Over the past several weeks, my wife and I discussed selling my motorcycle and my car to help reduce our insurance costs so we can get out of debt faster (we currently have two cars, a truck and a motorcycle, and the truck we're keeping). I have little trouble selling my car since there's a leak from the sunroof that would cost more than the car is worth to fix. However, the motorcycle is the big deal. It was a gift to me from my family, two of whom have passed away since I got the bike, so there is sentimental value there. I told my wife that I would sell the motorcycle, but I expected something in return. She said that I could use half of the profits from the sale to go towards a bicycle (either update the one I have or buy a new one). After doing a cost analysis of what it would take to update my current bicycle, I'd be better off buying a new, better model (oh, if life were always that easy )

I plan on bicycle commuting roughly 28 miles round trip now and, in about 5 to 8 years, 38 miles when our new campus opens up. Keeping that in mind, and the fact that it can get down right soggy in southern Mississippi, I need a bike that has fenders and a rear rack. I checked the web sites of the major bike manufacturers and concluded that the Raleigh Sojourn would be the best value. When I told my wife this, and the price tag, she was less than trilled (to put it mildly). And thus you have to Capricorns butting heads like a pair of, well, goats. She can't understand why I would spend that much money (not to mention more for lights) when a bike half that price would do as well. My argument is that given the distance I plan to ride (not to mention the possibility of longer rides in the future), that this is the best deal.

As a compromise, I did check out other bikes that were similar (i.e., touring bikes), like the Fuji Touring, Novara Randonee, and the Specialized Sequoia. Both the Fuji and the Randonee would need fenders and the Sequoia would need a rack and fenders. However, I still like the Sojourn, not just because it comes with everything except the pedals, but the fact it comes with disc brakes, a Brooks B17 Aged saddle, Brooks leather bar tape and a WTB Mountain Road Drop bar in addition to a Tubus Cargo rack and SKS fenders. What I don't like about the Sojourn are the 32 spoke wheels (the Sequoia has a 28 spoke front, 32 spoke rear). However, that isn't enough to stop me from buying it because if they fail or I decide to start touring or doing centuries and brevets, I can always build new wheels (can we say Schimdt SON28SB ).

I think about the only bike I willing to go down to that my wife would agree to is the Specialized Globe City 7, which, I feel, would not be suitable for a 14-19 mile trip across three cities. And, I would still get the DiNotte lights.

So, my question is this: Should I stick to my guns and try and convince my wife that the Sojourn is the best choice for my needs, or is this battle not one worth fighting and settle the Globe City 7?
(Keep in mind that a lot depends on the sale of the motorcycle, too. So, if I don't have the money to get the Sojourn, well, then that settles that.)