Forgot to mention actually we got her on a 1x for a while and that built her confidence with the gears - it's just the hills round here that mean she needs a triple. Maybe a galaxy with flat ish bars and a nice wide range 1x could be the ticket for your other half? Could always add a front mech in the future.
My girlfriend has 4 bikes - all with front derailleurs, but she hasn't moved a single one of them ever.
Mind you it is really flat around here.
But I would recommend 1x drivetrains to anyone starting out.
Forgot to mention actually we got her on a 1x for a while and that built her confidence with the gears - it's just the hills round here that mean she needs a triple. Maybe a galaxy with flat ish bars and a nice wide range 1x could be the ticket for your other half? Could always add a front mech in the future.
Sounds like my next current project...