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Getting the missus a bike......

Old 11-07-11, 07:34 AM
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Getting the missus a bike......

I am wanting to get the missus a bike for christmas but she doesn't have one yet. Id like it to he as big of a sunrise as possible but I am wondering what numbers I need to get the correct frame size. I was assuming that having her height and her inseam would be enough then the day after she coyote take ir to my lbs for a final fitting? ???
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Old 11-07-11, 11:33 AM
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Did you post this from an iPhone, by any chance?

Given the height and inseam, the bike shop ought to be able to get in the ballpark. Ask if they'd be willing to exchange if the bike just doesn't fit her. Hope she likes it!

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Old 11-07-11, 01:10 PM
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Just tell her that you're thinking of buying a bike for someone. I don't know. Perhaps your nice or daughter or some girl. Tell her that you might even get one for yourself. It doesn't matter, as long as you're able to get her inside of the bike shop. Just act like the last thing on your mind is to get her a bike! Once you get her inside the shop, tell her that you want to ride around the block with her. Make it sound and look like something new and romantic, she'll like that! Make sure you stay in the bike shop long enough to get some idea about what type of bike she'll most likely appreciate. Then you'll each pick out two bikes on which to ride. You'll leave one of your credit cards and take off!
Of course, you would have called the LBS ahead of time and made all of the arrangements.

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Old 11-07-11, 02:45 PM
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When I worked in a shop we would regularily sell bikes as gifts... we would often just pullone off the sales floor that was approximately the right size with the expectation that the customer would come back after the gift was given to get everything properly fitted and do a final selection of the bike etc. The Original bike was just something to put under the tree, so to speak. The bike would be returned unused and the original purchase price would go toward whatever bike the recipient wanted.

Another option is a gift certificate. Call around to LBSs in your area and see what they can do for you.

Also, when selecting the bike, try to guess what your wife will most want to do with it - boardwalk cruising or chairlift-assisted DH riding or riding to work etc... having the right bike is probably the second most important aspect in getting the most out of cycling (the most important aspect is fit). If you are doing a dummy-bike-under-the-tree strategy, make it very clear that she can select any style of bike she wishes from the LBS and your feelings will not be hurt. If you get her a hybrid bike and she really wants a mountain bike you don't want her to settle just to preserve your feelings.

Good luck!
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Old 11-07-11, 02:57 PM
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Originally Posted by Bomccorkle
I am wanting to get the missus a bike for christmas but she doesn't have one yet. Id like it to he as big of a sunrise as possible but I am wondering what numbers I need to get the correct frame size. I was assuming that having her height and her inseam would be enough then the day after she coyote take ir to my lbs for a final fitting? ???
Is she interested in cycling? I don't want to assume, as getting the missus a bike because you want her to ride with you is different from getting the missus a bike because she wants to ride.

If she is intersted in getting a bike so she can ride, there is nothing wrong with getting her measurements and letting her know that you want the data just in case she wants a bike.
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Old 11-07-11, 03:07 PM
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Actually from an android phone sir..... but yes I now notice the way it likes ne to spell.....

Anyways she says she wants a mountain bike but she is currently in school and I support the family. We are a fairly young couple(28) and she is being a bit of a penny pincher. She says she'd love to ride with the kids and I but its just too expensive, little does she know that I've had a small stash that I skip my morning coffee or whatever other vice and put the money into. Anyways I know she will kick and scream if I take her to get fitted but if its just bought that would he that. She says she would like to ride but the mens again she has a lot of school work and her masters starts next semester so I was aiming for a bottom of the like trek and if she likes it then upgrading down the road...... anyways any thoughts would be helpful.
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Old 11-07-11, 03:51 PM
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^^^If that is the case, you want to cruise the Craigslist ads. Do not look towards the future of possibly "upgrading", if you are penny pinching, upgrading is not cheap. Get a nice bike from Craigslist with possibly the proper equipment already installed.

If you are going to ugrade, get a whole new bike with the upgrades installed. It is usually cheaper to go that route.

Take her to a local bike shop as well, and let her try to ride some of the bikes, from there you can have the bike shop assess her for fit. You don't have to buy right there and then, just let her know you are looking into the future and you want her to make the proper decision on which type of bike she may want to ride.
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Old 11-07-11, 04:26 PM
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Ahhh yes. Should have clarified, by upgrading I did mean a complete machine:-)
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Old 11-08-11, 07:00 AM
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Take her there, I thought I knew what my wife wanted but when we got to the shop she went another direction. I have made a habit of leaving money at the shop, if I'm there and don't need anything I put some on account, for when I want/need something; if you do that, the money is spent and it would be a waste for her not to go down and get fit!

Good luck!!
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Old 11-08-11, 12:26 PM
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Two words.... Gift Certificate. What your wife wants and what you think she wants are two different things and women love to shop. But, you're married; you know that.

You could even make it out as a "Trek ...... or similar bike" to make a suggestion about price range.
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Old 11-14-11, 10:48 AM
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Good news guys!!! Borrowed a bike and got her to ride this weekend. Only about 15 mikes Saturday and Sunday but woooohoooo!!! She seems to he hooked:-)
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Old 11-15-11, 06:40 PM
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Buy a gift certificate, or cut out a picture of a bike and put it in a box with a certificate stating she is going to the LBS to get the bike of her choosing? We do that a lot in our family...the picture thing, because either the present is under construction (wood furniture or clothing is common) or is being delivered to the person's house right after Christmas and they are flying back home.

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Old 11-16-11, 04:30 AM
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Originally Posted by Bomccorkle
Good news guys!!! Borrowed a bike and got her to ride this weekend. Only about 15 mikes Saturday and Sunday but woooohoooo!!! She seems to he hooked:-)
Thank goodness! She'll be more motivated to accept a bike as a gift, then. The only other thing I'd worry about if you're still wanting to surprise her is if she's very short--then you both are in for a bit of an extra ride with fitting, depending on what she wants. Otherwise, I'm sure she'll be very happy to get a bike. You sound like a wonderful husband, btw!
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Old 11-16-11, 08:52 AM
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This sounds so sweet to me! I say take her into your LBS and then let her wander while you are doing something else in the shop. You can keep an eye on what she seems to be interested in and maybe talk her into a test ride.

Originally Posted by Bomccorkle
Actually from an android phone sir..... but yes I now notice the way it likes ne to spell.....

Anyways she says she wants a mountain bike but she is currently in school and I support the family. We are a fairly young couple(28) and she is being a bit of a penny pincher. She says she'd love to ride with the kids and I but its just too expensive, little does she know that I've had a small stash that I skip my morning coffee or whatever other vice and put the money into. Anyways I know she will kick and scream if I take her to get fitted but if its just bought that would he that. She says she would like to ride but the mens again she has a lot of school work and her masters starts next semester so I was aiming for a bottom of the like trek and if she likes it then upgrading down the road...... anyways any thoughts would be helpful.
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Old 11-16-11, 04:38 PM
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Originally Posted by Bomccorkle
Good news guys!!! Borrowed a bike and got her to ride this weekend. Only about 15 mikes Saturday and Sunday but woooohoooo!!! She seems to he hooked:-)
That's so awesome!

Bikes are like pets; it has to be the right fit and love at first sight is even better. Trying to pick one out for someone else is not ideal.

Maybe a little toy bike with a note saying "like this only bigger, lets go bike shopping together" or something. Maybe more romantic, IDK.

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Old 11-16-11, 04:49 PM
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Get a folding bike with a telescopic seat post, [most are]

will be easier to wrap and decorate the box, too..
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Old 11-16-11, 04:51 PM
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Ok...heads up story! I bought my new bride a nice 24 speed hybrid bike back in 2001. It was a GT Windstream, she helped pick it out. We rode together a bit, mainly when we went camping or on vacation somewhere that had some sort of cycling facilities. Fast forward to 2006, we went to the ABCE in Minneapolis, she did not ride, but won the door prize that happened to have been a 1971 Raleigh Colt 3 speed. Added a nice wicker basket, she rode more in the next 3 months than she had in the previous 2 years. Apparently the IGH was the ticket. She now has a nice green Raleigh Colt that matches my Raleigh Superbe as well as a somewhat modified Raleigh Twenty. She rides everywhere she can. BTW the Windstream is now consigned to trainer only work.

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Old 11-21-11, 07:26 AM
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I talked with the lbs owner he said to bring her in for a "fitting" on the borrowed bike and then we could get her bored and riding some other stuff while we yapped about tech drivle ....
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