General Cycling Discussion - Wife Hooked .... What do I do?

My wife has got really hooked on road biking. She doesn't enjoy her mountian bike nearly as much as she used to and her comfort bike, which "was the best bike she ever ridden" now sits sadly on the rack below her Special Allez 24. Worst of all this is all my own fault. I didn't want to get her an expensive bike and then not enjoy the road bike, but she complained about the pedals so I got her some Looks, she loves them. She's now complaining about the Sora shifters (no shock) and her lack of carbon fork. She's got upgradeitis!!!

The question is do I take the entry level Specialized '02 and trade for a new bike or do I upgrade this one? She really likes the way it fits her.

Help!:p

I think there is a group to help with this problem. I am sorry I am also currently addicted. Luckily my addiction is one of pure off road. Far easier to control you just simply run yourself headlong into a tree. :D

"Enabler!"

:D

Cut her loose and let her support her own habit!

Lucky for me I guess. My wife is very happy with her comfort bike but fully supports my addiction to upgrades and new equipment.

Her bike should always be better than yours. However you get there!!

And this is a problem??

First, thank your lucky stars.

Second, support her.

Third, remind her of the 50/50 plus mechanics clause, which although unwrittten, is common knowledge of all relationships in which the mechanic and the upgradee are related by blood and / or especially marriage.

You know, the one that states all dollars spent on components for upgradee's bicycle must be equally matched with household budgetary funding plus compensation for labor @ $35.00 per hour for the purpose of upgrading the mechanics bicycle in addition to the bicycle of the upgradee. :D

She'll be ok. Just give her her upgrades. You'll be ok. It'll all be ok. Give her the upgrades. She needs the upgrades. She deserves them cuz there are far too few male riders who can share their enjoyment with their ladies. You'd better upgrade that bike. This is serious. Think upgrade. Don't wait.

Originally posted by threadend
...remind her of the 50/50 plus mechanics clause, which although unwrittten, is common knowledge of all relationships in which the mechanic and the upgradee are related by blood and / or especially marriage.

You know, the one that states all dollars spent on components for upgradee's bicycle must be equally matched with household budgetary funding plus compensation for labor @ $35.00 per hour for the purpose of upgrading the mechanics bicycle in addition to the bicycle of the upgradee. :D
Something tells me you're the author of that particular clause!

. . . I'm reading oceanrider's post . . . I'm feeling OK . . . I'm looking at my wife's Terry . . . heck, Dura Ace ain't all that expensive . . . I'm feeling OK . . . I could gold plate the stoker Softride beam on the tandem . . . I'm feeling OK . . . wuh . . . wuh . . .

On a serious note, the bike fits. From a women's perspective, I can tell you that is the most difficult and hard to accomplish feat of getting into cycling. Upgrading would be the way to go.

Her bike should always be better than yours. However you get there!!

Agreed. Making hers better than yours gives you some leverage to justify your own upgrades. :D

Enjoy it, I'd give anything (except my bikes) for a wife that rode a road bike. How stress free would life be then, not having to listen to, "are you going riding again", or, "how long will you be gone this time", "or, how much did that cost". Just spend a little more on her stuff then you do on yours and you'll be all set, then ride with her often and your marriage will be perfect.

hehe, tourist you are seriously in deep s**t!

that said, here's where things are from my perspective,
take her over to the bike mart, or plano cycles. As long
as the budget can handle it let her get whatever she
wants (and wives always get what they want).
You're life will be much happier that way. You can then
justify all your own purchases.
i.e "Honey, I just bought you a jersey and womens
specific bibs. . . oh by the way I just picked up a really
nice Seven, Serotta, Trek (you fill in the name you like)
frameset with (fill in again) components"

Support her and treasure the fact that she enjoys the
same passion for bikes as you do.
enviable position, believe me.

Marty

If you are at all competitive when you ride with her then upgrading her bike will give you a reason why she stomps you out on the rides;) .
Slainte

I cannot believe what I am reading! You are all a bunch of conniving, devious, scheming rogues!:)

Now, all I need to do is open a new document on my PC, and then, mmmmmm, copy-and-paste some of the ideas, then, mmmmm, file that under "Tips for upgrading my bike".

Just as well no wives are reading this post. I wonder what their thoughts would be?

I vote for something Ti and custom with Campy Record.

You want to keep her happy, dontcha?

:)

Originally posted by Bokkie
Just as well no wives are reading this post. I wonder what their thoughts would be?

Something like "how can I get my husband to buy me a
new bike?"

and isn't that baai lekker?

Marty

My initial intent with this post was serious in nature, well partly anyway, I have now been laughing so hard reading these posts it's hard to maintain any decorum.

I'm glad everyone has had such a good time with this post.:p

I think at his point I'm going to make her bike all Ultegra (mine is 105) except for the wheels and then see. If she still wants more we'll change the wheels. Ocean Rider's point of fit is well taken.

Let the games continue.

One more thing, Always let her win by at least a wheel length. If you drop her, you're the one that will feel the loss.

Originally posted by mrfix
One more thing, Always let her win by at least a wheel length. If you drop her, you're the one that will feel the loss.

What's this 'let her win' stuff? Has my husband been holding back all this time, letting me think I'm super fast, only now to find out it is a big sham? :eek:

No way Cowgirl, your husband is really that slow. you always win because you're better than him. My wife is much faster and a much better ride than me, ask her, she'll tell you the same thing.
Oh and dura-ace really is worth the extra cash. Tell your husband to do his home work and maybe he will catch up. or by the sound of things maybe he has done his home work.

and isn't that baai lekker?

Ja! Tannie! Geniet u dag! Mud? Lekker smaak!

On Saturday, my wife and I are going to hit that seething disease-infected metropolis called London. She is after some books - no problem there - but I have in mind a few cycle shops. My 'retail therapy' is to introduce her to the gentle, noble art of mtb'ing. I want her to see what it is that makes me so excited about it, and I want her to hear the sophisticated shop-floor patois "where mountain man talk stuff bart bike to mechanic who knows dem things an other tales untold!":)

Over the past couple of weeks, I have noticed an optimism in her attitude to mtb. She has not plucked up the courage yet to look at the maps with me, but she is already saying things like "I don't want one of them rigid bikes, why can't I have one like yours, the one with the squishy things at each end - I want forks and one of those sausage-shaped bouncy things." I kid you not.:D

The sausage-shape thing she was referring to was the rear shock.

Another time, I was enthusing over a picture of my bike, and I said "look at the headset, so fat and pretty!" She replied, "Yes! Just like my ass!"

I also tried on a pair of wraparound cycling sunglasses, something I have not worn in a long time (we live in the UK - enough said?). Anyway, I put them on, and said to her, adopting a suave Hollywood-style form of prose "Dah-ling! Don't you just think these glasses make me look oh-so dark and mysterious?" "Yes," she replied, "just like a swamp!"

I get the last laugh though. I'm buying the Master Lock Street Cuff bike lock. The review said "Looking like fantasy bedroom equipment..." and concluded, "inspired. And a nice suprise for your partner.":D