General Cycling Discussion - We have a conundrum and need advice (especially from Tandem riders!)

Cydewaze and I are getting married in October, and we were thinking that since we already have two houses worth of stuff, we don't need to register for the usual dishes etc. We are MAJORLY short on money right now, so what would be most helpful for us would be either bike stuff, or a honeymoon, which we can't afford this year (in vacation time or $$).

BIKE SHOP OPTIONS

At first I thought it would be great to register at the bike shop, particularly for a tandem as it would be so symbolic. Well, today we test rode the tandem. It was kind of a hairy, scary start, but soon we were a great team. The good parts about it is that it is no longer possible for Paul to drop me :D and I can talk to him at close range. It's also fun to go speeding along on the flats and hills. Also, there's just a certain fun novelty to it and it makes a nice change. The BAD parts are that I really am not used to losing all control of everything. It is scary having to stay clipped in when we come to a stop etc, to not control the speed or the gears....and with the speed we were getting if we made a mistake and fell over, it would not be pretty. Finally, the SWEAT all over my stomach!! I am in Paul's draft and getting no wind and I was totally drenched. I'm not so sure I'm too crazy about that idea. What do the tandem riders think?

The other bike shop option would just be to collect gift certificates and see what we could get. We might use the $ towards my bike upgrade. Paul is quite enthusiastic about upgrading me next season. I would feel guilty using up all the wedding $ on me, but he doesn't seem to mind at all, in fact he says it saves him having to pay for my upgrade.

HONEYMOON

On the other hand, we could collect $ at a travel agency and go on a fabulous honeymoon next year (or at least more fabulous than what we can afford now, which is nothing!)

If you were in our shoes what would you ask for? The bike stuff which we can keep over time (tangible) or the honeymoon which would be very exciting and provide a lifetime of memories?

Thanks guys!

Get your own bike. I mean, sometimes, you may want to do your own rides (or the rides we've been doing with the women). What are you going to do, ride the front of the tandem yourself?

Koffee

Get your own bike. I mean, sometimes, you may want to do your own rides (or the rides we've been doing with the women). What are you going to do, ride the front of the tandem yourself?
Well she would still get to keep her Lemond, which is a pretty nice bike.

In that case, get the tandem and ride on cooler days! :)

Koffee

having recently gone thru a similar scenario, i would suggest neither. collect $ for the bank (ie. your savings), not for bikes.

I would argue for the bike store, in a sort of "general fund." One of the most useful wedding gifts d.h. and I got was our set of mountain bikes. I think you'd be surprised how many people would like the idea of giving you guys "a bicycle built for two." Those who know and love you best will know this is your big hobby, but what to get two cyclists? Sounds perfect, to me

Sign this,
Someone who does a lot of wedding gift shopping and is hard pressed to come up with something worthwhile

Congratulations! I agree, save the money. You will need it. My wife and I just got rid of all debt (except for mortgage) this June. This after 11 years of living together, 8 of those married, 2 of those with kid. It would be nice to start off owning more than you owe! :)

We own and regularly use a Tandem bike. Our idea of fun is to go on back to back centuries on Rail to Trails from hotel to hotel. This is not possible with solo bikes. My wife goes on strike after fifty to sixty miles. On a Tandem she goes along.

I ride two nice Road bikes. There is no comparison. We would use solo bikes if I had a wife anywhere close to my endurance. The solo bikes are more maneuverable, better on hills, in traffic situations and of course tricky road conditions. I love to better my best personal time using the best bike with aero bars and best equipment.

But my wife's companionship is even more important. (43 years married, same wife)

So, my advise is not to buy a Tandem if you are more or less matched.

I am 15. That I will say first. But I do have common sense. (well sort of ;) ) But As much as I would buy the tandem or her bike, the most plausible idea is get money. I personally have not gone through debt. BUt my family has. My dad used to ahve no money. It really seems like you dont want that to happen. So I would suggest the money.

Tough call, we bought a "starter" tandem this year, but may already upgrade if we do any serious riding next year. Since we've been married awhile, a honeymoon is something you won't get the chance to do again. So I suggest doing something, even if is buying the tandem and riding for a week. Otherwise, people never know what to get you for a wedding gift, so gift certificates are great, the idea that you will be applying them toward a tandem bike is even better. Normally I might say upgrade your bike, if you ride that the most, but given your getting married and money is a bit tight (it always seems to be - just wait for kids) I would go for a real honeymoon trip, or a tandem and a week ride together.

John

Let me get just a little further ahead of you ...
KIDS ... If kids are even in the foreseeable picture consider:
A) you may slow down a bit in late pregnancy (tandem will keep you together)
B) a tandem is a great way for your husband to bring your 6+ year old on a ride while you sail along on your LeMond.

Just factors to add onto your balance sheet.

I love the idea of a tandem, but make sure you have a real honeymoon... something romantic and memorable! Something with an oversized bathtub or hot-tub in the room. Get massages together, long walks on the beach.

We went for the tandem. Our friends knew how much we enjoyed biking and that with 2 households of stuff we didn't need/want other things. The honeymoon was a camping/fly fishing trip that was several months after the wedding and inexpensive to boot. To this day (17 yrs later), every time we ride the tandem we think of our wonderful friends.

Go tandems! We have two!