qclabrat

Hi all,
thought we could share knowledge on how to procure and bring our new possessions home without being caught. I would love to be completely honest with the significant other on my bike collecting hobby, but being honest, wouldn't get me half my precious objects today.

The most basic thing I've learned is to have packages shipped to your workplace, safer in terms of stolen packages and you'll avoid the "what the hell is in that big box by the garage". There are many other tactics, but I'd like to hear others before sharing further.

Periodically, she counts my frames and knows I've fallen off the wagon, so I offer a truce by selling off 1-2, which allows funding towards another 2-3. I used to have an off site storage, but to me that's just going too far.

All in all, will be fun hearing how we spend just as much time hiding and managing our budgets/inventories instead of riding them.

xuwol7

Easy, just buy her a nice piece of jewelry and hold it in your left hand while you carry your N+1 in your right hand.
Women love shiny jewelry and it will cause such a distraction that she probably won't notice the bike in your right hand.

If that don't work the next time she counts your frames you simply count her shoe and purse collection.

basqueonacaad

Be kind to your significant other.

Corben

so sorry friend......hope you guys don't have any children. ....makes it so much harder.

Machka 

Each time you buy a new bicycle for yourself. Buy one for her. All our bicycles come in pairs.

Retro Grouch 

I think that you need to join a 12 step group.

findude

Get your measuring tape and document how many linear feet of clothes she has hanging in the closet(s). Then count the shoes. All of them. Share this information. Say nothing else. Nothing at all.

Fred Smedley

You never have to lie or not tell your wife about a new bike or part, just talk about bikes for 5-10 minutes , she will tune out , then slip in the info that your going to buy X or bought Y.

MichaelW

Always buy the same colour frame.

Fastfingaz

get the bike and tie a bow onto it and bring it inside and tell her it's for her! worked when I bought my new shot ***,,,,,,

Robert C

Uh. . . I have never had this problem. I would suggest giving her a hug, then smiling gleefully and saying, "its a new toy!" It might help to clap your hands together as you say this.

Something to remember, as much as you want to see her happy, she wants to see you happy too.

Vintage_Cyclist

Just keep the number of bikes fewer than the number of pairs of shoes she has.

bikemig 

That might leave me with N + 50 to go,

rydabent

retro

Twelve step plan. Gee to me that would mean 12 oppertunities to bring in a new bike!

linnefaulk

This reminds me of my mom and her addiction to coats. She would buy a new one and put it in the packed tight front hall closet. She wouldn't wear it for months. Then did wear it and my dad would ask if it was new. And my mom could honesty say it wasn't "new."

fietsbob

Put it in the basement?

qclabrat

Thanks all for the contributions

Yes, its an addiction and I'll seek professional help after the next one. As for the shoes, bags and clothes comparisons, its not going to work for much longer, as I'm approaching 30 bikes. Ironically, I have some explaining to do tonight, as I used the "wrong" credit card to pay for my last bike. Like some criminals, its those little details which tends to get them caught.

Storage is also becoming an issue. How are those with more than 10 bikes storing, maintaining, and rotating them? In the coming weeks, I'll start designing a new shed to house the bikes as the "idea" of a bicycle wing in the house has been reject. I still have one garage bay but loosing my basement to a game room.

qclabrat

nice, I'm sure I could learn some tactics from her....
I've often used, "that old frame, I've had it for years, just haven't built it up yet", or "I just stripped it and prepping it for a quick sale", or "that blue bike?, it used to be in the basement, but moved it into the garage to work on"

qclabrat

that tactic has actually worked sometimes, Jedi mind tricks are effective but you have the apply to the correct mood, otherwise lookout for even bringing it up....