GLuvsMtb Posted April 5, 2017 Posted April 5, 2017 When not cycling, spinning or doing hill repeats.... she can do squats and lunges to build leg strength edit: step ups as welland if she complains that it hurts, just tell her the age-old lie of "dis net seer die eerste keer"
i24 Posted April 5, 2017 Posted April 5, 2017 So we besides the squads and repeats we will also take on the tandem...... We do enjoy riding together, and this might be a good solution in the long run. We will be borrowing one from a friend of a friend. Apparently it is a piece of scrap in his way. Who knows, perhaps this is a good thing. We have nothing to loose, but might end up spending a lot of time together. I just picked up on this thread and I suppose should chip in. My wife and I have been cycling together for over a decade. We have our own interests that we pursue apart, but cycling we do together. It is magic quality time. We cycle more together than we do separately. But you need to understand the dynamics. Make sure she has "enough" gears and If she can't keep up on the hills, then you must just slow down! If there is any "training advice" required, let the input come from a 3rd party. Many years ago, I used to get to the tops of the hills first, but the tables have since turned and she has become a much better climber than me. (I think because she is 25 kg lighter. Or maybe because she goes to gym 3 times a week). I just have to be braver on the descents to balance things. So I have experienced this from both points of view. Together we are slower than either of us would be on our own. But we get something out of it that the racing snakes who come charging past miss. Maybe we should change this to the "cycling with partners" thread?
Allrounder Posted April 6, 2017 Author Posted April 6, 2017 I just picked up on this thread and I suppose should chip in. My wife and I have been cycling together for over a decade. We have our own interests that we pursue apart, but cycling we do together. It is magic quality time. We cycle more together than we do separately. But you need to understand the dynamics. Make sure she has "enough" gears and If she can't keep up on the hills, then you must just slow down! If there is any "training advice" required, let the input come from a 3rd party. Many years ago, I used to get to the tops of the hills first, but the tables have since turned and she has become a much better climber than me. (I think because she is 25 kg lighter. Or maybe because she goes to gym 3 times a week). I just have to be braver on the descents to balance things. So I have experienced this from both points of view. Together we are slower than either of us would be on our own. But we get something out of it that the racing snakes who come charging past miss. Maybe we should change this to the "cycling with partners" thread? Indeed it is a massive privilege and one of the highlights of my week to spend time in the saddle with her. I wonder if the tandem will equal things out. She is a bit nervous but this Saturday is the day that we try.
NotSoBigBen Posted April 6, 2017 Posted April 6, 2017 Snip Snip Snip But we get something out of it that the racing snakes who come charging past miss. Snip Snip Snip Perhaps they are not 'missing out on something' but just want something different to what you guys do? Just a thought .... Hat, coat, door
eccc whippet Posted April 6, 2017 Posted April 6, 2017 the most important thing i have learnt about cycling... "it takes time to develop the muscles to achieve any cycling goals." be it climbing hills...riding into the wind...moving up a group in the club. weight loss will help...once the muscles are developed...but without the muscle you gona battle. one thing to remember about advice here in hub land...lots of the cyclist here already have 20 000 + km in the bank and been cycling for many years.
Mamil Posted April 6, 2017 Posted April 6, 2017 This is my experience too - been cycling just less than 3 years, done about 10 000km and am only now starting to feel shifts and changes in my ability to climb, accelerate quickly and endurance. Still feels like the beginning. the most important thing i have learnt about cycling... "it takes time to develop the muscles to achieve any cycling goals." be it climbing hills...riding into the wind...moving up a group in the club. weight loss will help...once the muscles are developed...but without the muscle you gona battle. one thing to remember about advice here in hub land...lots of the cyclist here already have 20 000 + km in the bank and been cycling for many years.
lechatnoir Posted April 6, 2017 Posted April 6, 2017 Indeed it is a massive privilege and one of the highlights of my week to spend time in the saddle with her. I wonder if the tandem will equal things out. She is a bit nervous but this Saturday is the day that we try. Been contemplating this too and am very interesting how this works out for you. Please post a ride report.
Fat Boab Posted April 6, 2017 Posted April 6, 2017 Just ride as fast as possible to the top of the hill and wait there for her.... tap hand on handlebars from when she comes into view till when she gets to you... Then head off at a swift pace just faster than talking/yelling speed... maintain for 15 min... repeat at every Hill.... Follow this excellent advice.....and it'll be a good job your hand is warmed-up as you'll be using it again that evening. TITS withdrawn!
Shell Belle Posted April 6, 2017 Posted April 6, 2017 Indeed it is a massive privilege and one of the highlights of my week to spend time in the saddle with her. I wonder if the tandem will equal things out. She is a bit nervous but this Saturday is the day that we try. I got back into cycling a few years after breaking my arm in a crash by riding a tandem with my boyfriend. Definitely gave me the confidence to get back onto my own bike. Some words of advice based on my experience as the stoker behind a very large pilot Communication is absolutely key. As a stoker, you cannot see anything in front of you or what is coming. You have to tell her if there is bump coming, if you are stopping for a robot, if there is a climb coming - everything you take for granted because you can see you must communicate with her. Secondly, climbing is HARD on a tandem. It is even harder to climb fast and well. There are two of you which means double the weight (which does not translate to double the power - learnt from experience haha) Make sure you are in a easy enough gear before you hit the climb. Tandems descend very well so carry that momentum with you on rolling hills. Otherwise just take it slow in the beginning and be kind to each other - riding a tandem with your partner will just accelerate your relationship in the direction its already going Good luck and enjoy it! Let me know how it goes
Allrounder Posted April 6, 2017 Author Posted April 6, 2017 I got back into cycling a few years after breaking my arm in a crash by riding a tandem with my boyfriend. Definitely gave me the confidence to get back onto my own bike. Some words of advice based on my experience as the stoker behind a very large pilot Communication is absolutely key. As a stoker, you cannot see anything in front of you or what is coming. You have to tell her if there is bump coming, if you are stopping for a robot, if there is a climb coming - everything you take for granted because you can see you must communicate with her. Secondly, climbing is HARD on a tandem. It is even harder to climb fast and well. There are two of you which means double the weight (which does not translate to double the power - learnt from experience haha) Make sure you are in a easy enough gear before you hit the climb. Tandems descend very well so carry that momentum with you on rolling hills. Otherwise just take it slow in the beginning and be kind to each other - riding a tandem with your partner will just accelerate your relationship in the direction its already going Good luck and enjoy it! Let me know how it goes Cool thanks for the advice. I read somewhere that nothing is ever the stokers fault. If something goes wrong, it is the captain! As stated earlier, she is very tiny and I am an avr dude, so she wont be seeing much of anything like you said.
Allrounder Posted April 6, 2017 Author Posted April 6, 2017 Been contemplating this too and am very interesting how this works out for you. Please post a ride report. I will report back as soon as possible. Otherwise I will ask for contact details of a good lawyer!!
Geronimo Posted April 6, 2017 Posted April 6, 2017 Consider getting her a new wheelset. I bought myself a new lighter and good looking wheelset and my climbing became much better. I'm not sure if it's the weight difference or the new bling or maybe a combination of both, that did the trick for me.
nonky Posted April 6, 2017 Posted April 6, 2017 We all struggle on the climbs. Tell her to buy a gumguard. Grit her teeth tight. Turn those cranks. YELLING ALSO HELPS. This ^^^^^ and a good divorce attorney
Allrounder Posted April 6, 2017 Author Posted April 6, 2017 Consider getting her a new wheelset. I bought myself a new lighter and good looking wheelset and my climbing became much better. I'm not sure if it's the weight difference or the new bling or maybe a combination of both, that did the trick for me. I already bought her a set of mavic aksiums. Gears is a compact and 11/28 8speed... ALU frame and carbon fork.
Duane_Bosch Posted April 6, 2017 Posted April 6, 2017 I already bought her a set of mavic aksiums. Gears is a compact and 11/28 8speed... ALU frame and carbon fork. When my fiance & I went to France last year we had a 32 "bail out" gear fitted to her cluster. It made the difference between struggling up some of the 10%+ climbs and pushing.
Flemish Lion Posted April 6, 2017 Posted April 6, 2017 Patience... patience... had I not taken the time to get my wife into cycling we would never have found out she was so talented... luckily it only took her a year to get to a decent level and then the year after she won the 94.7 for elite women! Good genes and good core strength (from her rock climbing days) helped a lot. Just make sure you guys have fun!
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