General Cycling Discussion - Justify a new bike

I am having trouble justifying a new road bike to my wife. My road bike is an Austro-Daimler Inter 10 with Campy components, all from the early 80s. I want to ride some more centuries this year, I did 1 last year. What would you say to justify a new $1000-$2000 bike?:confused:

Thanks:)

"Life is short."

Get her one, too!:D

Explain to her that the bike is nearly 20 years old and that over time frames weaken, and that it will be safer in the long run to have a new bike because the frame is strong.

Secretly save up your lunch money and then tell her you "won" it. :D

Of course, there is always this guy's (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?s=&threadid=19080) approach...

lol Chip.....

WHOA.... ISSUES!!!

"and that's all I have to say about that!"

Say:

"Well, I could give up cycling, sit on the couch, watch tv and eat, get fatter and fatter, and die in my 50s."

or

"OK, just how much is my health and happiness worth to you? Put a dollar amount on it, and that's what I'll spend."

or

"It's cheaper than heart disease."

or

"If you love me, just deal with it."

Your getting older and bikes are getting lighter.1200 bucks should get u a good bike.

Get out and get it while u can!!!! :D

I noticed that your 42nd birthday is coming up in a few months, so tell her that a new bike would be a great birthday present.
You could also mention that you want to avoid all the mid-life health problems that many "older" men experience and you need a new bike to help you.

Take her to Bicycles Unlimited (http://www.bicyclesunl.com/), Perpetual Motion Bicycles (http://www.perpetualmotionbikes.com/), or any of the several bike shops in Atlanta and show her what's available.


After I told my wife what Joe Friel recommended in his book, Cycling Past 50, she bought a Litespeed Tuscany for me so I could have the "best" equipment. :angel: :love: :beer:


BTW: What bike(s) are you looking at?

I've seen someone post this here before: If you can afford a new bike without hurting your family financially, then get what you want if it will make you happy.

also from what I've heard......sometimes it's better to beg for forgiveness rather than get permission ahead of time ;)

If it doesnt make his wife happy,he never will be so first make her see the light.

Originally posted by shokhead
If it doesnt make his wife happy, he never will be so first make her see the light.

That sounds like the voice of reason ... and experience!! You make an excellent point. :D

"That sounds like the voice of reason ... and experience!! You make an excellent point. " (I agree)

However, QUICK, QUICK, QUICK......before you come to your senses......buy it, buy it!!!

Don't ya just hate that little voice?

just do it and get a new bike for yourself, you think you deserve it, then go, buy it ....when the wife ask you later just tell her you need a new bike, don't justify it she will understand the situation

Sure, new bike lust is great, but why couldn't you ride in
more than 1 century on your old A-D?
I'm guessing by the description of all campy that it's either
a superleicht or Ultima? both very nice bikes.
A new bike in the $1000 to $2000 may not infact ride
as nice.
As a married individual with terminal bike lust all I can
say is good luck (last purchase I made was for the wife!),
be honest about your wanting a new bike.
if there is a mechanical reason for the new bike
(i.e. cracked tubes etc), talk about safety issues,
also consider discussing safety of shifting at the
levers (ergo, sti) vs. downtube shifting.
you could get her involved, and reading this forum.

Marty

I do not plan to replace my 1982 Campag.-equipped Bianchi, which is probably not quite as good as your A-D, until the frame cracks. (Incidentally, A-D frames are among the most durable ever made.) My wife had no problems with my spending $100 this year for NOS Campag. Omega rims and used Campag. Chorus hubs. For safety, you may want to consider new cranks and stem.

Since most of today's road bikes have extremely tight geometries, it is even tougher to find a suitable replacement for either of my commuting/touring/transportation bikes, which can take 700Cx28 tyres with mudguards.

Originally posted by danka24
Explain to her that the bike is nearly 20 years old and that over time frames weaken, and that it will be safer in the long run to have a new bike because the frame is strong.

That's the excuse I used a few years ago when I upgraded from a 10 year old steel Trek to a Litespeed Classic. It really did start to show the years of wear with rusty water pouring out of the weep holes on the seat stays after a really rainy road ride. Of course I worked some freelance work and overtime to pay for the new bike. I still ride the old one occassionally as a fixed gear bike and my wife has never questioned that.

Of course I will say that I have a very undertanding spouse that likes the fact that I stay in shape by riding and commuting. We aren't rich by any means, but it's cheaper than footbal tickets, or fancy cars or hitting the bars.

I like the previous "save your lunch money and tell her you won it" idea. Or, you could finance it, and make the monthly payments with saved lunch money. My local LBS is offering an interest-free 12 month financing deal. So a $1200 bike would be $100 a month. Might be do-able with some creative financial juggling. When I buy a cycling item and I don't want my wife to know it, I don't enter the purchase in the checkbook. I just adjust the checkbook balance to include it on the next check I write. So if I have $900 in the checking account, and I buy a $50 pump I don't want my wife to know about, and my next check is for $100 in groceries, the balance magically goes down to $750, not $800. I learned this creative accounting method when I worked briefly in the Enron Auditing Department. But you might say "If you do this, your checkbook won't balance!" Right! I don't balance my checking account. I have two checking accounts. I use one for six months, and then switch to the second account for 2-3 weeks. I let all the checks clear on the first account, and then strike a new balance. Then I switch back to using the first account for the next six months. Haven't bounced a check in ten years, and have saved 10,000 hours by not balancing every month. (I learned this method when I worked briefly for WorldCom.) :D

you can't put a price on comfort.

i have swung a leg over the top tube of my bike no less than 175 to 200 times a year for several consecutive years.

after 5-7 years that is ~1000 mounts.

that is one to two dollars a ride (1k or 2k) over the long haul.

i was hesitant and my wife and co-workers insisted that i splurge for it. now 5 years in, it is so inexpensive for true comfort the pro's and con's would be insane to quantify.

I can not give any suggestions at this time since my wife and I purchased 3 new frames and custom built all of them this past year. I also upgraded all the old components on the old bike so it too is like a new bike.
I had no need to justify the purchases because my wife is into cycling almost as much as my self. She also realizes the better ride quality of the newer bikes over the older ones.

Slainte:beer:

The folley of youth!!

BUY THE BIKE (your size & spec's) AS A PRESENT FOR HER!!!!!

And when she doesn't ride it, make a BIG DEAL about all the effort you went to find just the right bike for her, and a super deal because it was a no-return special.

Originally posted by 1oldRoadie
The folley of youth!!

BUY THE BIKE (your size & spec's) AS A PRESENT FOR HER!!!!!

And when she doesn't ride it, make a BIG DEAL about all the effort you went to find just the right bike for her, and a super deal because it was a no-return special.

My Friend, you are a genius!! :beer:

Originally posted by Scooby Snax


My Friend, you are a genius!! :beer:


Nope just successfully married to the same woman for 35 years