Unlike some of you, my husband cycles. A lot. He was actually the one who inspired me to get into cycling. But just because you both share the passion for cycling doesn't mean it's always something you can do together. He averages from 17-20 mph, and I average from 15-16.5 mph (hoping to bring that up this year!) It is very hard for us to ride together unless he is really needing a "take it easy" type of day, because he normally prefers to push and has a very hard time going my pace. I can understand this as I have a tough time riding with slower riders myself. We're both pretty competitive with ourselves and like to do our best.

We do have a tandem in addition to our single bikes, which solves the riding together problem, but we've discovered that we're both a bit too independent to be good tandem partners. He forgets to call out turns, stops, bumps, etc, and I don't like not being able to see in front of me. He also likes the freedom of his single and will only ride the tandem if it's just the two of us and we need to stay together, not on club rides.

So, on club rides, he ends up in the lead group, pacelining and pushing to the max. I end up somewhere in the middle, often riding alone since I'm not fast but nor am I one of the very slowest.

It is very nice to have a spouse to talk cycling with, go to events with, go shop at the LBS with, plan adventures with, to be sure; I feel lucky in that respect. But sometimes it would be nice to have a spouse to actually ride with! Because of differences in abilities, just having the same interest doesn't guarantee that.....

Emily