ASTCST

Hello,
My husband really wants a Tri bike.
I've been down playing the idea saying he has a fine road bike.

Would it be crazy for me to get him a tri bike as a present as a surprise? I found a Felt B16 on craigslist, looks new but I know it's often suggested that you ride the bike before buying so would it be a total waste for me to buy one without him that I can't return to a store?

Thank You!

JonathanGennick 

The thought of a gift isn't crazy. It's genuinely nice of you. However, I would find a way to involve your husband in the purchase in order to be sure that what you buy fits him correctly.

jefnvk

What Jonathan said. Maybe a gift card to the shop he wants to buy from, or slyly taking him out to buy one.

I love my fiancee, I'd love her to buy me a bike. Especially for someone in competition, they are such personal items I couldn't imagine her just surprising me with one, unless she knew exactly which one and what size to buy.

VRC

If its on CL it's going to have to not be a surprise.

BlazingPedals

I'd fall on the "Nay" side, too. Nice gesture, but too likely to fail.

indyfabz

I say go for it, honey. BTW...I'll be working late tonight so don't wait up for me.

northtexasbiker

Just tell him he can get one. That can be his present. It's too personal a decision so he really has to be involved in picking it out. No surprises. Maybe you can casually pry out of him what model he is looking at? He's probably been researching and narrowing it down if he really wants one.

noglider 

Make a card, and put it in an envelope. The card can say that he can get a tri bike.

sdmc530

I love the idea, very awesome of you but this would be something that has to fit and be just right. Guessing could be fine or be an epic fail.


I like the card idea and then be involved in the process to get it.

pvillemasher

I like this idea. "Hey honey, let's go for a ride" and then drive over to the CL seller. If he likes he buys, and if not he'd be happy knowing he's gonna get one eventually.

I bought my wife a handbag once.
Once.

PortlandEddie

Wife of the year! Day at a spa for you.

Flip Flop Rider

put the money in a card, but let him pick it

HerrKaLeun

Much of the enjoyment of bike shopping is doing all the research here on BF, the net, test riding and then the feeling to have made a good choice. that can be weeks or moths of intense fun!
All that would be taken away buy just buying him a bike. And it could be the totally wrong color, size, type.... carbon, Al, steel, Shimano, Discbrake...

i bought two bikes this year and did all my research and my wife was OK spending the money as she trusted me to have thoroughly researched what makes me happy.
If you are 5, someone else buys you a toy and you will be happy. As you get older, you get more picky.

thumpism 

Lovely idea and very generous, but unless you know the CL bike is exactly what wants and is the right size, don't do it. Too many variables. If he's been doing his research he probably knows what he wants. Tell him to go out and get it.

You will have gained valuable points for yourself.

jefnvk

Huh, never had you pegged as a tri guy

jon c. 

If it's a good deal and you believe it's one he'd like, I think this would be a great idea if you could pull it off.

But as a straight out surprise, I'd agree with those who say it's something the rider really needs to try before you buy.

Ramona_W

Yeah. I like the idea of setting things up with the seller and having him go with you to test ride it. That way, if it isn't right, you haven't spent money on something nonreturnable and you can go shopping together for the bike he really wants.

shafter

Nay. Just tell him you want him to get him a bike, and he will immediately believe you are the most amazing person on the PLANET.

But let him pick it out.

kevindsingleton 

Is a "tri bike" (3x2), or (3+2)? Hexycle, or pentycle?


I'll go with the "let him pick it" crowd, which is, I think, everyone.

SquidPuppet

This a certain win for both the hubby and wife.

Retro Grouch 

That's what I think too. He already has a bike to ride so this is a +1 bike.

I'm thinking he's going to be real specific regarding what he wants. Suppose you surprise him with a "not exactly" bike. Now he's in the dilemma of having received a very nice bike that isn't exactly what he wanted but which he doesn't want to return for fear of hurting your feelings.

Let him pick out his own bike.

thumpism 

I was actually on the receiving end of a gesture like this, and I very fortunately got wind of it before the big reveal. Most importantly, before the actual purchase. Only in this case it was a motorcycle.

A friend of mine was a Cadillac collector (owned two and had owned others before) and my example to him was, "Say you could only have one and your favorite is the '59 convertible, and suppose you found out someone was going to give you a really nice '58 hardtop." His advice was to let the giver know in advance.

raceboy

This was before I became an avid cyclist...one Xmas my gf came up with the idea for us each buy the other one a MTB for Xmas. It was great fun to go shopping together plus she is a heck of a negotiator. Buying two bikes at the same time netted us some nice extras.

outashape

I would never buy anyone a gift over $50 that could not be returned. My 3 year old grandson and 5 year old granddaughter were not happy with their bikes. The little guy was scared of the dragons painted on his bike. I had to use orange duct tape and cover all the scary pictures. My grandaugter did not like the Frozen Disney characters, she wanted Barbie. And the bells, horns and baskets were wrong colors or styles or they didn't like the tune of the bells/horns. Only one bike was new, the other was a $10 bike, so they did use them this year. Next year, they go with me to the store.

kevindsingleton 

Open letter to all wives: let him choose. He chose you, so you already know he only picks the best.