I'm getting a riding partner!

[Longhorn]

I've had so much fun riding that I've been working on my husband. Since we're celebrating our 50th birthdays this summer, just two months apart, and he initially gave me my bike for my birthday about ten years or so ago, I suggested he get a bike for his birthday and we can ride together. Last weekend, he took my bike out for just a couple of minutes and thought it was fun. So today, he says, "Hey, if you don't mind, let's go out a little later and look at bikes."

Woo-hoo! :bounce:

I doubt he'll ride as often as I do because he's a remodeling contractor and lives and breathes his business. He also plays trumpet in a community band and brass quintet. But since he stays active at work, he can probably keep up with some weekend riding and go with me on some organized rides.

So we're off in a little while to look at bikes! I'll let y'all know how it goes. Maybe we'll even ride together today! :D

[Longhorn]

1. Two bikes!

As my husband was considering his purchase of a bike, I brought mine in to discuss getting the new wheels clad with slick tires. Turns out, my bike is too small for me. To get the right height on the seat, my seat was much higher than the handlebars. No wonder my ride was so uncomfortable. So we both ended up with new Trek bikes, both hybrids.

Here's a photo of the bike my husband got, a Navigator 200: ........And here's mine, a 7200 Multitrek



Mine has 700 mm wheels (27.56 inches) with road tires while his has 26-inch wheels with more of a hybrid tire, wider and smooth in the middle with tread on the sides for better traction in gravel, etc. Of course, his has a taller frame since he's four inches taller than me.

Anyway, we went out for a ride but just went 6.2 miles since he hasn't ridden that long in years and didn't want to overdo. We're riding again in the morning. Everything about my new bike is smoother, especially shifting. Instead of depressing a lever, all I have to do is turn the handle! And I have numbers! :D The seat is even spring-loaded. And it has a bell! :D

Armadillo Hill Country Classic, here I come!

[BiggJawn]

2. Cool Bikes!

So yours was too small? And the bars were too low? And now that's all fixed and I'll bet it feels like a whole new ballgame.
That's awesome!

Don't do to your husband what I did to my girlfriend. I've been at it longer, so I can go faster and farther, and I "dropped" her on a hill.
She wasn't amused and now concocts all sorts of reasons why she can't go for a ride with me: "I have to dust the leaves on the Poplar tree..."
:-(

[Longhorn]

3. Thanks!

We've learned so much about bikes. When Mr. Longhorn bought the Raleigh for me years ago, I'm sure he told them my height and they sold him a bike. I always thought it was all about wheel size but now I understand that the frames come in different sizes, too.

I was just thinking about riding partners and how that works today, too. When we ski, my husband is much better than I am and I really resent it when he prods me to take on a hill that is too difficult for me. Uusually, we ski separately and then meet up every now and then and ski the greens together.

I really want him to like this and ride with me so I'm trying not to push him to overdo. He has more aerobic endurance but his legs turn to jelly after too much spinning, while I can spin forever but get winded more easily. Today we went out on the road for just 4.5 miles but a couple of good-sized hills. I could have ridden some more but I let him make the call. I am hoping he'll ride more than just weekends or he won't build up to going on some of the longer rides with me.

We've been married almost 30 years and share interests that are more his than mine (jazz, skiing) and more mine than his (sports fan, classic rock) so it would be great if this becomes an activity that we both love to do together! :D