Domestic purchase strategy
 

My wife caught me putting this frameset http://www.nashbar.com/bikes/Product...2_10000_202337 into a shopping cart Sunday. She blurted out, in a kind of dismayed tone "you're buying a $1200 bike?" I'm just musing with it, but I came back innocently with "Just the frame set. But it's only $399, less than your bike cost. I'll just need some bars, maybe a groupset and I have enough other parts ... "

She's seen me browsing Ultegra components before, and high end wheels and so on and offered up that it would be $2500 or more before I was done. I was just making scenarios and I'm really considering something like the nashbar touring frame and fork, but it got me thinking. That $2500 is way low on my virtual builds, but I'm really only going to spend about $300-$400. Maybe considering realistic mid-range prices would buy me some brownie points on the real plan ... What would you do?

Man up.

With my wife it's a matter of equals. When I bought my Stumpjumper years ago my wife asked what was wrong with my hybrid. Told her need for off road and eventually she went with me and she ended up with a Cannondale F700. Bought a 2011 Synapse 6 and just to take the edge off told her it was $1M less than I actually paid. It just makes like easier and she will not go on a road bike. She always ends up on the plus side when you add the cost of her handbags and shoes. LOL

http://pedalmybike.com/userTrackies/myTrackie4124.jpg

:lol: Well it's going to happen regardless, the real question is minimizing collateral costs. Quid pro quo tends to be jewelry, dining out, that sort of thing ...

All of this is a bit strange to me. Since we've been married (32 years now) we always operated on a system of each of us having a certain amount of discretionary income for our own use each month (my kids call this our grown-up allowance). Hence, when either of us wants something just for us, it always comes about because we've saved enough of our discretionary income. Now, with that said, part of the reason this system works is because we've both been willing to use our personal discretionary income to purchase surprise gifts for one another, or help with a purchase that was big enough it was going to take some considerable saving.

I like just buying a little at a time. Takes patience though.

:thumb: that's what I was thinking.

I foresee a diamond in your future, the only thing it wont be a frame but wife bling!

Sounds like you need to trade in the wife. ;) Mine always say something like, "Don't get the cheap model. Get what you want."
Her reasoning is she knows cycling is good exercise and she wants me to get a good workout and good results. Can't do that with cheap stuff.

I already blew that, I've been riding on the cheap stuff for too long and she'd know better. Too be fair to her she did suggest a new bike last year. Probably not anticipating a $2500 price tag though.

That theory works great,except for one small problem, what if you do not get an allowance anymore?

Then the whole thrust of this thread would be somewhat lacking in meaning.

A hundred years ago the thread title would have established his intent to do so. :)

I'd really like a set of Zipp wheels for my tri bike.

But if I buy them before I buy a new tandem, there won't be any point in a new tandem.

I am riding a ten year old Litespeed. My wife who bought a high end TREK carbon fiber bike last year is after me to update my current ride. I think my Litespeed still has a few more years in it so I am resisting. I guess my "problems" are somewhat different than other guys have.

So everyone thinks that the reverse-psychology of "considering" some high-end bikes to provoke a suggestion of building an improved lower end one is not feasible? Or just too sneaky. You're probably right. I'll just have to do a straightforward cost/benefit analysis and select the optimal for my circumstances, which in theory should head off potential conflicts and unrealistic expectations. Representing the most logical choice that is, it would be unassailable.

Glad to hear you are resisting trading the Litespeed. My Litespeed will be 11 years old in April. Still my favorite ride. :thumb:

They say it's healthy to have a fantasy life. :)

Yeh, I don't really buy it either but that's my story and I'm sticking to it.

I guess I'm lucky. All I really need to do is express a "want" in something and my wife is all over me - go ahead and buy it...did you buy it yet...when does it arrive?

She knows that by the time I mention it to her, I've already done the shopping to find a good deal, checked the budget for issues and perhaps covered the cost by selling something that I no longer need or use.

It's sooo nice to have a trusting wife....and I've never broken that trust.

Nice post. Sounds like you have a good partnership going on.

Thats just about the same place I'm at. If I mention that I am looking at something, she is usually pushing me to get it. I say
"usually".

I told my wife I was buying a new bike a while back, she said OK(nothing more).

It arrived a short time later and sat in its unmarked box in the front hall all of a week. About 6 months later, she saw it hanging in the garage and asked 'when did you get that bike?'

My wife is Brazilian...and trust me, they have a different thought process....mostly in her favor. Two examples:

I did Ragbrai this year and the first day was a little more difficult than I would have imagined so I treated myself to a massage. Later, when I touched based, the conversation was like this....

" Baby, I did something nice for myself today. I got a massage."

MrsK7: "Oh...thats so nice. (pause). Was she cute?"

"Oh yeah."

MrsK7: "Oh....that so nice."

I was in Brazil last week on business. In the seat next to me on the return flight was a lovely Brazilian lady. My wife had no way of knowing of course and when I turned my phone on upon landing, I had this message:

"have a nice trip. Make it interesting. Sit next to a very pretty lady."

I showed the message to the Brazilian lady next to me and told her, "OK....I'll have to tell my wife I did as she instructed (BR lady interrupted with a very nice "thank you!") but I slept all the way home!"

We both had a nice laugh as we got off the plane.

I am lucky and trusted...it's a good combo.

I tend to find and repair old bikes, sell them and trade them to obtain the proceeds for what I want . A self-supporting hobby keeps all parties happy . Hear there's a depression on . I'm pretty happy, myself . I prefer not to overdo the expenses , and Mrs. GA appreciates that .