My significant other (20 years) has dealt with my other habits, including marathoning, audio gear. She tolerates bikes pretty well, if not the time I spend in the garage instead of on "necessary" tasks... But, we have had our little discussions, often starting with hand on hip and ending with rolling eyes.

I can't be the only one.

1-I'm keeping them out landfills, so there's more room for styrofoam.
"...so now you're saving the planet?..what a load of methane!"

2-I just saw it lying there, maybe someone can use it.
"...yeah, but you won't use it, you'll just work on it and talk about it."

3-It's rare.
"....so is your riding mower, try resurrecting that."

4-They're for the children.
"so is discipline. Exercise some."

Some keys to keeping peace at home:

1. Flip enough bikes that the returns on flipping exceeds what you are keeping ("Its not a collection, its an investment!!!").

2. When you decide to keep a bike (addition to the fleet), have it replace something in the fleet to keep the fleet size managable. It was really easy for me to retire (flip) the Schwinn Criss Cross I had when I picked up my Colnago. I have upgraded all the bikes in my keeper fleet a couple of times each in the last year. As long as one moves out when one moves in, you are OK.

3. Buy some bikes that are NOT your size. This makes the flip decision much easier. Its a lot easier to let something go that does not fit.

I can relate. I almost got thrown out to sleep in the garage when I brought home a 1986 Centurion Elite RS last weekend. I just couldn't help myself... it was all original and needed a good home!

She's put up with my crap for 22 years... but we have an agreement. She loves old chairs... I like old bikes. I never complain when she stops to pick up old chairs beside the road... she never complains (well... not very much) when I bring home old bikes.

She just has a little trouble accepting the n+1 formula for calculating bicycle need levels...

Me: But it's Italian!
Her: Uh Huh

Me: But it's French!
Her: Uh Huh

Me: But it's Japanese!
Her: So is the TV.

Me: But it's English!
Her: Uh Huh

Me: But it's Swedish, and it was free!
Her: It looks like Sweden didn't want it anymore.

Me: But it's genuine built in the USA!
Her: Swell

Me: But it's Japanese built, but USA licensed and sold!
Her: Oh, well if it's that unique..............

Me: But it's Hand Built in England!
Her: Don't you already have one of those?
Me: But that one is a racer, this one is a Tourer!
Her: What are you, the UN?
Me: Don't be silly, more like NATO.
Her: Oh, so next you want a tank?
Me: Nah, that's what that Worksman over there is for.
Her: What? You brought home another bike!?!?
Me: :Hangs head:

I go a little bit farther on this. Since I've been " between jobs" since the end of March, I've been spending alot of my time rebuilding bikes for a friend and myself. I just flipped two Schwinns and sold them on CL. I kept half of the money for the hobby, gave my wife the other half. Being the practical one, she put the money towards bills. The thing is, she now actually helps me im my search for more bikes to flip.

1) My bike collection is my equivalent of a sports car collection (I only have one of those) at an infinitesimal fraction of the cost.

2) In the great order of things, this is nothing and a totally harmless activity. There are much worse pursuits, for example [fill in].

3) Until I cleaned out the third stall of the garage for bikes, it was simply a dumping ground for everyones' crap.

4) If you want to sit in the Man Cave, you can't complain about the bikes.

My lessons I learned on how to keep the peace:

1) Don't keep bikes in the living room
2) Out of sight=Out of mind
3) post flip spread the wealth
4) Always show her the before and after(after a couple she was kinda interested)
5) Always make a big deal of the ones she finds!

I only use one excuse anymore....

"Sorry Honey I couldn't help myself" (sheepishly grinning)

At our house...

Bikes=Barbies

We both have our weaknesses and FWIW I spent less and made more on playing with bikes last year than she did with her Barbie Collection

Aaron

This is always easy for me since I need jumbo sized bikes. If I were a more normal size it might be harder to decide whether or not to keep or flip a bike. I went to a garage sale today that advertised bike parts (yes I did buy some) and the seller and I were talking about bike collections. It is the truth and he mentioned it first as to have enough of a collection to be able to add another and no one notices. Then if asked about the "new bike", respond no I have had that one awhile.

Just show the wife what this guy spends on bikes, end of discussion. Well unless you are that guy or can beat him.

And, take all of this with a grain of salt because I am single and no one ever has complained when I bought another bike for a flipper or for myself. But, my flipping pretty much does pay for all of my own personal bike spending.

My greatest results for keeping peace wasn't by keeping the collection down or making money with them.
It's been by bringing her along when I go pick something up, make an afternoon or evening of it.

I figured that out a few years ago when I picked up a shaper on Ebay and had to make a 1200 mile trip to pick it up. Knowing I wanted/needed a co-driver I asked her along, she never once asked what I spent on it, and often asks when/if we're going on another road trip. Since then, I make sure I involve her in the pick up and delivery of things which keeps the peace.

A related 'unhappy other half' story, a few years ago I was repowering an old willys jeep. Found a guy that was parting out a newer jeep with a V6, had the engine($250),trans(175), transfer case(200) and axles(150 each) listed. I went down with enough money to buy the engine. I wanted to hear the engine run so we were trying to get it to start, we could get it to turn over but not fire.
We played with it for about a half hour when I heard a car pull in, then the garage door opened up and this very pretty girl was standing there. She looked at the car parts laying around, looked at him, started going off on him about all the 'junk' in the garage, then said: "I told you if I can't get my car in the garage tonight I'm moving to my moms!" then turned around and walked into the house. Feeling a bit uncomfortable I was about to offer him $250 for the engine and trans, which I figured was a very good offer without hearing the engine run, and a spare trans for a 50 year old jeep is always nice to have around. But before I could say anything he looks at me and says "give me $100 and you can have everything here" I took it all, but ended up giving him the $250 I'd brought just because I knew it was a great deal at twice that.

Ken.

I built my wife a really nice mixte and its her favorite bike. She would rather ride it than her other bikes (she has three) bought by me of course. She doesn't complain. She has her checking account and I have mine. We also have a household account so all is well.

when I heard a car pull in, then the garage door opened up and this very pretty girl was standing there. She looked at the car parts laying around, looked at him, started going off on him about all the 'junk' in the garage, then said: "I told you if I can't get my car in the garage tonight I'm moving to my moms!" then turned around and walked into the house

If their continuing relationship was based solely on her having a garage in which to park her car, I believe your purchase did nothing to give him marital bliss....but at least you made out on the deal.

Great suggestions, some of which I've followed:

soonerbills - Every flip that makes money buys 1 dinner out.
stringbreaker - Building her a mixte. Finally got the blue cable housing today. We'll see how that goes.
RFC - Tried the "I don't golf, bowl, or drink to excess" one. Rolled eyes, "and I don't scrapbook." Zing.
wahoonc - My sister has Barbie #1. Our family doesn't talk about it.
txvintage - I tried the head hanging martyrdom thing. Then I tried the hat. Now you have the hat.
wrk101 - Buy one not my size? The potential is what draws me in. Sorta like girls when I was young, but more predictable.

Let me know how that one works out for you

There is potential in the hat. Potential for what, I have no idea, but potential none the less. We do now know of two women in the world who are completely immune to it's charms, however.

I'm getting this kind of talk even though I use all the bikes in the garage except the track bike. If they aren't in the garage, they wouldn't be used and thus I might as well not have them. I did rearrange the storage so it requires a little bit more skill to park my car, but everyone likes my car best. I wanted to be able to use the bikes more easily.

bikes...shoes....whats the difference really?

Bikes last longer and are a lot more fun!

Her: "Why the hell do you have to have all these bikes!" My response: "Babe! Their like the ophans that no one loves!" She laughs, mission accomplished!

I really feel lucky. I really don't get any grief, as long as the bikes are just in the basement and on my side of garage. The rule is her car can always fit in the garage.

That said, we both get a little fed-up when too many of them pile up.

I have a 38' X 50' shop with a lot of hiding places. This works well for the out of sight = out of mind.

Right now the bikes are for me and the kids and eventually they will be for flipping.

My SO encourages my passion for bikes and was dismayed when I told her I had decided to sell some of my personal bikes...

...she's a keeper.

I got Mrs. K her own chrome Paramount and she frequently rides with me. She never complains about my bike habit, as she knows it is pretty healthy as far as habits go.

I'm keeping her!

My S.O. NEVER complains about the stash of bikes in the basement. NEVER.
She just smiles are reminds me "WHen you die, I'm going to have a yard sale. Bikes, $10 each." I told her to be sure to call Robbie Tunes.
Actually, she supports my cycling because I finally got off the sofa and put down the remote to do something healthy. Also, I lost 30lbs this year due to cycling. She likes it.

Point out that you could be screwing around with 30 year old cocktail waitresses instead of screwing around with 30 year old bikes.
This line of reasoning never worked for me, but give it a shot anyway
Top