river and a reward at the end.
Sounds like me.
Look at it from her perspective: if she was in to horse riding and you weren't, would you expect to go round the Grand National course as your first ride out?
Pick an easy route with good views, one or more cafes/pubs along the way and short cut/cop out options (but don't mention those at the start).
It's not about the bike!
Nice summer long weekend away to CYB. Loads of trails of varying difficulty and mid/north wales is a nice area, plenty to mix up the MTB with so she doesn't get bored of it.
I made the mistake of taking her down the red - she screamed down the hill and was pretty annoyed at me. My bad.
Ha!
Try taking her to some natural trails. My girlfriend didn't enjoy CyB at all, but we've had good days out along bridleways in the Peak and Dartmoor when we lived in Plymouth.
She isn't at all confident on the bike, so I have to find routes which don't involve anything very technical, but I'm afraid you just have to sacrifice a bit of the gnarr to gain the pleasure of having a day out with the missus 🙂
Stick at it and the results can be impressive:
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^^ That her in the background legend?
if you're serious...
1) get her a bike that a) fits, and b) works. her bike is now more important than yours.
2) get used to carrying the jackets she's discarded after 5mins. It's not her fault, she's not being soft by starting off in a warm jacket. she can wear whatever she needs to feel comfy/confident. Suck it up.
3) don't force her out in crappy weather - she will let you know what her definition of crappy is. She's allowed to change her mind at any point.
4) reds are WAAAY too hard.
5) 10k is a long way.
6) take snacks, stop for a snack every 20 mins.
7) start her off with something really mellow.
chambord - Member^^ That her in the background legend?
She's killed for comments less cheeky than that 😉
Tell her you'll go to bingo with her and start knitting (or whatever else she does) as a compromise.
Cheers everyone, recognise the red was a mistake. Tow paths sound the way to go (that one to Dunham Massey sounds like one to take a look at)
But then you called her "my Mrs", and wrote "my bad", so forget all that stuff above.
Nice to see someone's remembered their 'Judge people based on an innocuous forum post' pills. Tricky to remember them, especially if you're trying to remain at peak ass*ole....
And you don't have a sense of humour either do you?
In addition to the above, (if it were my wife) I'd start with a conversation like "I realise I got it wrong before, really sorry but I'd still really love to go on bike rides with you, how about we pick a nice day in the spring, find some nice tracks, I'll carry a picnic or we'll find a pub to aim for and see how it goes? It'll be like a nice walk in the countryside, but we'll go a bit further and see a bit more."
Or something. I reckon you do need to start by admitting you were wrong before, you've listened, reflected and learnt, and that it'll be different this time.
I was in exactly the same boat, the gf had no interest in mtb whatsoever. But then she decided she wanted to get fitter/healthier and suggested we go mountain biking together. Her dad had an old Norco 6.3 bike lying about so i put new brakes on that (no chance of me getting Avids working after 2yrs of non use), got it all up and running and took her to Gisburn on a really nice fresh, clear day. We just did a loop of the blue and she loved it. Even got her confidence up enough to try 'Swoopy' at the end, which she did unfortunately end up walking most of. We've since been a few more times and had a great time.
She's not 'hooked' as such but she does enjoy it and can at least understand why I love doing it. So cuts me a bit more slack than in the past.
Lots of good stuff up there, try your local national trust places, just go for a ride.
Plenty of great advice above. Mrs FBJ is plenty fit enough on her road bike but is terrified off road although she periodically goes through spells of doing a fair bit. We're currently trying (at her request) to do a ride a week, only about an hour/hour and a half, with as many stops as she wants, plenty of chatting and nice views. I ride half a wheel behind her so she's setting the pace, carry a backpack full of everything we could possibly need and we stop for coffee if she wants to.
Just take everything at her pace, remember it's a trip out for her and enjoy watching her confidence and skills grow if she sticks with it.
Brechfa Green or Blue and Green. I've taken a few novices there and they've all loved it where they've been terified on Reds at Afan. It's also one of my favourite trails which helps. No rental on site so you'll need to sort that another way and surprise her with a really nice hotel or B&B so there is somewhere nice to come back to.
Or something. I reckon you do need to start by admitting you were wrong before, you've listened, reflected and learnt, and that it'll be different this time.
Yep, that exactly what I've done.
Given all the above, maybe January is not the best time to do this. A sunny day round a national trust estate via a few tow paths in early spring seems the way to go!
Delamere in the dry.
I'm liking the fact that you took her round the red loop in Philips. You knob. 😀
My girlfriend has always ridden a bike everywhere around town and is quite happy for a bit of a pootle along a towpath or sustrans route but she was adamant about not riding off-road after a couple of bad experiences where friends had taken her out of her depth on local trails..
So... We went for a nice ride on Dartmoor, mostly road with a couple of flat level forest trails and we both got off and walked when she felt out of her depth.. we [i]both[/i] pushed our bikes across the moor and saw some lovely scenery..
Then we did a few farm tracks and more easy stuff locally, always leading to a picnic or somewhere picturesque..
After a while she tried some of the woodland singletrack and loved it.. the trick is to get her out riding some stuff to very gently build her confidence, but to always make it feel like you're just out and about on bikes having a lovely day out [i]together[/i]
My Mrs is the exact same, she isnt interested, despite us having 2 little boys (7 &8) that are really good at MTB'ing and love riding reds with me at Llandegla, Coed y & Cannock.
I would love for her to come along and ride with us - on her terms, and on Blue's - you know, as a family.
I've given her one of my Old bikes, and fitted it out with all new kit - so its as good as new now. She's even had a bike fitting to make it "Lady Friendly" in the saddle area, as that was sited as the biggest reason NOT to join us. THE BIKE FIT (and new saddle) MADE A BIG DIFFERENCE TO HER "WANTING TO RIDE" - I'd recommend it.
My latest plan was to get her a comfy fat bike to ride... due to the weather she's only ridden it around the park, but seems to like it - fingers crossed.
>>> I'm watching the thread for ideas <<<
I'm liking the fact that you took round the red loop in Philips. You knob.
Ha, tell me about it! My internal idiot siren went off as soon as I went down the hill. But alas, it was too late!
Might hit the blues this weekend if it's nice. Can you ride there from town on the canal?
You might also ask her what her idea of a good ride would be. That way you would know whether it is weather, hills, technical stuff, cold temperatures etc. that she particularly doesn't like the sound of. You could then plan rides to take account of these.
I'd say that all the advice about making her the focus of joint rides is very important. This will help to ensure she enjoys her riding and ultimately will want to do more.
Errr, why do blokes always do this?! 😉
I do a bit of MTB coaching that tends to be women who want to get into the sport - the majority have some awful story about their other half taking them to trail centres etc which are too tricky for beginners!
As someone who also learnt to mountain bike with their ex years ago (he took me to the Cwmcarn red for my first ever off road ride!!) I TOTALLY remember what it was like to be a beginner. I find people who have been riding a number of years tend to forget just how tricky it is....?
The bikes feel funny, everything feels skittish off road, turning corners is a nightmare blah blah. All the stuff that you don't see as 'tricky' actually is if you have not ridden off road before. Plus the fact that's it's knackering!
I would suggest a friendly ride around a local blue (if you're near a trail centre) or bridleway stuff. Keep it fairly flat, and have a few breaks along the way. I'd also suggest holding back on any helpful tips for the first few sessions - I know people only try to help, but I think beginners need to get that spark of 'fun' before it gets too much into the detail 🙂
Hope that helps!
If she wants to ride then she should take the effort to get a bike or work with you to build one up. If she still wants to ride it then she should research what and where she wants to ride and ask if you'd like to come along. If its you doing all the work here then she's really not that interested is she.
If that happens then she'll be serious and you'll have a future riding together. If not, resign yourself to the occaisional ride along a towpath to a tearoom and she can get a gym membership.
Edit - cuts both ways and applies to He's and She's.
Easy answer. It needs to be flat and dry. Also provide a picnic.
The route around upper derwent and howden reservoirs is good. park at the car park have a bacon butty and a cup of tea then ride up around the reservoirs. another cup of tea, bikes back in the car and go for a pub lunch on the way home.
It's easy as it's mostly flat but makes you feel like you've done something cos there is a 2 or 3 ups. lovely on a sunny day winter or summer.
Nice route, nice conditions and an objective that doesn't involve "getting round the red". It is sadly you who needs to change perspective. I've taught plenty of children and novices to ride off-road. Their motivation is not usually the adrenaline rush, more the cafe or picnic. Lower your expectations to having a pleasant time out together, and seeing her become more confident. A red route is not the place to achieve that. Nor many a Blue route for that matter.
Yunki has it right. Start again with an apology, followed by something non-challenging with a good break for lunch in a pleasant spot. Towpaths, firetracks, plus the odd bridleway.
Then if she is so inclined, go for some coaching - I've taught absolute beginners on Green and Blue at Swinley - then, and only then if she so desires, take her to more challenging trails.
I'd also add that you need stuff to be flat. Something you consider a mild slope that you'd coast down no-brakes can be a terrifying steep section.
It can be very hard to see something as "steep" that's below your threshold for it.
I'd also add that you need stuff to be flat. Something you consider a mild slope that you'd coast down no-brakes can be a terrifying steep section.It can be very hard to see something as "steep" that's below your threshold for it.
Mrs bafink still tells people about the "gnarly drop-offs" she did when I took her for a poodle around swinley
I think you are getting the idea now - personally I wouldn't take her to a trail centre unless that's your only option - riding amongst a bunch of trees isn't that interesting if you are not in to the technicalities of the trail in front of you. Being able to stop and admire the view will be much more appealing.
Find a local feature of interest that neither of you have been to or not been to for a long while. Ideally it will be near a bridleway and even better if it has a cafe attached or there's a good pub nearby. Now work out a route to and from that feature that isn't going to be too hilly or, at this time of year, too boggy. Make the return easier than the route out: "we'll go to X, then come back along the canal tow path" type of thing. The route to and from the destination should be 3 - 5 miles each, that's going to be more than enough for a beginner, maybe have a cafe near the end as well.
I think exploring on a mountainbike is a better approach than "going mountainbiking"
Windfarms are good!
And sessioning sections at glentress. Ride up to the carpark then a couple of trips round berm baby berm to warm up the 'relax and have fun muscles'
What everyone else has said basically, make it easy for them. I took my gf round the blue at Glentress for her first time and she really enjoyed it. However, she's since come to the conclusion that she's too lazy for it and would much rather sit on the sofa drinking tea and reading while I'm out getting muddy!
Interesting that you said she hated Phillips Park red as I've been threatening to make the gf come with me, and I never really stopped to think how it would be for a beginner as it just seems like an easy blast with some fun bits to me! Thinking about it though I can see that it'd look steep in places if you're just starting out.
Also, my gf HATES me trying to teach her anything that she doesn't pick up quickly (which has resulted in a few incidents while trying to teach her how to snowboard!), so your partner might be more open to learning from someone else if you bring them along.
Make it enjoyable, coffee stop, lunch in the dry nice B&B weekend or hotel with dinner etc etc etc Its not rocket science. Hire a decent full sus. I took my daughter to CyB. Never ridden MTB before. Hotel, good food. First day was tution on site on hard tail by local trail guy. Basics, blues, cornering braking etc I also joined in the class too. Second day I hired her a full sus and we together we did some more blues then a very easy short bit of red. Lunch in cafe etc etc She never fell off and has since converted to MTB.
Not in the rain, mud, crap hire bike, freezing cold, no tuition. Not as a first ride. TBH the issue is with you and taking someone out in challenging conditions. I've seen this approach (sink or swim) a few times it dosent work. Once she's intrested then suggest you both go on a days tuition - its not for you its for her - be there and enjoy it.
Also, my gf HATES me trying to teach her anything that she doesn't pick up quickly (which has resulted in a few incidents while trying to teach her how to snowboard!),
So, she's having an affair!?
I was in the same boat with my bf, I'd always been 'into' MTBs and wanted Chris to come with me mainly as a way for us to get fitter as we'd both got a little doughy, so I bought a couple of cheap bikes and we had a few rides down the local cycle route for a cuppa and a cream scone. A few of those later and now he 'gets' having a much better bike and often goes out for a potter/blast without me in tow. He's still not convinced of the whole going out and getting manky for the sake of it side of things, but at least he does now enjoy a gentle schralp of the local gnar when it's dry or frozen. He had his first off on Monday, bless him, and I wasn't there to see it. They grow up so quick >sniff<
In addition to all the sensible advice about getting the right bike, the right location, the right terrain, the right weather and the right duration I would suggest Sherwood Pines as an ideal location, if its not too far to get to.
It is relatively flat and has a dedicated Green, Blue and Red route. Because the routes loop out from the car park, then most of the time, you are never more than 15/20 mins ride away from the visitor centre (by fire road).
I always take beginners there and let them dictate the pace and duration. For example, when they get off to walk, I see that as a sign that maybe we need to think about how we get back. We always have lots of breaks and chats, to make it a pleasant sociable experience.
Hope that helps.
So, she's having an affair!?
Because she hates me teaching her stuff? Hmm, she is surgically attached to her phone at all times so maybe she's texting some mystery man. Saves me having to text her though!
b) share a hobby / spend time together etc.
She likes the idea of [i]riding a bike[/i] in your company, Not actual MTBing as you would understand it.
My Missus has just about grasped the difference between a tootle along the local tow path (Her idea of a fun bike ride) and what I want to do.
Accept that and give over some time to sedate bimbling at her pace, along traffic free routes and you'll be golden, she simply doesn't want to ride gnarly singletrack Rail berms, hit doubles, go downhill, go fast at all, put in much effort to get up an incline or have to deal with arsey divers.
An occasional tow path trundle is all she's after, a couple of hours once a week, and while she recovers on the sofa you can go for a proper ride...
Because she hates me teaching her stuff?
Ha! No, because you described my wife!
he took me to the Cwmcarn red for my first ever off road ride!!
A friend did this with his wife. There were tears, a thrown bike and a very quiet drive home. I don't think he'd recommend it to others.
Because she hates me teaching her stuff?
Ha! No, because you described my wife!
Ah, makes sense now! Does she love pyjama's and teapots and have the mouth of a sailor?
I wish I could get my husband to come mountain biking with me and the kids, but he won't even try it 🙁
It would really help because the boys are 4 and 8 and could really do with each of them being taken on a different trail with a parent each.
Oh well, it isn't going to happen...
I'm all ears!
Well I don't know where you are but there are plenty of easy bridleways and byways in the Peak District. Use some of the purpose built trails (Monsal, High Peak)to link up with some tracks around Youlgreave for instance. Don't forget either that it is permissible to get off and walk sections if too hard (up or down).
Ride somewhere nice. Pleasant trails with good views, not too techy (if at all). Good weather. Crank up the difficulty gradually.
This.
Also, I know my wife found down hills really scary, almost irrelevant of how steep, techy or narrow they were, stuff I barely registered as down hill she'd be scared of. Up hill was fine as she's got a very good level of fitness already but down hill much less so. I'm not sure if it was the outright speed or the feeling of not being in control but whatever it was it gave her the fear. We got over this by riding flat, open terrain where she could build up a head of steam but still be in control (as opposed to gravity being in control) though in truth she's still not a confident descender even on the road.
Trail centres are ok but there's much more to 'mountain biking' than gnarly trails and flouro shorts (other stereotypes are available!) Bridleways, towpaths, local trails and other stuff around the doors and cycleable from home (if possible) would be the way to go to pique someone's interest I think. Maybe also try to put the point across that there's no right 'look', you can actually have fun in jeans and a t-shirt on a £100 second hand rigid 26er! 😀
Accept that and give over some time to sedate bimbling at her pace, along traffic free routes and you'll be golden, she simply doesn't want to ride gnarly singletrack Rail berms, hit doubles, go downhill, go fast at all, put in much effort to get up an incline or have to deal with arsey divers.This.
Errr, why do blokes always do this?!
Erm... 😳 just reflecting the my wife's first proper mountain bike ride (ie up from flat path pootling) was Traquair red at Innerleithen. A week before Christmas. With ice on the ground. She did well, though, only one mild panic episode! She rented a FS, I rode up on that and she rode up on my hardtail, and we swapped at the top.
She got an Orange Clockwork a little while later (the 200 frame reissue version) 80 miles of SDW over 2 days with mates the same summer, more and more, Singular Swift end of summer last year, took it to Antur Stiniog - just before Christmas again! Loved that though - lifts to the top are a big plus!
We've also done quite well getting her into ski touring, but we're struggling with surfing and rick climbing - ready to call it quits with them - be boring if you liked [i]all[/i] the same things!
Double post
ho ho! Just remembered the worst day ever on a bike. In Zermat in May, hoping to get a day or two of snowboarding on the glacier. low clouds and wind > lifts closed > hire mtn bikes instead.
Low level loop planned out, missed a turning, worked out where we were, gave her the options of over the top (high top, far away and up in the clouds all spelled out and pointed out) or turn back. She didn't want to turn back.
So a bit later, in the sleet, I was pushing both bikes, she was hyper ventilating. We got over the top 2,000m (?) into the ski resort - the kind that always look bleaker than the moon without snow, earthworks and mud everywhere, no trees.
We found an open mtn restaurant, warmed up, calmed down, took switchback roads down the mountain, just sitting down, hands on the v brake levers, fingers so numb you can't even feel if you're braking or not. urg. Blue sky and a foot of powder on the glacier the next day made up for it!
It's always darkest just before it starts to get light, it's always hardest just before it gets easier.
I think you just have to realise that your wife probably wants to get something different out of it than you.
My wife is actually pretty decent on a bike, she's managed the black route at GT along with a few other "difficult" trail centres, but she just isn't doing it for the same reason I am. Her motivation is fresh air, exercise and a nice view. She's not even remotely interested in the gnarr aspect of it (despite being reasonably good at handling a bike). To her a nice day out enjoying beautiful scenery on fireroads is better than a berm and jump fest at a trail centre.
Once I realised this (only took me about six years) it's much easier for me to plan routes I know she will enjoy
I do a bit of MTB coaching that tends to be women who want to get into the sport - the majority have some awful story about their other half taking them to trail centres etc which are too tricky for beginners!
Just for balance my "mrs" is about Gnarrr^Sick times more hardcore than me when it comes to biking and the outdoors.
So from my one experience of both cycling and snowboarding. Do not push, at all, let her do it on her own terms and her own pace. Try to avoid being accidentally condescending when you think you are being encouraging. Make sure she really wants to do it rather than is secretly doing it to please you.
In general, most (i know not all and this is a sweeping generalisation) girls are nowhere near as gung ho as we are and are far more worried about the consequences of falling off. the constant grime and discomfort often bothers them more too.
as others have said, start VERY easy, short, fun in sunshine with little mud with a lady specific saddle.
Or consider both getting road bikes - my wife loves cycling but finds MTB too intimidating/muddy/scary. we've had a lot of really great rides on quiet lanes on road bikes though.
Get her a bike sorted - you've probably got a while til the weather will be nicer if that was an issue before. From my experience with 'er indoors, give no advice, and if possible get her some knee pads and certainly some gloves.
The bike should be as light/XC race as possible - she won't want to shred the gnar for a while so there is no benefit from having a beefier bike, and uphills IME have been at least as much of a stumbling block as downhills.
Oh and from a good friend whose girlfriend has come out on a few rides with us - don't talk about how well or not she's ridden stuff. It's all about the fun (and should always be about the fun for everyone!). Make it absolutely clear to her that you are spending time with her and happy to be in the outdoors, and you really aren't bothered about not being able to speed off. Most people at some point have worried about slowing down their riding buddies.
One tip is to do with being bike fit - applies to any beginner - and keeping rides shorter and easier in terms of exertion. Mrs Digga is fit, she runs marathons and stuff, which I've never done, but being bike fit is a different thing. Even relatively active people will naturally find they have less strength and stamina on a bike.
My wife quite likes decent singletrack, having covered most of Cwmcarn in small chunks, but her fitness is awful and she's had a hard time with keeping her health up. Having anaemia so bad the doctor was surprised she'd walked in on her own; and having two small kids to firstly batter your body then deprive it of sleep for years takes its toll.
Shame really. The oldest is getting to the point now where we can go on rides - must get back to Brechfa green 🙂
...Brechfa Green...
...quite possibly the best trail in Britain.
Ok, so I'm a man with a plan.
Can anyone recommend a loop around Marple / Glossop / Edale / Hope? Basically I need to be able to jump on the train from Manchester? The one around Monsal seems a bit far to go.
Start from Hope heading to the cafe at Fairholmes and doing a low level lap of Ladybower or Derwent reservoir.
Make sure she's comfy in every way, decent fitting clothing and equipment.
-- edit --
If all goes well Mrs Pie is selling her sparkly Orange 5 diva 😀
Thanks Hindle Pie, the Bamford stop is best for Ladyblower isn't it?
Yeah, Bamford is perfect heading North up [url= http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?x=419835&y=383055&z=120&sv=419835,383055&st=4&ar=y&mapp=map.srf&searchp=ids.srf&dn=832&ax=419835&ay=383055&lm=0 ]here[/url] passing the big plug hole at the res.