You guys are all just a bunch of enablers. Bad Bad Bad
Anyway, I'm pretty excited... Yesterday was Mrs S' birthday and a nice one it was especially when she told me over brunch that next weekend she wanted to go out and look for a bike :D She's never been a very accomplished rider and truth be told she's pretty skittish about being on a bike bur she's a plucky lass and is ready to get back on the horse.
She saw one of these http://www.giant-bicycles.com/_generated/_generated_us/bikes/models/images/225/2008/TranSend-EX-W-Gold-Anthraci.jpg at the ToC LifeStyle (gawd, I hate that word) Festival and while it might not be my cup o' tea I'm not gonna be the one riding it.
So, I told her we could go to the shop -right next to Golden Gate Park which they close to motor traffic on Sundays- and I'd find a bike to take out with her so I could answer any questions and just lend general moral support ("You can do it...yeah! That's it! You've got it. Ride! Ride!"). I figure, since I've never ridden a carbon frame, I'd give that a shot but I'm afraid... what if I get smitten? She says I could always trade one in but I'm not ready to let go of the LeMond just yet (heck, I only have 1700+ miles on it). Help me. Help meeeeee....
BSLeVan
03-03-08, 09:37 AM
Recent research shows that multi-bike families are happier, healthier families. AND... that the more bikes a single individual owns and rides, the chances that a high quality of life will ensue, simply skyrocket. (Well, I don't know if such research really exists, but it's the story I'm putting together prior to talking with my wife about my next bike.);)
Monoborracho
03-03-08, 09:43 AM
Coincidentally, yesterday was Mrs. Mono's birthday (Texas Independence Day). I had a suprise lunch for her and two of her four boys came home. I gave her one of these for her purple/lavender CypressDX.
Monoborracho
03-03-08, 09:50 AM
Recent research shows that multi-bike families are happier, healthier families. AND... that the more bikes a single individual owns and rides, the chances that a high quality of life will ensue, simply skyrocket. (Well, I don't know if such research really exists, but it's the story I'm putting together prior to talking with my wife about my next bike.);)
Let me know how it works out for you.
BluesDawg
03-03-08, 10:29 AM
Good going, SKT. :beer:
I strongly advise you not to try the carbon bike unless you are ready to buy one. On the other hand, I strongly advise you to go ahead and try one. :rolleyes:
oilman_15106
03-03-08, 10:32 AM
Are you telling me the economy isn't going to heck in a handbasket? Someone is actually spending money?
SaiKaiTai
03-03-08, 11:03 AM
Good going, SKT. :beer:
I strongly advise you not to try the carbon bike unless you are ready to buy one. On the other hand, I strongly advise you to go ahead and try one. :rolleyes:
I might make a rider out her yet!
I guess, even if I *do* like it (and I'm sure I will...drat!) my innate distrust of CF's long-term structural integrity will keep me in check. It says here, anyway...
TruF
03-03-08, 01:10 PM
The Roubaix/Ruby is like smooth butter to ride. I recommend at least taking one out for a spin. But you'll be leaving your wife and her cruiser in the dust if you aren't careful! She'll still be near the Panhandle. You'll be at the windmill. ;)
SaiKaiTai
03-03-08, 01:23 PM
The Roubaix/Ruby is like smooth butter to ride. I recommend at least taking one out for a spin. But you'll be leaving your wife and her cruiser in the dust if you aren't careful! She'll still be near the Panhandle. You'll be at the windmill. ;)
Hm... yeah and this is already kind of a problem :lol:
maddmaxx
03-03-08, 01:42 PM
There will be days where you just cruise next to her at her speed having a plesant conversation.....................is that so bad.
SaiKaiTai
03-03-08, 01:45 PM
There will be days where you just cruise next to her at her speed having a plesant conversation.....................is that so bad.
On, certainly not... not at all. I dare say I rather look forward to it
Terrierman
03-03-08, 02:14 PM
On, certainly not... not at all. I dare say I rather look forward to it
Oh sure it sounds good enough, at least on the surface. Then when you fall over because you are going too slow and your mind was wandering because you were yakking along paying attention to her instead of paying attention to your riding, and you scrape your knee on the concrete, and get the ebola infection and die a horrid painful death, melting into your bed, just remember you were warned by your good friends on BF.:eek:
tsl
03-03-08, 02:30 PM
First, congrats to those with new rides. Having purchased three new bikes in the past 24 months, I know the feeling.
Although I've bought bikes like clockwork every nine months, making me due for another in May, I won't be joining you this year. Even the perfect excuse of N-1 by having had one stolen from the basement in January isn't going to do it.
I like my two remaining bikes just fine, so there's no compelling need to upgrade. And this year I need new glasses (multiple sets too), I'm planning four trips in the summer, and my PC could use some TLC (if not outright replacement.)
But I still check Craig's List a couple of times a day...
tsl
03-03-08, 02:31 PM
... and get the ebola infection and die a horrid painful death, melting into your bed ...
Oh dear. DG's catastrophic thinking is contagious!
BluesDawg
03-03-08, 02:32 PM
The great thing is if she's riding as fast as she can go and you are easing along to stay with her, she'll be too winded to talk and you can get a word in! ;) - guess I'd better duck now. :rolleyes:
Tom Bombadil
03-03-08, 03:55 PM
Just think of how many times you could circle her ... and give her "the look" each time you pass.
TruF
03-03-08, 07:03 PM
Hm... yeah and this is already kind of a problem :lol:
Have you ever thought of getting a tandem?
Wildwood
03-03-08, 07:22 PM
...my innate distrust of CF's long-term structural integrity will keep me in check. It says here, anyway...
My 2000 Calfee has maybe 20,000 mi and a couple of crashes and it is still going just fine. The crashes were actually rather minor. I did replace the original carbon fork.
Yen
03-03-08, 08:21 PM
The Roubaix/Ruby is like smooth butter to ride. I recommend at least taking one out for a spin. But you'll be leaving your wife and her cruiser in the dust if you aren't careful! She'll still be near the Panhandle. You'll be at the windmill. ;)
I'll second that! :)
Hey I think it's great that she wants to get a bike of her own. I hope the two of you will enjoy lots of miles together.
Tom Bombadil
03-03-08, 08:36 PM
I've been trying to get my wife interested in riding for 18 months now. Would buy her a new bike in a flash if she wanted it.
specbill
03-03-08, 09:09 PM
+1 on the Tandem...it absolutely solves all speed differential challenges in a relationship...and is big fun to boot!
Bill J.
SaiKaiTai
03-03-08, 10:08 PM
Have you ever thought of getting a tandem?
Actually, yes, we have discussed it.
BluesDawg
03-03-08, 10:16 PM
Taking a tandem up that hill near the start of your rides should be, uh, interesting. ;)
SaiKaiTai
03-03-08, 10:30 PM
Taking a tandem up that hill near the start of your rides should be, uh, interesting. ;)
Yeah, even worse, that hill comes at the end. The beginning is all downhill :D
There is a shared interest in a tandem and a former co-worker has offered to loan his to us to try it out
But not for a "first" bike... maybe after she gets some miles under her belt.
wobblyoldgeezer
03-04-08, 09:44 AM
Yeah, even worse, that hill comes at the end. The beginning is all downhill :D
There is a shared interest in a tandem and a former co-worker has offered to loan his to us to try it out
But not for a "first" bike... maybe after she gets some miles under her belt.
I think you're quite right here.
If your SO has an interest in any kind of a bike, then my uninformed and unasked for advice would be to start from where she's at. Maybe get her a few trial rides on bikes with a similar geometry but a slightly brisker performance than the cruiser (my SO loves her Trek 7.5) - but the starting point has to be 'I like cycling' rather than the enthusiast's statement of 'This is great, try this'
Tandems, at whatever level, are a bit hard core. Folk call them 'amplifiers'. If you like each other and you both like cycling, then the experience will turn up the amplifier to 11. If not.....
As you say, enjoyable single bike miles at a speed and distance that she chooses, so the decision is to try a bit more next time, possibly coupled with an expression of 'why'd we turn back already?', is a wonderful and fun achievement. And, incidentally, that spirit is absolutely necessary if you want your SO to help you get a long bike (tandem) home!
Enjoyable, social, fun biking first. Tandems second. Forgive me for unasked-for opinions - well meant.
wobblyoldgeezer
03-04-08, 09:55 AM
Yeah, even worse, that hill comes at the end. The beginning is all downhill :D
There is a shared interest in a tandem and a former co-worker has offered to loan his to us to try it out
But not for a "first" bike... maybe after she gets some miles under her belt.
I think you're quite right here.
If your SO has an interest in any kind of a bike, then my uninformed and unasked for advice would be to start from where she's at. Maybe get her a few trial rides on bikes with a similar geometry but a slightly brisker performance than the cruiser (my SO loves her Trek 7.5) - but the starting point has to be 'I like cycling' rather than the enthusiast's statement of 'This is great, try this'
Tandems, at whatever level, are a bit hard core. Folk call them 'amplifiers'. If you like each other and you both like cycling, then the experience will turn up the amplifier to 11. If not.....
As you say, enjoyable single bike miles at a speed and distance that she chooses, so the decision is to try a bit more next time, possibly coupled with an expression of 'why'd we turn back already?', is a wonderful and fun achievement. And, incidentally, that spirit is absolutely necessary if you want your SO to help you get a long bike (tandem) home!
Enjoyable, social, fun biking first. Tandems second. Forgive me for unasked-for opinions - well meant.