Dear YourMTBers,

Woo-hoo! Congratulations to you and Pumpkin Pants!! ... So, will there be a mountain biking theme to this wedding? Will you ride off to your honeymoon on a mountain tandem? (What'd you decide on for a biking honeymoon?)

congrats! my husband and i, of 11 yrs, both bike - as long as your priorities are the same and getting a ride in ranks highest - there are no problems. we let yardwork, laundry, food shopping go to get a ride in.

ideally should keep the bikes at a similar level - we buy the same - deviations in componetry and wt, let alone expense would cause friction. we both have specialized stumpjumper fsr expert.

i think the only problems or limitations would arise when kids are involved.

Congrats!

Ride to work, and ride home. That's how I get my two hours of riding each day (each day that the bike isn't broke, so that's about two days a week).

I am 30, and I've been married for 4 years now. Here are three things to keep in mind:

Rule Number One: Do the honey-do's FIRST. Make time, get up early, whatever you have to do to get those things done and out of the way.

Rule Number Two: Make time for her. Once or twice a week, go have dinner, watch a movie, a foot rub (for her). Something, but whatever it is, make sure it's ALL ABOUT HER. That's VERY important. I include something else in Rule Number Two: Gifts. Not the holiday gifts, those are obligatory, I'm talking about "just because" gifts. Be thoughtful in this regard.

Rule Number Three: Include her in as much things as she is interested in.

Now, the result will be that whenever you have a race, want to ride, or whatever--tell her, talk about it, and make sure it's not 15 minutes before you want to leave. If I'd listen to my own advice, my wife would worship the ground I walk on. But I'm a glutton for punishment.

Wow, Rich, I've been married for just as long, and I'm learning stuff from you!

Congrats Walker. I'm fairly new to the site, but am really enjoying myself so far!

I have a fairly different situation in which my wife doesn't like biking at all...which is good and bad. Good: no one to hold me back. Bad: hard to get away without the obligatory guilt trip that I'm assuming women have to take a course on when they're younger with lessons like:
"No matter what you've agreed upon prior to the event, you must still act like you've never been aware of any plans on your husband's part, and if he's going to have fun without you, make him pay for it".

Anyway, other than those, I got in A LOT of riding. At least a few good 3 hour rides a week, then more on the weekend...what really put a stop to the biking was the arrival of our son. I'm afraid that until he's able to come with me, I have to limit myself to just weekends...not to mention I have a job that keeps me away from home all week, and working late hours...

So, all in all, I think you have quite a bit of time before you have to see a drop in your riding.

Good luck with the wedding!

Brandon

Communication is the key. One of the most common challenges in marriage is the other person not meeting their expectations, with regards to what they pictured the marriage would be.

Being the MTB guy that you are, I'm fairly certain that this topic might have come up by now. If not, now's the time. You need to set up what you are going to expect from eachother, and in your case, you will need to talk about how often you plan on riding. She might think that you will suddenly drop some of your riding to be with her, where you might think that you will ride the same or more. A happy medium will have to be discussed and agreed upon.

I've been happily married for 14 years, and apart from the regular Saturday morning that we've agreed on (and whenever I want to commute to work), we still 'negotiate' other times to ride. It's give and take. Now that my wife is also getting into MTB, there is a new dynamic, but the principle of communication is still the cornerstone.

Congratulations and Good Luck!

Crikey, is this still an MTB site? :)

MikeG

Either riding or Thinking of Riding... The madness of MTB, I love it!

i'm so happy for the two of you!!! i've been so self-absorbed that you guys' wedding date kinda' snuck up on me. talk about an awesome time of year to get married in durango! that'll be beautiful.

laura and i have been happily married for eleven plus years and counting, and while she's much more of a runner than a cyclist today, i think the key to a successful marriage is simply supporting whatever your spouse is passionate about. whatever that is. i was a cyclist before my wife met me, so it's all she's ever known me as. it's come with the territory. that said, coming in at different levels has its downsides unto itself. cycling has been described as my mistress, and in some ways it is. that's the challenge of having a one-sided relationship with cycling.

in that respect the two of you are lucky. you get to experience mountain bikes on a more even level. just remember to keep eachother focused on your own goals, and not on goals you foist on eachother.

good luck, be brave, speak loud when you say your vows. have fun. and congratulations again.

Well....I been married for 10 years now...!
I think is about comuication...!!
You lie to do your stuff..!!
Like biking..! that is your moment,,! that is your time,,,!
Like your girlfriend...your wife can go on Yoga clases or other activity....!
you both need you moment,,,! you own moment..!
Once you cover all your dutties....is when you can do other activity you like.:!

Never ,never never,,,stop doing mountain bike,,!!!
if you stop.,,,,!! you will never see clear...!!
Keep riding...!!!
Alejndro Glez.

Ok, so here's the deal, without trying to sound too corny. If you are anything like me and you are off of your bike for any length of time it has direct effect on your personality and attitude(put simply I turn into an ass). I have been married four years, in that four years my wife an I have been through some trials. We have spent countless hours in hospitals with family battling illness, we have buried close immediate family members, and I just recently lost my only riding partner (my 14 year old Siberian husky). I can say with all that has gone on in our lives that we would probably be divorced if I couldn't have gone out and hit the trails. It helps keep my life in balance, it helps me be a better husband when I can leave my stress out on the single track instead of being grumpy at home. My wife doesn't ride, it's my thing, and she goes and does things that she enjoys, but we always make time for each other. Bottom line is my wife knew when she married me, my bike was a part of my life that I would not and could not sacrifice. Cycling is not what I do, it is a part of what I am. I don't race or compete, I can't even go very fast, but I love to be outside riding the trails. I guess what I am trying to say is congrats, and just make sure your new bride realizes that you also have second love in your life, your bike. Again CONGRATULATIONS!