General Cycling Discussion - Talking my wife out of a race bike.

I have been cycling/commuting for about a year now on a junky cheap trek hybrid. I will soon be having my lbs build up a do-all road bike on a cross-check frame because I really really like the versatility of the frame and the almost infinite things you can do with it. My wife has gotten into cycling with me in recent weeks and I've finally interested her in a road geometry bicycle. The problem is that she's become smitten with a Giant Avail 1 race bike and is very adamant about purchasing that bike. Currently she claims she has no need for hauling extra gear or anything like that, and enjoys how light and agile the frame is. The bike admittedly is very light and she's probably going to smoke me after i finish dorking out the cross-check with racks/fenders/etc. My concern is that she's going to get the bike and a few months down the road, her thoughts will change on what functions her bike should perform, and the avail will be inadequate for these additional functions.

Should I just leave her alone and get the race bike since she likes it so much and claims to feel comfortable riding it? Or should I slow down this process and try get her butt in some utility road bike saddles to feel out the differences? FYI she has absolutely zero intention of ever racing (her words) and maybe would be interested in doing charity rides or centuries in the future. Any thoughts from others who have successfully "talked their wives off the ledge"? :D

Thanks!

EDIT: After lots of feedback from more seasoned married men and a very good point that the Avail isn't technically a race bike, but more specifically an endurance bike, I've decided to back off and get her on the bike she wants. Thanks so much for all the colorful input!

Lighter race bikes are nimble and fun.

Let her have her fun.

I'd be happy if my wife would ride any bike. Are you worried that she will get tired of it and stop riding at all, or just about the money that would be wasted if she changed her mind about what bike she wants? Because most likely she would want to keep the light bike even if she gets something more practical.

>.> I don't think you'll like my input. I say let her get the bike! What are the odds she's not going to love a light fast performing race bike? And if she does decide she wants a utility bike later, why not n+1 for her too? :D

Likewise, I think trying to talk her out of it is a bad idea. Racing bikes are a lot of fun, and you can always find a cheap old bike to turn into a cargo hauler later.

You are screwed.

Well, the point with my direction for a bike build is that i COULD with a few different wheelsets change the bike from a commuter, to a racer, to light offroad machine. The versatility is appealing to me currently, although I don't know offhand how often i would be changing my bike's personality. I guess part of me feels like i'm making a practical decision while she's making an emotional one. But maybe i'm making the emotional one...

Well, the point with my direction for a bike build is that i COULD with a few different wheelsets change the bike from a commuter, to a racer, to light offroad machine. The versatility is appealing to me currently, although I don't know offhand how often i would be changing my bike's personality. I guess part of me feels like i'm making a practical decision while she's making an emotional one. But maybe i'm making the emotional one...
You are. And I can relate. I have a little green centurion.. it's on incarnation number 12 or something like that right now. Other then frames like your current build, most frames only do 1 thing well... so 2 bikes is often a better route if you can afford it. These are just my opinions though.

The only aspect of a racing bike I'd caution someone about is the thing I rejected for myself (and if I were rich I would have bought anyway).

When I was shopping one bike I tested was a Diamond Back steel framed true racing bike. It was great, handled beautifully. I could make it do what I wanted. BUT at that point I was a pretty good water skier and it reminded me a lot of a very responsive ski. Loads of fun when yuo wanted performance, but yuo always had ot be alert becaseu it was so responsive.

That bike would have been great for shot rides, meaning under 25 miles when I bought it and probably under 60 at my peak. But for really long rides it wouild have required a lot of attention.

The bke I got is still a racing bike, just not at the extreme of responsiveness.

I still would not try to talk anyone out of an overly responsive bike, jsut make them aware that what is fun for a test ride may not be fun for a long ride.

My only thought is if she's not racing with it, she may eventually decide the gearing is too high on a pure racing machine. What's the gearing like? Something geared as what is called a "club rider" or "sport touring" bike might be perfect. Fast and fun, but still comfortable for long rides.

My only thought is if she's not racing with it, she may eventually decide the gearing is too high on a pure racing machine. What's the gearing like? Something geared as what is called a "club rider" or "sport touring" bike might be perfect. Fast and fun, but still comfortable for long rides.

Good point. But at any decent bike shop she can get that at little to no cost if she asks at the time of purchase.

My only thought is if she's not racing with it, she may eventually decide the gearing is too high on a pure racing machine. What's the gearing like? Something geared as what is called a "club rider" or "sport touring" bike might be perfect. Fast and fun, but still comfortable for long rides.

here's the bike she's liking. it's a 34/50 crankset with 12x30 10 speed cassette.

Great feedback and discusion! this community is so awesome!

Two things come to mind. 1. If you have been married very long by now you should know the answer to your question. If she isn't happy you will not be happy. :lol:
2. You should read Erma Bombeck. I think it was in her book, "The Grass is always greener over the Septic Tank" she talks about her husband buying her a car. She stated that what he bought reprsented how he felt about her. A good solid practical car meant he thought of her as good, solid and practical or in an un-romantic way. But if a man were loking for a car to get his mistress it would be a sexy sports car. Something with curves and style. Think before you object too strongly to the image she may be looking for.:D

I have been cycling/commuting for about a year now on a junky cheap trek hybrid. I will soon be having my lbs build up a do-all road bike on a cross-check frame because I really really like the versatility of the frame and the almost infinite things you can do with it. My wife has gotten into cycling with me in recent weeks and I've finally interested her in a road geometry bicycle. The problem is that she's become smitten with a Giant Avail 1 race bike and is very adamant about purchasing that bike. Currently she claims she has no need for hauling extra gear or anything like that, and enjoys how light and agile the frame is. The bike admittedly is very light and she's probably going to smoke me after i finish dorking out the cross-check with racks/fenders/etc. My concern is that she's going to get the bike and a few months down the road, her thoughts will change on what functions her bike should perform, and the avail will be inadequate for these additional functions.

Should I just leave her alone and get the race bike since she likes it so much and claims to feel comfortable riding it? Or should I slow down this process and try get her butt in some utility road bike saddles to feel out the differences? FYI she has absolutely zero intention of ever racing (her words) and maybe would be interested in doing charity rides or centuries in the future. Any thoughts from others who have successfully "talked their wives off the ledge"? :D

Thanks!

Sometimes you just have to smile and say "Honey, I love you get the bike YOU want" and let it go at that.

IMO this is one of those times.

Will she have to ride hunched over on that racing bike? A lot of women like to ride upright.

Sometimes you just have to smile and say "Honey, I love you get the bike YOU want" and let it go at that.

IMO this is one of those times.

I'm just getting back into riding after a several year break, after a lot of years of race geometries I decided to try out of the more relaxed "comfort or endurance" geometries. They are still light and responsive but smooth out the road a bit and put you in a more up right position. If she is locked into Giant she may want to look at the Defy.

In the end I would go with her choice, over all you want her happy and riding.

The worst purchase decision would be a bike that hangs in the garage and never gets ridden.

I'm thinking she will be much more likely to ride and enjoy a bike that she has chosen for herself rather than a bike that you picked out for her.

She likes the bike and that will make her want to ride it. Seems you are the one wanting to change the function of what her bike will do later down the road, not her.

She's the one riding it. Let her have her fun. Your influence is just something she will use against you at a later time.

I've been trying to talk my wife into a race bike. Besides, there's always N+1.

The Avail is the Women's version of the Defy. Let her get the bike she wants. My wife wanted something sportier than her old Sirrus. She has a Madone 4.7 now, and couldn't be happier.

... The bike admittedly is very light and she's probably going to smoke me after i finish dorking out the cross-check with racks/fenders/etc.

Hehe, be honest - this is your main concern, neh?

The Avail isn't a race bike - it's an endurance bike. With a compact double, 12-30 in the back, and relaxed geometry, it's a fantastic choice for a new cyclist.

Fall in love with cycling first, worry about the details later. ^_^b

I rode a hybrid once and it was an awful experience. I have a couple "race bikes" and they are so much more fun to ride. Some people don't want racks and fenders and all that stuff. Plus if you ride with your wife you get to experience the fun of carrying everything she needs. :p

So you want to talk your wife out of something she clearly wants. Two questions:

1) How long have you been married?
2) How much longer do you plan to be married?

Hehe, be honest - this is your main concern, neh?

The Avail isn't a race bike - it's an endurance bike. With a compact double, 12-30 in the back, and relaxed geometry, it's a fantastic choice for a new cyclist.

Fall in love with cycling first, worry about the details later. ^_^b

Dang, you seem spot on. I looked it up.

Cancell my earlier post about true nimble racing bikes. This on is a couple of steps farther away from a real racing bike than my choice over an overy responsive racing bike.

So you want to talk your wife out of something she clearly wants. Two questions:

1) How long have you been married?
2) How much longer do you plan to be married?
If she ain't happy, you won't be happy. If your on the couch, it is too late.;)

Alright alright, you guys have convinced me that happy wife = happy life in this regard. Just to provide some perspective so everyone doesn't think i'm some oppressive a-hole.


Last Sunday we went for a good long hike and talked about what bike she would want. she was VERY adamant about wanting a straightbar city bike b/c she loved the first thing she test-rode, the Orbea Carpe H40. I was also adamant about her at least TRYING a drop bar bike before jumping on the first bike she liked, to which she was extraordinarily defiant. I wasn't trying to get her to buy one sight unseen, that would be foolish, just a "don't knock it until you try it sort of mentality". It took 3 road bikes and about 15 minutes of riding, but she eventually got comfortable in the drops and on the hoods and loved the avail she was riding at the time, and now really wants and prefers a road geometry. she since has taken it for another test ride and loves it and isn't interested in trying much else. So, my point in my OP was that she hasn't really spent the time to find out what she really wants, and just kind of continues to like the next thing she tries, as soon as i prod her enough to try it. I think that I should cut my losses and get her the bike she wants. The last thing I want to do is drop the money and it not get ridden. Thanks so much everyone!

She's tried a few, she likes it, just buy it! There is such a thing as over shopping. ;)

I likes the color of this one.

http://www.giant-bicycles.com/_generated/_generated_us/bikes/models/images/550/Avail_5_triple.jpg (http://www.giant-bicycles.com/_generated/_generated_us/bikes/models/images/2000/Avail_5_triple.jpg)

Dang, you seem spot on. I looked it up.

Cancell my earlier post about true nimble racing bikes. This on is a couple of steps farther away from a real racing bike than my choice over an overy responsive racing bike.

Sorry, you're right. I don't know what i'm talking about half the time. I guess I put it in the "race" category since it appears to be a unitasker designed to be light and fast, without much utility. this was an incorrect assumption that led me to mislabel the bike. Thanks for edumacating me!

Dang, you seem spot on. I looked it up.

Cancell my earlier post about true nimble racing bikes. This on is a couple of steps farther away from a real racing bike than my choice over an overy responsive racing bike.

Is this because it is for a woman?:innocent:

.....EDIT: After lots of feedback from more seasoned married men and a very good point that the Avail isn't technically a race bike, but more specifically an endurance bike, I've decided to back off and get her on the bike she wants. Thanks so much for all the colorful input!

There's 4 words every married man needs to know: Yes dear Oh-Bay.

I congratulate you on your wisdom.

Watch out for this Avail recall:

http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-US/landingpages/2012AdvancedRecall/

@ Keith,

Who is that in your Avatar?

I believe it is important to let people be and do what they want. America=freedom.

So you want to talk your wife out of something she clearly wants. Two questions:

1) How long have you been married?
2) How much longer do you plan to be married?

:roflmao2::roflmao2::roflmao2::roflmao2::lol::lol::lol::lol::love: