“No man succeeds without a good woman behind him. Wife or mother, if it is both, he is twice blessed indeed.”

-Harold MacMillan, 1963

There isn’t a man I know that wouldn’t want their wife or girlfriend to start riding the trails with them. In fact women would love to spend more time with their spouse, or boyfriend, whether it is through a sport, leisure activity, learning or simple things such as going for a walk, having coffee and talking.

With that said, I’ve been blessed by the presence of my wife on the trail with me. She’s been quite the trooper by taking on some crazy trails and munching it a few times, leaving a few battle scars.

She’s been riding with me for quite a while now and there’s no reason why other guys can’t enjoy time on the trails with their significant other. I’ve put together a few simple guidelines that might help you get your lady on the trail.

It’s a Date!
The best way to get your lady out there is to set up your bike ride as a date. Plan a day where you will cover a nice little introductory ride that is no more than 10 miles.

If you have children, take the initiative to set up babysitting at least 2 weeks in advanced. This will relieve pressure from her shoulders and she will feel like you are taking care of her by being responsible for the arrangements.

Other Riders
We have a few other couples that we occasionally ride with on the weekends. Having other women ride with her brings the experience of riding to a higher level of enjoyment. It seems like my wife has a better time if we’re riding with other couples. She tends to be more relaxed, and willing to take more risks.

No Pressure
Don’t pressure your Princess to do anything that she may feel threatened or insecure on the trails. That means just because you can huck your bike off a 6ft drop with no transition, it doesn’t mean she’ll be game for that.

On your first few rides, go at her pace. If she’s going too slowly for you, then it means you’re going too fast for her. Don’t rush her or do something dumb by showing off, and making it a race between you and speed down the trail and leaving her behind.

Take it easy! Be patient, and encourage her throughout the ride. Praise her when she’s doing well and don’t be a Drill Sgt. Just remember, No Pressure Riding is the best way to get her interested in the sport.

Attitude
Have a great attitude when you’re with her. Don’t be a jerk. Be nice and remember that she’s still a girl which means you need to be gentle with her. Your attitude will make a world of a difference in her experience. If she’s having a hard time with a part of the trail, be cool, help her out. Don’t force her to do anything she doesn’t want to do.

Equipment
Now this is the fun part for us guys. Buying her equipment! Here’s a list of must haves for our new riding partner:

• Helmet-No less than 17 vents to keep her cool
• Full Finger Gloves-Make sure they fit her to prevent blistering
• Shorts- A good pair of baggy or tights will make it easier on her girl parts. Let her choose if she wants baggy or tights.
• Knee/Shin Guards-You can get a decent pair of Fox pads as low as $10 from Jensonusa.com
• Hydration-Have her choose if she wants a backpack or just a water bottle. My wife opted for the bottle because the backpacks are too cumbersome and hot.
• Glasses-To protect her pretty eyes from getting dirt and other junk in them.
• Jersey, socks and other Girly Support Clothing-They have some nice feminine jerseys and socks out there that she might like. You might want to have her pick her sports bra. It’s just safer!

If she’s really getting into the sport and would like to ride more and more, then think about investing in a nice comfortable bike for her. Read my article “How to Buy a Bike” on tips for purchasing her bike or you could check out some of our Partners for some ideas on bikes.

Compromise
Ok, now that your lady is riding with you, I highly encourage you to take on an activity that she would want. Whether it would be shopping, going to the girly movies or taking on a hobby that she likes, be open-minded and be willing to do what she wants, remember she tried out your hobby so do the right thing and return the favor.

You will also have to count the cost if she really gets into riding. What I mean is there will be a few weekends where she might want to join her girlfriends for a ride and that means you will need to stay back with the kids. If that happens, encourage her! Help gather her gear, fill up the water bottles, load her bike and pack her lunch. Do what ever you think is necessary for her to be safe and to have a good time.

Conclusion
After your ride, treat her to some breakfast or lunch. If you don’t feel like eating, grab some juice or smoothies, remember you are on a date with her, and so treat her accordingly.

Be a nice guy, encourage her, don’t pressure her, have a great attitude and compromise. If you do all these things, you might end up having the best riding partner forever. If you fail in any of these things, then you may be stuck riding with your buddies…forever.