't was pretty much the same with my ex. We had some conflicts while traveling or hiking and riding too, not necessarily always giving (unwanted) advice to the other but often on the destination we should be heading to or the path we should choose when unsure, etc. I think my guy thought that sports (and in a lesser way travelling) was his turf and had trouble accomodating with my word on that topic, even though in the rest of life that wasn't a problem at all.

Then one day in Costa Rica we wanted to go deep into Corcovado Park and didn't have time to get lost (our plane was in just a few days) so we hired a guide. For three days we had NO fights whatsoever. The other guy was taking all the decisions and we were just following. My boyfriend was on the guide's turf and respected that (and so did I!!!).

I guess we must be concious of our turf-feelings and deal with that somehow...

Anyway! Good luck with riding with your SO. If you acknowledge the situation and find a way to accomodate each other's capacities and desires, you'll have plenty of fun riding together. But riding alone (or with other riding buddies) is great too... I've learned tons of stuff riding with other people and as you said the advice is so easier to take when it's not coming from your closest soul...