My most miserable ride today

[kajero]

Today we went for a bike ride. I can't compete with the Garmin 810. I knew the route, he didn't. He had to keep stopping to make sure I was right. Quite often he decided that Garmin was right and I didn't know where I was going. And he kept looking at the dang thing while he rode and didn't pay attention to the trail half the time. Ugh.

It was a gorgeous day. We were out for 3 hours and traveled only 1.5 hours of that time. The rest of the time was stopping and starting, stopping and starting, stopping and starting . . . you get the picture. We did take two 10-minute rest breaks. I am exhausted.

We managed to go 18.5 miles. Thank goodness I was riding my hybrid. I think I would have been pretty miserable on the road bike. I don't like stopping and starting every 10 minutes on it.

Tomorrow we are going riding again. This time it is on a flat STRAIGHT trail that has no turnoffs!!!! I know I won't have to complete with Garmin tomorrow. It should be nice ride and because it is flat maybe I can ride a little faster. You don't get to go very fast when you have to stop every ten minutes.

Please don't suggest for me to tell him to leave Garmin at home. I've already tried that three times. It just causes another problem.

[Crankin]

What do you mean, compete with the Garmin. DH has one and I never feel like I am competing with it. I mean on local rides, it's only recording his data; we are not following a course. If we are, then usually I am somewhere, well, where I don't know where I am. Occasionally, DH will make wrong turn despite the Garmin telling him otherwise. He did this twice, on a local ride we were leading, a few years ago, when the Garmin was new. He has a bad sense of direction, and it's been a real help.
He doesn't stop, though, unless we are really screwed up!

[tulip]

Please don't suggest for me to tell him to leave Garmin at home. I've already tried that three times. It just causes another problem.

Leave the guy at home, then!

[Veronica]

I am just curious - do you ever enjoy riding with your DH? I am asking because it generally sounds like you don't enjoy riding with him. I know you've mentioned being nervous about riding on your own, however, it sounds like riding with him causes just as much stress. Maybe cycling just isn't the exercise for the two of you to do together.


Veronica

[kajero]

I really don't enjoy riding with him because of the stupid Garmin, but I feel like I don't have much choice. He is retired, I am retired until I find a job and he wants to spend time with me when I bike. He bought his bike to ride with me. If I pick the rides/trails he is familiar with there isn't a problem. I even have him saying, "stopping, passing, slowing, and on your left," now.
As for the Garmin, he looks at it to see if we are off course when we are "lost." Then we have to wait for the dang thing to recalculate and he can't figure it out then. I told him sometime you have to go on your gut instinct. I told him we are going to leave Garmin at home and use maps. Right.

I guess I really needed to vent. Thanks for listening.

P.S. If I tell him I going on 50 mile ride he doesn't come all the way.

[OakLeaf]

Upload your route ahead of time and disable auto recalculation. it's better to do that regardless.

[nuliajuk]

My husband removed his bike computer after he glanced at it and failed to notice he was hitting a large chunk of loose asphalt. It resulted in a concussion and a week's stay in hospital. Hopefully yours won't have the same experience from glancing at his Garmin all the time.

[buffybike]

Leave the guy at home, then!

This!! lol

Seriously, though...riding should be enjoyable. Sometimes technology just makes things worse, not better. Ditch the electronics and just enjoy the ride.