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She gave in...

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Road Cycling “It is by riding a bicycle that you learn the contours of a country best, since you have to sweat up the hills and coast down them. Thus you remember them as they actually are, while in a motor car only a high hill impresses you, and you have no such accurate remembrance of country you have driven through as you gain by riding a bicycle.” -- Ernest Hemingway

She gave in...

Old 06-15-08, 08:17 AM
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She gave in...

A little back story first.
I've been a huge fan of biking for a long time. i think its in my blood actually. Sometimes I wake up in the middle of the night and my bike shoes are on. Unfortunately, my budget never allowed for me to purchase a bike that I always wanted. I started off with a GT Timberline that I bought in the early 90s. I'm currently riding a GT Timberline that I bought in the early 90s. I did have Concord(e) road bike that I sadly disassembled in my younger years and never had the money to put back together.
So here we are in 2008. I got married, and am still riding my GT. I commute with it, and ride for the fun and exercise when I can. My wife knows how I spend hours looking at bike forums and browsing websites looking for a new bike. So i found one, a Specialized Allez, nothing too "special" really. Its just what I need to get started in road riding. After a few (understatement) arguements of "Why do you need another bike, OMG" She said to me this morning:

Wife: "I've been thinking, and I know how much you want a new bike, so you can get your new bike, JUST DON"T SPEND MORE THAN $200!"
Me: OK
Wife: "I thought you would be a little more excited?"
Me: Maybe I'll save the cash.

Am I a jerk? What else can I do? I've browsed craigslist, but haven't found anything worth spending $200. Maybe its time to start collecting returnables on my commute.

Thanks for reading,

anotherfrustratedhusband
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Old 06-15-08, 08:23 AM
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200$?

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Old 06-15-08, 08:27 AM
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Your wife reminds me of managers who make technical decisions on "what we need" who have no clue about what they are making decisions about. Yes, I work in IT.

Unless of course, spending more than $200 will bankrupt you. Then I can almost see her point.
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Old 06-15-08, 08:36 AM
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Does your wife like jewelry? Electronics? ect... you just have to "spin" the argument in the right direction.

That is of coarse that you finances allow for such a purchase. (mine don't . but that's OK I just won a new fork on EBay last night that will get by bike under 18lb )

Plan B, go buy your bike and when you tell the wife it was $1800, tell her you thought she said under $2000
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Old 06-15-08, 08:44 AM
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I was actually looking at the $780 Allez. She doesn't see the difference in a $200 bike vs. a $780 bike.
The sad thing is that $200 will not bankrupt us. We just spent $10,000 on a trip to S. Africa, and another $200 on her new earrings that she has always wanted. I don't think its as much the money as it is she just doesn't want to back down.
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Old 06-15-08, 09:01 AM
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There's all kinds of ways to spin this:

- If you have the funds to make an elective trip to S. Africa for $10K, then you can surely drop 1% of that for an investment that will last for years (and that's without upgrades...).

- It's benefit to your physical and mental health...aren't you worth more than $200?

- It's all about scale: earrings for $200 which are somewhere around 1/100th the size of the bike? By reason, you're entitled to a $20,000 bike, but you're willing to settle for $2000.
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Old 06-15-08, 09:24 AM
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Dude,

If you spent $10K on a vacation and $200 on jewelry (which I guess is not a lot compared to what's out there; think $45K wedding rings and the like), then unless you both really cannot afford it, do some convincing.
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Old 06-15-08, 09:25 AM
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She didn't give in at all...she threw you a $200.00 dollar bone and YOU are giving in. Every time she comes home with a new little trinket, shoes or clothing you better jump on that and put her in her place. 10 grand on a vacation? And you have to beg for a decent entry level road bike? Break out the Cajones compadre!!
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Old 06-15-08, 09:29 AM
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Originally Posted by *WildHare*
She didn't give in at all...she threw you a $200.00 dollar bone and YOU are giving in. Every time she comes home with a new little trinket, shoes or clothing you better jump on that and put her in her place. 10 grand on a vacation? And you have to beg for a decent entry level road bike? Break out the Cajones compadre!!
+1

Put her on here for a day. We'll set her straight.
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Old 06-15-08, 09:29 AM
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Originally Posted by shundaroni
- If you have the funds to make an elective trip to S. Africa for $10K, then you can surely drop 1% of that for an investment that will last for years (and that's without upgrades...).
Her starting offer is for 2% of 10k, and you're wanting to go down to 1%?

You need more practice negotiating.
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Old 06-15-08, 09:30 AM
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Amazingly this thread is about marriage as I had assumed just not the subject matter I expected
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Old 06-15-08, 09:37 AM
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Why is she micromanaging your life and money? It's a partnership.
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Old 06-15-08, 09:39 AM
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Originally Posted by goatforce5
Her starting offer is for 2% of 10k, and you're wanting to go down to 1%?

You need more practice negotiating.
Haha. My math is fine...it's my proofreading that needs work. Add a zero to that "1".
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Old 06-15-08, 09:41 AM
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Tell her it's common for people serious about cycling to spend upwards of $5000 on a bike and you are going easy on her at $780.
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Old 06-15-08, 09:46 AM
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More realistically, why not take her to a bike shop and show her the various bikes, and what you actually get for $200 (nothing new) vs. $1000 vs. $2000, and where the money goes (lighter frame, better components, etc.). Set a more reasonable target and start hitting ebay, craigslist, local classifieds, etc.

Alternatively, just buy what you want & don't tell her the true cost.
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Old 06-15-08, 09:46 AM
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Start cutting grass.
At $75 a cut you'll have the money in no time.

Now go ahead and laugh. Really get a good laugh out of this suggestion.
And then ask yourself why you go to work everyday and hand your wife the paycheck.
Just go buy the damn bike. And ride away just as fast as you can when she comes after you with a kitchen knife.
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Old 06-15-08, 09:46 AM
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Just go purchase the bike you want and bring it home if your that big of enthusiasts. The years of enjoyment will far exceed the hours of griping. Plus, as my father told me, its easier and usually more beneficial to ask for forgiveness then to ask for permission. You could go back and forth yankin and yellin whenever she makes a purchase, such as her earrings, or you could just fasten the belt on your pants and purchase the bike. You play her game and she will win everytime...you play your game now and then and you stand a chance. Good luck and hope you get the bike, not just to win the battle, but for your health and enjoyment.
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Old 06-15-08, 10:08 AM
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Does she know how much a good quality bike cost? If all she seen are $200 department bikes, she may think that is the norm and that how much you should spend. If you educate her on the difference between a $200 bike and what you want to get, maybe she'll up the limit. Good luck.
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Old 06-15-08, 10:26 AM
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Does your LBS have a no payment, no interest plan? Maybe you could get what you want now and nip away at the payments over time. She'll likely never notice the money going towards a new bike.
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Old 06-15-08, 10:46 AM
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Originally Posted by milchad
Does your LBS have a no payment, no interest plan? Maybe you could get what you want now and nip away at the payments over time. She'll likely never notice the money going towards a new bike.
They might not be interested in a $750 layaway, but I bet if you were to go with the s-works Tarmac they'd give you the interest free financing and even let you keep your bike there. i've got several bikes stashed at my LBS
Maybe they'd rent you a room too for when the wife finds out you spent $5500 on that bike.
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Old 06-15-08, 11:04 AM
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Its hard to keep from laughing when she is sitting right next to me. Some of these ideas are crazy. I've thought about just going to my LBS and doing it. But my next thread would be called "How do i ride with broken wrists?"
It is true that I need to work on my convincing. I was never much of a negotiator. We have walked through the LBS together and she did remark on how expensive they were. How soon she forgets.
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Old 06-15-08, 11:11 AM
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Originally Posted by comproducer
We have walked through the LBS together and she did remark on how expensive they were. How soon she forgets.
Selective memory...
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Old 06-15-08, 11:13 AM
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buy her $1000 earrings. then get ur $1000 bike...

work another job to specifically fund new bike.
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Old 06-15-08, 11:21 AM
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You definitely need a new bike, but don't buy a bike that you will wish you had sprung for something a little more nicely equip. I think you should be looking at a bike a little higher up the food chain... 105, Ultegra, or the sram/campy equivalent. it will last longer and work better than the entry level stuff.

How much did your wife's car cost that she drives every day? Don't forget that this is your form of transportation, and I bet your wife spends more than 2k a year in gas ($50 a tank x 52 weeks a year = $2600/year) assuming she has a car... a bike lasts alot longer than 1 year, and you never have to change the oil.

good luck
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Old 06-15-08, 11:26 AM
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If it's a financial issue, try to hedge your stance in terms of:
lower fuel costs, if commuting
better bike = more enjoyment = happier you = happier her
better bike = more enjoyment = more cycling = healthier you = longevity
just like you probably wouldn't buy a $5000 car (given your vacation budget), you'd like a bike in the same economic ballpark.

BTW - how was your South African trip? (I'm from Cape Town :-) )
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