I went into my LBS this spring for a new CO2 cartridge and walked out with a new Bianchi.

Like you, it was a close out of last years model and so it was on sale.

You know, these thing just happen......

MMMMM--Yep. Didn't even go into the shop to buy anything. Went in to get out of the weather. 5 months earlier I had bought Boreas and kept the OCR as the foul weather bike. Rode the OCR that day as it was foul weather and after Boreas- It was hard work. Chatting in the shop and he mentioned that he could do a good deal on a Giant MTB. I told him that if I was going to get a new bike it would be a road bike to replace the OCR as it was not up to the standard of Boreas.

20 minutes later and I had a TCR-C ordered in my size and I was sorting the extras.

I have learnt now and I don't go to the LBS much. I can't afford it and with N+1 bought in February in the form of a cheap Pinarello--I have bikes enough for a few years.

I don't have that problem as my LBS caters to a college crowd and therefore carries lower priced stock. Some good deals at times, but not on anything I really want. But they've both been in the business for decades and appreciate my 81 Team Pro.

Yes I agree about the garden was my wife's passion for a while..
She was diagnosed with bowel cancer 2 years ago and lost interest, now she likes casual bike rides with me on week ends and she's a social media junky has lots of people she chats with in similar situation like hers
What ever helps her :)
Bike ridding has Become abit of a release for me helps me sort out my situation with her ..
She is cancer free at the moment which is good...

No the standard seat had to much padding as was to flexible ,sitting on it and it would sag in the middle and put perennial pressure.
Put the Selle Royal seat off my other bike on now, much better and the white leather seat looks great
,

On that saddle--[I]f ypou have replacred it with something that is comfortable then no problem but going from and upright bike to a Road bike does- Or can- Cause a few saddle problems. I had the reverse in that I always had some pain on the MTB but that was cured when I went road.

Nice bike but get the wheels detensioned and retrued shortly. These are better than the average OM wheel but were machine built. Hand rebuilding by a good wheel "Smith" will work wonders.

Thanks stapfam for the info on the wheels.
The first time I rode the bike they pinged and twanged i thought they where going to break and now I have noticed they are slightly out of true.
I will mention it to the bike shop when it goes back for its first free service..

I see your a Spike Milligan fan.
His Mum used to live just around the corner from my Grand parent In WOY WOY...

Me too. Happy Miles and all the best to you and spouse

I think your original question was about impulse buying a lovely bike with no previous plan to do so.

Personally, no. I research to the point of obsession.

However, I once gave 2 hours and a cup of tea to a thief who described himself as an independent financial advisor. Could have had a lot of fun flouncing around uninformed bike purchases instead... I'd have a warehouse full

I'm sure yours will be great

Will try and get some better pics up later today.
Sorry for my ignorance or maybe its the newbie status.
But what is N+1 everyone keeps referring to..

Some pictures I snapped before work this morning
Had trouble posting them so just put up a link

http://i1075.photobucket.com/albums/w430/vschippy/Bike%20pics/file_zps0aa449d7.jpg
http://i1075.photobucket.com/albums/...psf621fdaf.jpg
http://i1075.photobucket.com/albums/...psbfa000cd.jpg
http://i1075.photobucket.com/albums/...psf21d0dea.jpg

Helped you out and made them show in my reply.

http://i1075.photobucket.com/albums/...ps0aa449d7.jpg


http://i1075.photobucket.com/albums/...psf621fdaf.jpg


http://i1075.photobucket.com/albums/...psbfa000cd.jpg


http://i1075.photobucket.com/albums/...psf21d0dea.jpg

Thanks Bikey Mikey
Must learn how to do that.
Kept telling me wrong format

A little over a year ago, I went to my LBS for some chain lube (truly). They didn't have the brand I wanted, but they did happen to have nice road bike (Cannondale) that was in my size and had the component group I was looking for. It was marked down a couple hundred bucks as part of an end of season sale. It seemed like the right bike at the right time. The main difference between our stories is that I went home and did some reading and thinking before I went back and got the bike, which I did a few days later. I consider getting that bike one of the best purchases I've made in many years. Changed my life actually..

I had been looking at entry level road bikes Felt ,Specialised ,fuji and giant defy 3 all around the $950 to $1,000 dollar mark all with Sora components.
So when i saw the Defy 1 on special in the price range i was after i grabbed it ...

Ha! That's why I wouldn't even ride a new bike when shopping for my wife. We got her a closeout Paramount with Ultegra for US$999 and I was tickled. Salesman tried to get me on a suitable 60cm and I said NO WAY. I knew it'd cost me. Luckily I held myself to a patch kit for my 30 year old steelie. I don't even want to know how good they are today. Can't afford to.

Nice bike BTW!

Well I have done 120 klm this week
Must say Im enjoying the new bike.
Did 60k ride yesterday around the local lake yesterday and knocked 23min off my previous best time on my Hybrid...

From a proponent of N+0:

The ironic thing is that had you bought the chain lube and used it on your then-current bike, you may have realized that you didn't really need an n+1. As I keep saying, before you test ride a new bike, replace the chain on your current one. It will ride so much better that you will decide you don't really need another one.

That said, it sounds like your n+1 gives you far more than a more responsive drivetrain, especially if "n" was part of a "his & hers" set. So I have to admit that in this case, the purchase was not only warranted, it was well-deserved! Sounds like you're already getting good use out of it, and that's the important thing.

Luis

I just replaced the chain on my bike after realizing I had put 6300 miles on the chain that was original equipment(bought the bike around mid March of this year, 2012. I also ended up replacing the RD cable when we found that it was only being shifted and held together with 3 strands of the wires for the whole cable at the Brifter.

[QUOTE=lhbernhardt;14958833]From a proponent of N+0:

The ironic thing is that had you bought the chain lube and used it on your then-current bike, you may have realized that you didn't really need an n+1. As I keep saying, before you test ride a new bike, replace the chain on your current one. It will ride so much better that you will decide you don't really need another one.

That said, it sounds like your n+1 gives you far more than a more responsive drivetrain, especially if "n" was part of a "his & hers" set. So I have to admit that in this case, the purchase was not only warranted, it was well-deserved! Sounds like you're already getting good use out of it, and that's the important thing.

Luis[/QUOTE

Yes Louis
The first Bikes where really an impulse buy as well, not really well thought out .
We just went on the advise of the lady in the bike shop.Being first bikes in 20 years.
Not knowing then that I would enjoy riding so much.
Did another 40ks today didn't mean to was just going out to water the plants at the in-laws 5ks away.LOL
Was a bit windy on the coast so headed in land to the hills.
Was doing a few hill climbs where I met a really nice fellow from the local touring bike club .
I stopped for a drink at the top of a steep climb and he stopped as well.
He said he'd been watching me the last couple of klm struggling up the hill.
Offered some advise, then he did a quick road side bike fit for me, moved my seat forward and then up .
What a difference it made climbing hills.Now i don't feel so cramped on the bike..

Thanks for the laugh, sounds like something I would do. And now that I think about it, I'm rather planning on geting my first good professional bike fit this coming spring, I'll have to see if they sell Colnago bikes.

Took mine in for a tuneup, and came out with two bikes! But neither for me - Giant Escapes for the newlywed kids. Just can't get into that wedding registry stuff...

Well i must say I've been a bit slow in posting lately.
I have been really happy with the Giant defy1 with over 2500klm on it now .
Completed my first metric century last week end felt really comfortable on the bike

Once, I went to the LBS for some parts. He was good about getting me obscure parts that needed to be ordered. He had a used 10 speed road bike out back, he didn't know what condition it was in but wanted $25 for it. Mostly I bought it as a way to thank him for good service and ensure more good service, but it was also a good beater bike. It was covered in desert dust from being outside so long. But with air in the tires and liberal applications of WD-40 it was running fine. It was a Le Prix; Korean I believe. But it was also notably lighter than my other 10 speeds.

Another time, two days before Christmas, I went by a garage sale and talked the seller out of a little girl's bike for 10 bucks. The next day I took it down to Recycle Bikes for Kids and helped them load it into the last load of Christmas bikes that they were giving to kids.

Other than that, I've never bought a bike without previously intending to buy one. My latest bike I purchased when I was 1700 miles from the LBS. I had done a test ride months earlier and he wanted to move it. We sealed the deal via email and it was ready for me when I returned from my trip.