General Cycling Discussion - Have you bought something (cycling stuff) and have to keep it from your wife!

Have you bought something like its for the bike, and you have to keep it from your wife from knowing, unfortunately I have, but when she catches me with a cycling stuff I would always tell her that I have just borrowed it from my cycling buddies...

i'm not married so i don't have that problem.... :)

I am married, but my husband is very supportive of my needs to bike. I guess he figures it is better to buy bike clothes and gear, which I'll DEFINITELY use, rather than constantly buying new shoes or bags, which I don't need.

I never buy any of that selfish cycling stuff. Who told you I did? They were lying!

Funny thing happened to me. On the way somewhere on my bike, a line of cars was passing me very smoothly. Then one of them passed so closely I had to sort of "freeze" so I didn't swerve from being startled. Just as I was about to give them an angry corrective look, I recognized my own car! It was my wife.

I told her later, and she said she didn't realize she was so close. Sigh... I guess I'd rather be killed by her than a stranger. (I still am not ready to sleep with my bike).

Pete Clark's response is hilarious. You would "rather be killed by your wife than a stranger" That's rich.

All I can say is "be careful what you wish for" - especially if you do start sleeping with your bike.

Anyway, I have found the best way to keep bike stuff from the wife. Fill your garage so full of old bikes and bike stuff that she can't even get into the garage. I mean really pack 'em in. Have like 50 bikes in a two stall garage with bikes hanging from the rafters on hooks like a meat factory and bikes spilled onto the floor.

Hey, it works for me. I can buy whole bikes and put 'em right in full-view in the garage. They can be parked right by the door. She doesn't even notice that there is another bike in the fleet. If she asks, I just say, What? That old thing? I've had that "for awhile now".

In fact, she usually doesn't really even know for certain that there IS a new bike in the garage. She just tries to smoke me out with questions like "Hey, is that a new bike in the garage?" She don't get old sly Mr. Mike, though. No sahhh.

Mike, buddy, you know women have super Hubble-telescopic vision! Be careful...

Pete "man-of-the-house" Clark

:D Mike, you'll have to be careful you don't get killed by your wife, and not necessarily in the car!

yap! you said it man, The wifey is getting suspicious, already on my bike stuff, and she notice that my bike is getting different, yaa man she's getting there!!!

Uh oh, you guys were correct.

My wife just got spring fever and has suggested, er... demanded that I clean up the garage or I don't get to play with my other toys. She has a lot to say about that, so my winter bike acquisitions are about to be exposed.

Wish me well.

Man, I thought I was the only one with this problem! Sure, i'm a recovering shopaholic, but my signifcant other is starting to catch on about the whereabouts of my money--but not just yet. You know, before I could hide my dozens of pairs of boots (don't ask) and other stuff in my trunk until it "mysteriously" appeared a month later, so *technically* when he did ask me, "Hey, is that new?", it wasn't... hehe...

Okay, but now that my bike is in the garage, where he usually doesn't a spend lot of time in, I'm pretty much safe--for now! I was just thinkin' of putting a tarp over it when it's in the garage, then he wouldn't notice... ;)

Ah, in all honesty, I'm better about my purchases, now. I now tell him what big ticket items I'll be buying, and we don't worry about the smaller items that I purchase. It saves him the time and trouble of why I'm buying these items. This is quite fair for both of us. Unfortunately, money is usually an issue with most relationships.

However, from a girl's perspective, you guys should could counteract the grillin' and ask YOUR significant other what she bought recently...and by all means, CHECK HER TRUNK! :D

Okay, I am wishing you good luck, I just got busted myself, and you know what that means, it me on the couch!!!!

Orguasch, you may have been busted, but I am convinced you will never change. Confess! I've heard it all before! There is NO HOPE for you!

Don't forget to get a snack before you settle down to watch t.v....

Wait it out. She'll get over it (again)! (Remember what Techno G. said: check her trunk!)

HEY...I was SHOCKED tonight! My wife said, "If we did buy another bike, I'd ride it on the flat areas."

We don't have any of those around here...Heck, she doesn't know that, she drives. The only "flat" area is A) the freeway (an illusion); B) the living room floor (unsuitable for cycling).

O.K., I'll be fair...THAT was a BIG step for her. Maybe I can find a "flat" area somewhere...maybe we can drive 5 hours to South Georgia, where Cambronne is happily cruising on Florida-like flatlands...

yes, man, admitted I will never change ;) will still love my bike and still buy stuff and hope that the wifey will not find out,

Ha ha...

I just bought a new pair of Oakley glasses and told my girlfriend they were bought in a 50% off sale *s******s*...

Geeeze..the thing is, she still sulked!!!!!

Maybe it was because I had a go at her for buying a £15 pair of sunglasses...

:( Rich *holds head in shame!!!* :(

Luckily my wife is very tolerant of my biking behavior - both the amount of time I spend in the saddle and the $ spent. She knows that if I don't get my bike time in I'll be a grouch. She doesn't question my purchases and in return, I don't question hers. Works out great for both of us. I still can't convince her we need a tandem though - this is one she just won't go for!

I sympathize with you guys who have jealous girlfriends
(jealous of the bike and related purchases). But look at it this way: at least you're getting a true taste of real married life. Some of us didn't discover this reality until we took up cycling after we were already married!

On another forum where I was posting, I left the screen up (password intact) as I went upstair for a few minutes. When I came back, I discovered a new post I had made in my absence. My wife had revealed her
husband's true nature to the whole world (or at least to my buddies).

She also mentioned something about a guy who drinks slurpees on his bike with gravel in them. I'm not sure where she got that...

:confused:

I'm pretty lucky that way my wife doesn't say anything about my purchases.In fact she comes to the LBS with me quite a bit when I'm buying things and in some cases talks me into buying a costlier item because it looks better. VERY supportive . She says its worth it to see the smile on my face when I return from a ride. Now if I could only talk her into riding a bike! :thumbup:

tourman, does she have a sister? :D

This is a sticky issue (or wicket).

I've heard those things, though. "When did you get that?" "How much did that cost?"

Even the $10 items will raise an eyebrow now and then.

:)

Jonathan

Joe
I'm afraid she doesn't have a sister not even a cousin. By the way she did get a real good laugh out of the perfume cartoon.Said something about being familiar with that feeling.

:beer:

Boy being a new member, I'm finding all the interesting conversations are months old already. Kinda like SPAM :rolleyes:
My S.O. can buy all the bike gear he wants to......for me. Get those wives interested guys!! I honestly don't know a crankset from a head tube :confused: but I LOVE my red tires!!!! And my bell, and my flowers!!!

You've got to get them involved. I'll buy those Lycra shorts for my honey any day of the week!!!!!!! :D :love:

I just change the Look cleats in my shoe, and she ask is that new, I told her I have been keeping it for almost two years just in case I need to change the old cleat I have one ready and I bought it 2 years ago, she said hmmmm, Now honey I need to buy a new ring for my birthday next month, I just said go ahead look for a nice ring for your birthday, so that's the reason i have to keep things from my wife, coz' in the end it expensive for me...

Orguasch,

Rarely have I heard such refreshing truth... ;)

Oscar, you must get her interested. You are so interested in cycling, she will have to do it, eventually!

Pete, Yes I tried to get her into cycling, even use my old MTB, but boy is she a hard learner, I was telling her again last week that she should try riding the bike again, said okay but you have to teach me, guess , I have to try harder in teaching her....and that means lesser time for me to enjoy this summer.

rather be killed by your wife than a stranger

Wouldn't you rather be stabbed by her in a stormy passionate moment than to be accidentally run over though?


I still am not ready to sleep with my bike

Yeah, bike manufacturers have still serious progress to make on that front. What about covering the frame with a more inviting material (syllicon, plastic) and chaning its shape for a start?

Anyway. I used to be married. I am generally frugal exept for bike and computer stuff (and drinking out). For the computer stuff I have a perfect alibi: this is for work. How could I life without a handheld PDA? Are you crazy I develop software for these things How could I test it.

For the bike I have less alibi. Introduce a purchase after she bought something. Wait until she tells you that she bought that ridiculous set of garden chairs/table you hate that was unecessary. Look at her with disapproval but instead of saying something about it "Btw I forgot to tell you I went shopping yesterday and got myself a new set of panniers".

The killer argument though is if wife owns a car (even if you use it sometimes providing it is her - you would not use if she did not have it).

"Who are you to criticize me for spending pennies on an ecologically sound vehicle when you spent our retirement money on this stinky beast?". There is no answer back for that it works for everything: new bike, panniers, lights, shorts, jersey, shoes, etc.

At the end of the day you have to ask yourself which are you better of with: the bike or the wife. I'ld choose the bike any day
(Sorry I am still very bitter since my wife left me).

Which begs another questions: what are the advantages of a bike vs a wife? I should stop before I get seriously flamed. THere are members of the opposite sex on this forum.

Problem: My husband and I BOTH love to shop - especially for toys.

We just bought him his first bike - Rocky Mountain. He loves it. BUT now I'm feeling like I need a new one too :) He is all too supportive of getting me one - however we need to save some $$ to buy a house......

decisions, decisions....

lol

Who needs a house if you have a good bike. Bikes arre the answer to everything

I guess I'm one of the lucky few. My wife understands my passion and doesn't argue about how much I spend. (To a point)

My problem is that she has become very involved in cycling and that requires I spend a lot on stuff for her! Although I enjoy working on bikes and buying new things, I don't recieve the same pleasure buying things for her bike that mine. (I guess I'm a little selfish)

If and when she does question a recent purchase, I remind her that I'm constantly selling my old bikes and gear and that pays for the new products. I also remind her of those new aero bars I bought HER and the new shoes and pedals she just got.

BTW, I work Saturdays at my LBS for parts. That helps a ton. Honey, I'm really not spending money, it's the credit I get from working there. The bigger problem is that with my current balance, I'll be working there for the next century to pay it off!

For you guys or gals that have the problem with their S.O's. Just use the analogy of the expense of playing Golf. New clubs, clothing, green fees, cart fees....etc. In the end you realize that cycling isn't any more expensive than any other sport.

Lator Gator:D

I played my hand fairly well last time. She's been talking about upgrading to Vee Brakes on her MTB, so I took the opportunity to order those, and surprise, I also find a Selle Italia Flight seat on sale, a bontrager seatpost and a Manitou Shock.

The true brilliance of this adjusting her brakes to get that sharp squeal so I could get the new brake seed planted……

Always thinking.
:D

My partner is a cyclist. She knows what things cost and will buy them for herself. She not only tolerates my cycling acquisitiveness, but she encourages and matches it. We have seven bikes between the two of us.

She's also a big fan of the electric guitar, so she's very tolerant of my guitar gear purchases.

Ohh... and she likes going on fast 75km rides in the country. [100km is just a little beyond her right now.]

I never keep anything from the wife. For the last 34 years, I have found this to be an excellent policy. However, I may not always volunteer the costs of my acquisitions!!

Even though the wife doesn't pay much attention to my bikes, you don't suddenly start parking a metallic blue Paramount in the front room without it raising a question or two! Now had it been painted black and white like the Roubaix that preceeded it....

Anyway, back to the subject...she doesn't ask how much it cost, and I don't go out of my way to point it out. Of course, I don't give her a bunch of grief over a new blouse that she might be wearing, either! (Although, in all honesty, she would have to tell me it was new, I just don't pay that much attention to such mundane concerns!)

Anyway, this works for us, and if you have an SO in your life, I would highly recommend this policy. Now all you have to do is hang around the SO so long that they quit asking.......:-)

I guess my wife and vfboomer's wife must be sisters. ;)

I don't have to hide anything from her. She asks me if I need anything for my bikes at least once a week. She always reminds me to take the checkbook so I can buy what I "need".

She supports my cycling habit 110%. :thumbup:
She is wonderful. :love: :angel:

Just to rub it in a little!! My wife gets mad at me because I haven't bought a bike for my 16 month old boy yet!!! She says I have to buy him one soon, how else will he be the next World Champion? I'm constantly telling her, he has the tri-cycle and we'll get him a bike when he's ready!

Hey I just though of a new thread and poll I could start!

Lator Gator