Mr. Beanz

First of all, I know rides with small children is a different story. Kids come first but for those of us with kids in their 30's, it's a wonderful world. Ride the bikes, visit grand kids, kids start crying, whining, see ya next week bye!

But for those wives that really get involved in riding, they grow to understand the needs for a rider. Heck, Gina is getting more an more involved in not only the riding, but equipment and requirements. Lately, she's been going crazy insisting I buy bike stuff. Like my shoes, she's been insisting I buy new shoes. Meh! I don't need them,these are fine. Till Ahultin reinforced her thoughts with his comment. So we go pick out some shoes. You need new cleats too. No I don't these are fine. Buy them now so we don't have to come back. Wow, she was right, I went home, tried to take off the old cleats and one was stuck, stripped. So I had to go back, should have listened to her.

Then the GMR night ride is the next evening. She say we needs another light set up. We go to the shop and find a nice combo, Cygo Lite Metro 300 with headlight and rear red blinkie (sweet light for the price BTW). She says she will use my old light and I can use the new light. No this is for you Gina. No, you use it, better yet, get another one that way we both have one. You're crazy Gina, I don't need one.

So we go on the GMR night ride and her light totally blows away my light. I told you so, now go back and get yourself one. I ended up going back and once again, she was right ha ha! This time she asks me to buy bar tape too. Her tape is not bad but she wants it re wrapped. OK, no problem. Then she says get some for your bike too. My bike is fine, the tape only has 12,000 mile , it will be fine. So I get the new tape and re wrap her handlebars. Mine, slipped a bit but I re wrapped them with the same old tape. Looks good to me. Hey, I was right this time, 1 out of 3 so far ha ha!

So then I see the tires on sale at PBK. Having an extra laying around is always a good idea so I mention it. Should I get one I ask her. I think you should get four! Four? Yeah, in case something happens to any of the tires on our bikes, we're prepared. Does she know equipment needs or what? Who am I to argue, I order 4 as instructed.

Before I ordered the 4 tires I told her that I would rather buy one tire and get a pair of new shorts instead. How much are the shorts? Well AHultin said he liked the shorts form Aerotech, a Clyde favorite and they have good prices. Would you rather go to the LBS and get a pair? Nope, I can't see paying $200 for one pair. OK then, order from Aerotech like Aaron. So I look and at the different models and can't decide. This model $50, looks good but this model $69 looks good too. I can't decide as I like the look of the chamois on both. What do you think Gina? Get them both, that way you can compare and you'll know exactly which ones to order next time. I only need one for long rides cause my other shorts are OK for 40 milers. Oh just get them both! Again, who am I to argue and she was right 2 out of 3 times already!

Then she asks, do you need anything else? Uhh no, I think I'm good! Are you sure, do you want a GoPro like BeachGrad? A new camera? You're always complaining that the flash on your Cannon is too slow. Uhh no, I'm good thank you!

Can I ask you a question, am I dying, or are you leaving me? She says no, I just know you need those things so it's important to have them if you want to enjoy cycling. OK, so what is up with this I'm wondering. I know, maybe she wants a new wardrobe. So after dinner, we go walk the malls as usual. Let me tell you Gina is not into fashion or clothes. A pair of slacks for work, a decent blouse and she's good. She will not buy anything unless it is on the clearance rack. I've had to literally fight with her and force her to buy clothes in the past that were not on the clearance rack.

OK, that's it, she wants to buy some expensive clothes. So as we're walking the mall, I tell her, you should pick out some new clothes. Nope! I see some pants in the window, those would look good on you Gina. Nope! How about them shoes? Nope! OK, underwear, these underwear would look good on you, Nope! This blouse, this would look great on you, Nope! OK, fine, there is the clearance, rack, pick out some pants, Nope!

OK wait a minute. You insist on buying all this bike stuff but you won't even buy any clothes, what's going on?

Her response? I like spending money on stuff we need, not stupid stuff like clothes..................

I tell ya Man, the more she gets involved, the sweeter it gets!

PhotoJoe 

That right there could be someone's signature! That's FUNNY!

Mrs. PJ is getting more and more into it, too....and I love every second. She, too, is starting to see the value of cycling specific stuff, instead of sweats and running shoes.

Mr. Beanz

Aw Man! You gotta get her into driving support for one of the Clyde GMR shack rides or even just riding shotgun. I took Gina along a few times before she decided to try it. Seeing other riders work their way up really motivated her to give it a try. From I'll try it once, to going on 30 times maybe (twice to the village).

If you get the Mrs to the shack, heck that's a new pair of shoes right there!

Don't say she's not ready. I used to accept that till I met a couple up there at the shack, 80 years old, both of them! I said you guys did great to be up here. They said they took a picnic basket, rode up, took a break then continued. "It took us 4 hours to get here but we made it" they said. I'll never forget that. That was when I realized the super duper super sonic ride to the shack was not just a ride for the super hero types. It's a ride for those with "heart"!

PhotoJoe 

I think she would drive SAG if we ever needed it. She's a sport. And she is the type that once she commits, she's in with both feet. However, it HAS to be her idea. At this point, she has no desire to ride GMR. However, a year ago, she had no desire to do a triathlon either...and we're signed up for one in Feb. She's even kicking around the TdPalm Springs, though maybe not the full century, but she's ok if we split up and do our own rides. I have told her that I will NEVER push her, but if she ever wants to try the shack, I'll ride with her, just the two of us, and we can take all day if she wants/needs. So, until she decides to do it, she's out. Once she decides to do it, though....look out!

Mr. Beanz

That's the whole point of her riding along as sag, seeing others do it makes one want to try as well. It's not that we really need sag on the 8 miles to the shack

PhotoJoe 

Well, there is THAT!

TrojanHorse

You should edit that to exclude Joe... he's riding to the shack with 8 bottles, a camelbak and stole water from Beachgrad when she wasn't looking.

And, um, the village is 21 miles or so. Downhill all the way to the top!

Mr. Beanz

I said "shack".

PhotoJoe 

Now that's not fair.

I forgot my Camelback in the truck.

The rest is true, though!

I'm trying to figure out how I can tow one of these!

Beachgrad05

Now my secret is out...the laces to tie my bottles down to my aqua rack were not for safety but for SAFE KEEPING....much harder to take one if I have it tied to my bike.

TrojanHorse

Fill that thing with beer and you won't have to figure it out - I"ll tow it for you!

TrojanHorse

Good thing I quoted your original post. Busted!