Fifty Plus (50+) - N+1... for wife??!!??!!

I though it was us old guys who did the "N+1" thing. But...

I innocently took my wife to the City to "check out" some bikes (she said). After a mere four stores she started to kinda sorta consider the Surly Cross-Check, a cool steel cyclocross bike. She has a road bike, and a mountain/commuter bike, so this was all just in good fun.

But, hey, they had her size, and were willing to ship it to a closer store if she called them after she'd thought about it a while.

But, well, after a parking lot ride, and, lunch and, well, what do you know, there we were anyway.....

So this will become her commuter bike, and her current commuter bike with transmogrify back to the mountain bike she's been missing.

I guess I'll be working on my fender, computer, rack, seat bag, pump and pedal adding skills soon.

How will she adjust to bar end shifters? Will she actually be willing to add a bunch of junk to her now-clean bike? Will she miss her triple chain rings? We'll see, and of course, obsessively post about it.

In any case, it is one sharp looking bike. Those steel tubes look so thin and retro after looking at rocket carbon fiber so long.

It's indoors, parked by the Christmas tree, looking all happy with it's new owner.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3106/3160948531_cec250dc7d.jpg

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/242/3161784578_95aee89699.jpg

Why is your daughter posing with the bike ?

So the new formula is (N+1) + (N+1)

Why is your daughter posing with the bike ?

No lie! Attractive woman, clearly very happy on her bike!!!

Road Fan

Sweet picture.....and the bike isn't bad, either. Interesting how steel is making a stealthy resurgence around here-- perhaps the first gentle ripples of an oncoming flood?

So the new formula is (N+1) + (N+1)

Maybe, in steel, as Velo Fellow suggests.

I have my old 70's Gitane/frankenbike that I've been inspired to renovate. So maybe it's more like (N+1) + (N+.5) for now.

Yeah, another Surly! There's nothing like a shiny new bike. Surlys are fun to accessorize. She'll probably want another saddle fairly soon... most new Surly owners do.

Yeah, another Surly! There's nothing like a shiny new bike. Surlys are fun to accessorize. She'll probably want another saddle fairly soon... most new Surly owners do.

It'll be interesting to see what she wants changed after a bit.
I know there are a ton of things I'd change, but it's her ride, so I will wait until commanded, then leap into Bicycle Boy action.

Whoa! N+1 wives?!?!

Be very careful there cccorlew.

That's a nice lookin' bike. I like it's simple lines and subdued decals

As a dedicated Serial Monogamist (12 years and counting), I very much subscribe to the N+1 dictum.

But, not as wives. :eek: ;)

You guys are going to get me hurt.
It's her BIKES darn it.

What possible upgrade could I have any way? I'm already outta my league, and adding on?
As the song goes:
"I ain't too old to cut the mustard, I'm just too old to spread it around."

I'm glad I read the post..........from the title I really thought your were moving to Texas.

N+1 is an x-linked trait.
The CrossCheck is a very nice ride; have ridden mine several thousand km in all sorts of conditions.
Sadly- my teenage son now claims it for his campus ride. So I'm spec'ing (if that is a word) a new steel framed bike. Back to the CrossCheck- would suggest a couple of preemptive modifications. Replace the brake pads with something softer- like salmon kool stops. Will greatly improve her stopping. Also keep a close eye on wheel alignment- have had to tweak mine frequently [I'm heavy and ride on a lot of dirt roads]. The stock saddle was not a prize and different tires will make it feel a lot more like a road bike.

Now look at this logically. You took time out of your busy schedule to take the wife out to look at some bikes. We all know how much fun it is to go window shopping and enable you to keep up with the latest trends in the cycling world. But I am afraid your wife has committed the cardinal sin for a woman. I bet there are a lot more than 4 bike shops in the city and she didn't look at all of them.

I would not mind betting that she had eliminated the rest because of research on the net showing her where the bikes she intended to look at were only carried at 4 shops.

But then what were you thinking of by going with her? Didn't you realise what her intentions were all Along? And how much did you resist the pleas for the new bike?

From the time you left home you were doomed.

Just wish I could get by with that trick with my wife.

Mind you- No excuse now- your new bike is a certainty without any of the usual months of hinting that it is necessary.

Whoa! N+1 wives?!?!



So that's what N+1 is really about? Hmmm, the mind boggles!

But then what were you thinking of by going with her? Didn't you realise what her intentions were all Along? And how much did you resist the pleas for the new bike?

Pleas for a new bike? She didn't ask me for permission or money. She just picked it out and bought it. It was kinda fun to watch.

And because it was new, we put it in the car instead of on the rack.



Mind you- No excuse now- your new bike is a certainty without any of the usual months of hinting that it is necessary.

Actually, my project bike is already... in progress! I'm waiting on a wheel build.