The group of folks I work with completely humbled me by surprising me with an extremely generous gift certificate to my favorite LBS today. It was a little < $1000 and I need help with ideas on how to get the best use of the dollars.

As a reminder I'm riding a Trek Madone, triple, 9 speed. Miss Lightweight is arriving this week and will be full Dura Ace 10 speed with a 53/39 crank-plus a 50/34 FSA Carbon crank also comes with it.

I just bought a Cervelo P2k in January and it hasn't even seen the track yet.
Everyone in my family has a mountain bike.
My wife has a road bike-full Ultegra.
My son has not shown interest in road bikes, although one daughter has.
I don't need wheels...I have 2 new sets of Race X Lites, 2 sets of everyday wheels and also have Time Trial wheels.
I don't need clothing-I have way too much of that already.
Gary just bought a new/used bike so I can't help him out there....

What might you suggest? Probably something I normally would not purchase if I didn't have the gift certificate??? What is something you've bought that you might recommend??? Tools???

You might consider the 496 year membership in Bicycle Forums. You'll get a (gulp) purple star!

I had it all figured out until i read the first quoted sentence above. But think of it -- the legend you would become -- the guy on BF who used a gift certificate to buy someone ELSE a bike. Someone he's never even met. And Trek has the 1500 on sale right now, just under a grand!

Oh well, it was a thought.

The other notion that comes to mind was using the money to open your own bike shop. Heaven knows you have enough stock!

And you expect a serious answer from this group?

If I had that kind of disposable money and most of what I needed or wanted.... Hmmmm. I might approach my LBS and ask if they would offer a free maintanence class for friends, neighbors, and co-workers I would invite to attend. I'd offer to pay the wrench for his or her time and the shop for hosting the event. Of course it would be an affair with food and beverages. Afterwhich everyone would be invited out for a group ride with no one left behind.

Whatever you decide to do you've already received the best benefit IMHO... the obvious respect of your co-workers. You are a lucky person!

Use it to sponsor a "charity" bicycle event of some sort. Get your clubs/bicycle friends involved, use the $1,000 for brochures, advertising, and other costs. Multiply that $1,000 by ten fold, and donate it to a charity or buy a bunch of bikes for kids in less fortunate circumstances.

The newspapers would eat this up, and you could make a real difference to someone.

(Sorry for the serious answer)

Wow that's a tuff one. How much do power taps cost? I think that's what they are called and it would be a fun toy.

+1 on this. Only problem is your gift certificate comes from a specific bike shop, but I'm sure this could be worked out, and perhaps the LBS could get some "play" out of it, too, if they could be convinced to match your donation (good publicity). It would reflect well on your company, too. Win-win-win. Regardless, congratulations and good luck!

I have bikes- and I ride them- I know that within 6 months- I would have spent this amount of maintaining my bikes. Do any Night riding? How about the new HID lamps with super duper batteries and the price to go with them. Then there is clothing- Goretex is the best waterproof around and the purchase price shows that. Theres your voucher gone on 2 titems- but there are always the Lightweight parts to fit on bikes that are supposed to make you go faster or with ease. Makes the wallet lighter But that is about as far as It goes.

Sorry jppe- the voucher is a gift for you so spend wisely and any balance you may have- my bank account no is---------------

Thanks for the feedback and ideas. I was still in too much of a state of shock to think of some of the things you folks have. Leveraging the dollars some way is a very intriguing idea.

Maybe there is a way I can tie it in to the Time Trials that I'm involved with. We do kids events there as well--how about bikes for kids??? (Gary-I know you're a kid a heart but would probably require some sort of ID here.....) Makes for great press, could leverage with the community, Bicycling Mag might eat it up if it doesn't conflict with their bicycle town idea.......

and then again there is the new Garmin Edge cylcometer that has the numbers I'd ever want...

Jppe - If you sponsor a ride I'll even come down to the wicked city of Charlotte as a participant.