Texas - How do you convince the wife???

We went to RBM (Coit rd) today and began looking at bikes and my wife got a case of sticker shock. We were looking at the Trek 1500, 1600 and the Specialized Allez, all costing $950 to $1300. If anyone has a really convincing argument that may have helped with thier SO, let me hear it.

She is really confused why a base level "10 speed" (her words) can start at $700.
I have explained about fit, comfort, and the components (carbon fork etc) but it makes her head spin.

Lastly, is the Trek 1600 w/ ultegra really worth the $300 increase now that the 1500's, 105 equipped, are on sale in the $900 range. Am I going to notice that big of a difference?

thanks for the help,
Chris

$1000 now is a whole lot cheaper than the medical bills later in life when you come down with diabetes or any number of other things. It's also cheaper than smoking, drinking, or a lot of other things that have very negative effects on one's health. Or you could go with the "well it's either this or I'm buying a ferarri." line.

Me, I started off cheap, showed my wife I had a real interest and desire, and she hasn't said much about my cycling purchases since. My folks on the other hand, still have sticker shock when I mention how much I spend on this or that. So I stopped telling them.

As far as differences between the models, if it's mostly 105, then it should be good for you starting out. Anything above is a decent amount of overkill for a first bike especially if the wife is having sticker shock already. One thing to look at though is the wheelset included on the two. Not sure which the two are equipped with, but that's likely where at least some of the difference in price is coming from.

Btw, it's tax time, if you have anything coming back from ole Uncle Sam, try to arrange it to use at least some of that money to go towards the bike purchase. I live near RBM on coit, if you want a slightly more experienced aid that's not there trying to sell you a bike, I'll be happy to try to make it over there next time you go to look.

What kind of car does she drive? Why not a Kia instead? ;) It's difference in quality of materials and how it's put together. It really depends on what your goals are as a cyclist. Is this your first road bike? How many miles/week do you expect to ride? Are you planning on racing, fast club rides, triathlons, organized century rides, or messing around the neighborhood?

Also, a $1000 bike will amortize over (at least) a couple years before you really need to replace components (other than tires, and a different saddle if you're not comfy). --Not as true with a $200 road bike at Target.

For your last question, 105 is a perfectly fine grouppo. You'll find in the $1000 range it's about tradeoffs: better wheels but the derailluers are a lower level, or nicer shifters in the place of lesser quality brakes. Yet all these things are upgradeable. The trick is to get 1) a bike that FITS. RBM is a good shop (bought my first roadie there in 2002), but make sure you get treated well in the fitting --You should get asked the very same questions about your intent that I did above. Standover height is NOT how to fit a road bike. 2) The best frame you can afford. You can upgrade around it.

Good luck ...

(What if she gets a bike too? Would that help?)

If anyone has a really convincing argument that may have helped with thier SO, let me hear it.

Well, there's two things to consider.

Accounting for inflation, that is the number of hours you have to work to buy something, I bet a mid range bike costs about the same in real terms now as it would have back in say 1975.

You might think it's cheaper to get a used bike for next to nothing and fix it up. That's only true if you happen to have good mechanic skills and also a big box of components laying around. It's cheaper to buy a new bike than to upgrade a used bike to the same level. Case in point, my 1970s steel frame Coppi. Son bought it on ebay for $60. Upgrading the wheels, drive train and brakes to a very moderate level (105 & similar) cost around $1300. The modern drive train shifts a lot smoother, the brakes work a lot better, and everything is surprisingly lighter than the old "10-speed" stuff. If you get a chance, let your wife compare the weight of an old steel crank set with a modern one.

I ride a Trek 1200 which has a mix of Tiagra and 105. Cost me around $800 back in 05. Going on three seasons of riding and it has yet to let me down. If you are not racing, you can step down a level and probably be perfectly happy. Ride all the bikes and see if you can feel a difference. BTW, I am well over 200 lb. and nothing on the bike has failed.

Use a mile per doll calculation....that is how I work it. (not with my wife but with me) After a year the bike is pretty cheap....it is very close to other hobbies.....model airplanes...god forbid helicopters.....I have a Jeep as a toy....I have 20 grand in that at least....if your in to home theaters....man....big buck there....fly fishing? Yea..there too...185 to 1000 just for the rod....maybe all the examples will distract her to the hobby you will be choosing that will do you and your health a lot of good.....(Unless you start riding with a heavy beer drinking group...if that is the case your heath might get worse lol).

If you put a lot of miles on the bike then I feel you can justify more expence....if you drive for a living you can get a better car....

Good luck!!

Use a mile per doll calculation....that is how I work it.

Until I realized you meant miles per dollar, I thought your wife was into Precious Moments or something.

105 Build kit to upgrade current bike versus new bike with 105. I also explained my bike goals, i.e. keeps a steady 23 plus mph pace, centuries, Hotter than Hell 100, etc, etc.

I have a large dent in the top tube of my 9 year old Cervelo and the wife still throws a fit when I look a the P3 SL. I don't expect her approval any purchases related to bycicling. Just get it, and if your wife leaves, consider it a bonus:D

I just withhold sex until she gives in. Works every time.

I just withhold sex until she gives in. Works every time.
:beer: :roflmao:
I would be walking for fitness!!!!:D

after a litttle negotiating, I think I can make this happen. With an $800 budget from our acct, some extra from the OT I am working this week, thorow in some of my "back of the wallet" money;) and we're there! the pump, patch kit, and other extras are already taken care of, so I should be good on that budget.

Hope to make it to RBM this Sat. It looks like they are doing some cool stuff up there. By the way, I think her main resistance was due to the fact that I picked the wrong week to talk about spending 1k, If ya know what I mean.

Thanks for the input guys

Chris

What kind of car does she drive? Why not a Kia instead? ;) It's difference in quality of materials and how it's put together.
Careful there fella, we just bought a brand new top-of-the-line Kia Sedona minivan. Compared to the Toyota Sienna it replaced, it gives up little in quality and craftmanship. All I did to convince the wife was show her the more than $8000 in savings vs. a comparably equipped Sienna or Oddessy, and the other car in our driveway - a '99 Hyundai Sonata that I've driven for the past 8yrs with very little trouble. And it's still under warranty!

Likewise, when we first went shopping for bikes, I showed her the ritzy Trek and Specialized shops - along with their pricetags. Then we walked into the comparatively spartan Cycle Spectrum and the Motobecane/Mercier/Bottechia that sells for hundres less than comparably equipped name brands. True, just as with the Kias and Hyundais, many here on BF would not be caught dead on these bikes. But if you can stomach the occasional sneering and the jokes from the pundits, you have much to gain by shopping substance - not emblem.

Oh, another thing you could try to convince her: stop by the local health club. If you can somehow both escape without being sucked in by the high pressure sales tactics into signing up, work out the numbers and see how much cash you'd be sweating out at the gym. With a bike, you pay once and you still get to use it after a yr. And your wife wouldn't have to worry about you flirting with the tight young thang at the treadmill.

First of all..Don't compromise which bike solely based on a few hundred dollars. YES I believe that the jump from the two shimano groups IS a big difference.Speaking for myself ; the lack of Ultegra equipt bikes kinda compelled ME to go to the next level of bike. I liked the 105 equipt bike I saw(Jamis).I've owned Dura Ace so...
having to go with a mix of carbon ,other reasons too, put me off.I pushed and got better..NUFF about THAT!!
THE WIFE :
How much did the last 5 pocketbooks that she bought cost ???
...... ... . . What's it cost to go -out on the town (or HER girl's night out) ??
..... ... ........ .. buy the last piece of jewlery (NO fuction AT ALL)
lastly.. take an inventory on her footware... sure it's valued TEN times HIGHER than yours

Careful there fella, we just bought a brand new top-of-the-line Kia Sedona minivan.

didya notice the ;) ?

(for the record, I've rented Kias and they're surprising little cars. Why a 'luxury' model doesn't have power windows I'll never know, but they're more fun to drive than one might think)

Speaking from the female perspective: the health aspects and savings on biking for X years compared to a gym club membership would sway me. My husband doesn't spend money on lots of toys, so when he wanted to buy an exercise bike last year, I didn't object. Now, I ride the bike more than he does and just ordered a cruiser bike so I can tour the neighborhoods. As long as you're not going into debt or deeper in debt, seems like a good investment in your future for husbanding.

Buy a tandem and you can enjoy the ride TWOgether!

Try this- " I think I am going to get a new bike, I have narrowed it down to two bikes. A Trek 1600, and a Harley. Which one do YOU WANT ME TO GET?" Your welcome

Last summer I dusted off my 1960's ten speed and began riding regularly again. My wife was pleased to see me getting some regular exercise. My weight went from 224 to about 212 after a few months. She liked that, too, and began telling me I ought to shop for a new bike. I protested that I finally had my old bike equipped the way I liked it. Finally, I gave in to her and bought a new bike. That is the origin of my screen name. But, I must say, I was the one with the sticker shock. Were I to do it all over now, I might have spent a few hundred more dollars. Still, I am very pleased with my new bike (Specialized Allez Sport Triple). I do still ride the old bike, too.

I'd swear I've seen this posted...ahhh no no..too freaky,even the responces are the same as before..Oh WAIT a minute, threads can be resurrected and/or you STILL didn't get a bike yet dude? Look at the dates y'all.. the OP was two bikes ago for me !!

/\/\ old and new...this thread is just over a month old. Most people don't purchase a new bike each month. If the expense isn't too great, it would be the demand on storage space at home.

Ride it to work. You'll have paid for it within 6 months.

Sorry, should have posted the end result here before starting a new thread, but yes, I did get my new bike on March 30th at RBM. I decided upon the Trek 1500 w/ultegra front and rear. I have been putting many miles on it, although work is putting the crimp on that the last two weeks. Gotta work less and ride more!

Again, thanks for all the input!

Chris

She is really confused why a base level "10 speed" (her words) can start at $700.
I have explained about fit, comfort, and the components (carbon fork etc) but it makes her head spin.



The difference between a "base level 10 speed" (Sears Free Spirit circa 1974) and a base level Al/CF combo road bike (Trek 1000 msrp $710) is the same difference as a 1973 Ford Maverick and a 2007 Camry....I mean...they just ain't the same.