^^ You keep the beater and buy the new bike for your wife, in a color that she likes. You can hack riding the beater for another year. Make it a game to save for the bike for you. Little competitions to fill the cash jar, out-do one another on chores, whatever makes it fun.

She'll appreciate that you thought of her, despite her thriftiness.

Oh, and no more riding off of curbs. Save your rims.

Phil G. (crumudgeon, married 29 years)