wife kicks butt in cycling

[mrjoe]

Is it normal for a gal to kick butt in cycling if shes got more experience? My wife gained alot of weight early in our relationship and then got into cycling to get it under control.

With that said, Taylor and I have always been competitive. Not long ago we went on a bike ride together that turned into a grueling competition that ended when she obliterated me up a hill. Now I really got teased for that one! :eek: So weeks later I challenged her to the same ride again, thinking I was better mentally prepared. It didn't matter. We rode the same route this weekend and once again she wore me down and left me in her dust.

And she's 38 and I'm 32! :eek::confused::p

[Pedal Wench]

Your wife rules. Deal with it! :)

[shootingstar]

Pedal Wench said it.
Does she at least wait for you somewhere along the way?

Do you have to "compete" wtih your wife? If it isn't helping you/your marraige long-term, don't bother getting into that frame of mind / mode of cycling.
Be happy for her cycling competence and that she is looking after her own health.

[mrjoe]

That's what she says too. She says its no different than our battle of brains in a scrabble match.... hopeless for me. :eek:

I don't know why we tend to be a bit competitive, but it hasnt seemed to have a negative impact on the relationship. It's not "cut throat" competitive, so I don't want to paint the wrong picture. :p

She'll beat me to the top of a long steady hill and stop a minute for water and wait for me to catch up so she can gloat. :eek: The majority of the ride is medium paced- ridden together, fun activity, scenary, exercise, etc. Not ultra competitive.

[spokewench]

Mr. Joe: Better mindset won't get you up the hill better than your wife; you're going to have to train on hills to beat her up the hill!

But, don't worry about it. She is doing great and just enjoy your rides together.

My husband have always been very competitive about everything and when we were younger it didn't seem to matter that much when we were younger but we have been married for over 20 years and it seems that the competition is not so healthy for our relationship any more. So, think about that and just enjoy each other's company and that you have similar interests.

[Galatea]

"Is it normal for a gal to kick butt in cycling if shes got more experience?"

Why is it NORMAL for men to ask questions like this all the time?
(it's offensive)

[mrjoe]

Why is it NORMAL for men to ask questions like this all the time?
(it's offensive)

I'm sorry galatea. I wasn't trying to be. I guess I'm used to losing at boardgames and an occasional night out bowling.

But I suppose in something physical like cycling, i thought I could just toss the videogame controller aside and kick her butt any day. I was wrong! :o

[Zen]

If this post is for serious you don't seem to realize who you're talking to in this forum.




Why is it NORMAL for men to ask questions like this all the time?
(it's offensive)

What she said.

[Kiwi Stoker]

He's just been funny and is actually proud of his wife.

I like this forum as everyone is nice and supportive. Please don't flame a guy just because you find his words offensive.

[Bike Chick]

Have you told her you were proud of her? I sure am! She rocks!

[Skierchickie]

Perfectly normal. Get used to it, or start working your butt off.

It does seem like an odd question to ask here.

[salsabike]

He's just been funny and is actually proud of his wife.




Agreed. And it may have something to do with size, mrjoe. If you're a big guy, she will probably have a power to weight advantage on the hills. A little strong rider can handily beat a big strong rider up the hills. Gravity, you know...

[Zen]

I like this forum as everyone is nice and supportive. Please don't flame a guy just because you find his words offensive.

If I think someone is offensive I'll say so and I know I'm not the only one.
This is primarily a womens forum

[blackhillsbiker]

I drop my hubby on the uphill, and he catches up on the downhill. It's all good. :)

[mrjoe]

Agreed. And it may have something to do with size, mrjoe. If you're a big guy, she will probably have a power to weight advantage on the hills. A little strong rider can handily beat a big strong rider up the hills. Gravity, you know...

Heh well i wish i had that excuse. I'm 5'10 and 194 and taylor is 5'7 and 185-189 i think so its pretty close.

[shootingstar]

Perhaps you should show your wife this thread and she can join the forum. It would be more for her rather...than for you. :)

Don't know what your cycling interest is but think that you need to turn your attention to ..your wife at this time. Maybe lots to learn from her instead from a bunch of nameless women here at this time.

[crazycanuck]

Is this going to be another one of those 6 page threads where we try and kill eachother?? :rolleyes:

[jobob]

Is this going to be another one of those 6 page threads where we try and kill eachother?? :rolleyes:


We've got an ignore thread button and I knows how to use it! :cool:

[Juliegoddess]

I'm chuckling here, because I'm actually reading this thread with great interest. This weekend, I'm going on a trip to northern michigan with my boyfriend. I've never ridden with him before, and have been kind of really nervous about it. I've always been of the mindset that most any guy in reasonable shape could beat me riding a bike. Not that I care. Endurance-wise, I could easily "win". I just always figured that men have those inherently bigger muscles than women have.

HOWEVER, I brought my BF's bike home with me this last weekend, and noticed when I unloaded it that the gears were set at 1 (big ring) and 4 (small ring)!!! Now, we are in a swamp area down by Lake Erie. There are literally NO hills here. What the heck was he doing on his bike when he rode it?? Ummmm....1-3????

In other words, I have a strong feeling I'm gonna kick his butt....:p

[WindingRoad]

I think it just depends on the woman. Me and my BF are about the same heights as you and your wife. He can climb up hills like a scared cat, I can't but I can overpower him on just about any long sprint and I can maintain near max speed much longer and easier than he can. Don't know why this is but it's just how it is sometimes. He makes comments about me "Handing him his a$$" but it doesn't really bother him. We actually like pushing each other it makes for a great workout so let your wife do that for you. Try your best to stay with her up those hills, you'll get stronger but it doesn't happen over night.

[beccaB]

I can kick butt up hills toward the end of the season, and leave my husband in the dust , but he usually catches me later. I don't do downhill well. Also, if he's been out of town for work I will ride alone, and I will ride VERY hard, because I don't like to ride alone and I want to get it done quickly. I suppose that just makes my training that much more effective. He is our pace setter and I just recently gave him a little computer for his bike so he can set a higher pace for us. It's early in the season, and he is still faster than me at this point. I acknowledge that he has a higher muscle ratio than me, I just wish I could offer him a more competitive riding partner this early in the season.

[mrjoe]

In other words, I have a strong feeling I'm gonna kick his butt....:p

I wouldnt mind another guy in my club so I guess I'll root for ya and hope you do :D

I think if the hill was just straight up for a 1/4 mile I could probably take her (in a short burst of muscle). The hill we climb isn't too steep but it goes on forever. It's an endurance and leg burning nightmare. The first time she beat me (and waited for me), she claimed she timed it from the bend in the road where said stretch of road begins. She says she won by 37 sec. Recently during our rematch she claimed victory by 40 sec on the button, so apparently now the gap is widening. :o

[arielmoon]

I regularly beat guys and plenty of guys beat me.

My roomie got me into cycling and he had been at it for years. After 2 months of regular riding I was beating him on the hills. He was 35 and I was 40. 2 years later it isnt even close. I dont rub it in. He knows.

[mrjoe]

He is our pace setter and I just recently gave him a little computer for his bike so he can set a higher pace for us.

That is kind of like us in a way. She started biking to lose 30-40 lbs so the occasional rides I have gone on, I always tried and set a good pace to keep her on target.

Now she has a little cycle computer for pace setting.... but luckily I'm not obsolete yet. I can still tag along for companionship and she likes that.

[mrjoe]

After 2 months of regular riding I was beating him on the hills. He was 35 and I was 40. 2 years later it isnt even close. I dont rub it in. He knows.

Are you trying to say that the disparity is only going to increase with time! :eek:

[katherine]

Is it normal for a gal to kick butt in cycling if shes got more experience? My wife gained alot of weight early in our relationship and then got into cycling to get it under control.

The upside of questions like these is the pleasure and satisfaction I get from passing men, going uphill, on my mountian bike.
And Mr.Joe, I'm sure your wife loves that you discuss her weight on the internet with a bunch of strangers.

[mariacycle]

.Mr.Joe, I'm sure your wife loves that you discuss her weight on the internet with a bunch of strangers.

haha QFT!

[lph]

Yup, this is a weird thread. Like arielmoon, I beat lots of guys. Lots of guys beat me. Sure, in general male athletes are stronger/faster than female athletes at the same level of training, but in a random male/female couple it's more like who happens to have better genes, a more suitable body type, a better athletic base from before, is more active, trains better, has a lighter bike, yadda yadda yadda.

But y'all already said that so I'll go shut up :cool:

[Cataboo]

ha. I have a feeling if he shows her this thread like people are recommending, a divorce is in order.

I've just been shaking my head, thinking wtf - if it was his best male friend that had started cycling a ton and the best male friend was kicking his ***, would he have gone on road biking forums going "is it normal that someone who's riding more often than me and training more is kicking my *** up the hills?"

And of course - if this was a male forum that he was on, I'm thinking they'd ask for his wife's number and ask him what kinda pansy has a wife who can bike faster than them?

[Catrin]

ha. I have a feeling if he shows her this thread like people are recommending, a divorce is in order.

I've just been shaking my head, thinking wtf - if it was his best male friend that had started cycling a ton and the best male friend was kicking his ***, would he have gone on road biking forums going "is it normal that someone who's riding more often than me and training more is kicking my *** up the hills?"

And of course - if this was a male forum that he was on, I'm thinking they'd ask for his wife's number and ask him what kinda pansy has a wife who can bike faster than them?

heh, this is indeed a strange thread... I was just picturing what I would think if an (non-existent) partner were to go on a forum full of strangers and say what he has been saying. I would NOT be happy with that person!

[mrjoe]

I guess I should encourage taylor to join, since its more her thing. I'm afraid shed totally laugh at my thread though.

Thanks to those who saw the thread for what it is, a bumbling question from a bumbling hubby. Sorry if ive offended members here. Was not my intent.

[beccaB]

I wasn't particularly offended. I try to compare my abilities to someone's experience and the type of bike they ride. For instance, I am proud that usually on a century nobody passes me on a hybrid bike like what I have. I also told the husband that if I'm riding his tail, he should go faster to challenge us more, although I will get faster as the season progresses. I like when I am able to maintain a faster pace than him because that just means I'm getting fitter, not just that I am winning against him, I'm competing with myself, not him. We are training partners.

[salsabike]

I'm not offended at all.

[malkin]

I
don't
compete.

Why?

I just don't even get it.


Bumbling, I get completely and I do routinely.

[malkin]

Brewer advises that if you (mrjoe) and taylor get a tandem, provided that you are the captain, you'll always finish first!

[Serendipity]

Brewer advises that if you (mrjoe) and taylor get a tandem, provided that you are the captain, you'll always finish first!

Too funny! :D

[Catrin]

Brewer advises that if you (mrjoe) and taylor get a tandem, provided that you are the captain, you'll always finish first!

This is a hoot, I love it :D

[marni]

Personally the closest my SAG guy and husband of 37years and weekend riding friend for the past 5 years and I ever got to divorce was when we tried to wallpaper a room together and when we tried to ride a tandem bike.

Neither of those things is meant to be with us. On the other hand with each of us riding our own bike and our own ride, some days he is stronger, faster and some days I am. It is all relabive.

marni

[malkin]

... It is all relabive.

marni

Ah yes, the theory of relabivity!

[mrjoe]

We went on an extra long ride today and she kicked my butt again. damn she rides almost everyday. hard to keep up with that :p

[Kano]

It's not really hard too keep up with "she rides every day," Mr. Joe.

You'll catch up if you ride every day too!

(DH used to kick my butt, I had to do two rides a day to catch up.)

Karen in Boise

[TrekTheKaty]

My husband literally rides circles around me. He rides almost twice the distance I do, because he has to keep doubling back.

However, I've run three marathons. He attempted running--either in an attempt to spend time with me, or prove "if you can do it, I can do it." He made it twice around the block.

and bicycling is not as easy as it looks :)

[arielmoon]

Are you trying to say that the disparity is only going to increase with time! :eek:

Not necessarily. In the beginning, as well as now, it wasnt a competition with him. It just became apparent when I went to check on him and he wasnt on my wheel anymore. :rolleyes: Later I went to group rides and rode with faster people and therefore got better, while he did not.

I do credit my genes because although I am not out winning races and Olympic medals, I seem to be a natural cyclist. Add hard work and healthy eating to get me where I am even with the setbacks I have had including a broken pelvis 1 year ago.

[Susan Otcenas]

Let's not be too hard on MrJoe.

Of course WE KNOW that you can't judge a book by her cover and WE KNOW that there are plenty of us gals here that can totally stomp plenty of the men we know. :D

But the reality is, we may not like it, but ON BALANCE, men are often stronger than their female partners. Stereotypes often exist for a reason, after all. To me, MrJoe sounds like he's pretty proud of his wife, especially since she might not fit society's preconceived notions about what a strong female cyclist might look like.

MrJoe, I'd say that if you want to keep up with her, you'd best get out there and put in some more miles. Oh, and remember to tell your wife how proud you are of her on a regular basis!! :)

Susan

[Bike Chick]

MrJoe, I'd say that if you want to keep up with her, you'd best get out there and put in some more miles. Oh, and remember to tell your wife how proud you are of her on a regular basis!! :)

Susan

You betcha!