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I let the wife loose in the LBS. What a RIOT!!!

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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

I let the wife loose in the LBS. What a RIOT!!!

Old 03-21-05, 01:34 AM
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I have been very slowly letting my wife get interested in cycling for the last few months now with the bike that I am slowly piecing together for her. I have been letting her interest flower on its own pretty much. I don't want to push her. I want her to enjoy it, not feel like she has to do it for a chore. Anyway, as the frame paint job progresses, I am not really saying much, other than "Don't worry Sweetheart, I'll help you with anything you need."

Well, I think she is a little more interested than I had originally thought. I kind of figured she had just a slight interest, and wanted to give it a shot, until today.

She comes up to me and says, "Look what I got in the mail today? I know it has your name on it, but was wondering..."
It was a Performance bike shop 20% off any item coupon. I said, "Well, no, I don't really need anything right now." Even though there is about 20 things on my secret list of things I would love to have.

She asks, "Won't I need some shoes if I use those pedals you lock your feet into?"

I casually said, "Yeah, I suppose you will. I think they have some "on sale."

(Ah yes, "On Sale", the magic words every woman loves to here. It's kind of like giving a woman a nice big piece of chocolate when she's having a tough time in life.)

So, off to the PBS we went.

We found that the local PBS had the Pearl Izumi Vagabond II road shoe on sale for $47 because they only had a few small sizes left, and lucky for us, one was her size in a 39. And for an extra 20% off, she got them for $38, and she really likes them. They fit perfectly.

But, that was just the beginning. (oh, no!!!) Then she starts heading over to the clothing section, and grabs a pair of small Performance Century shorts for $12 "On Sale!". Then she grabs a Performance Stars and Stripes jersey for $19.99 "On Sale!" Then, she finds a pair of Performance gloves for $10 "On Sale!"

And to top it off, she says, "hmmm, won't I need a helmet too?" I'm standing there with a pile of stuff in my arms, practically overflowing. I just said, "Yeah, I guess it's a good idea." So she grabs the last size medium Giro Monza (white) they have on the shelf, for $50. After all, she said it has to match the white stripes on the Vagabond shoes.
I just laughed. I haven't even finished her road bike yet, and she's already a posuer.

Well, an hour later, and $163 lighter in my wallet, we finally leave. She says to me, "So, when will my bike be done?"

I'm like... "Um......"
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Last edited by Patriot; 03-21-05 at 01:42 AM.
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Old 03-21-05, 02:49 AM
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I wish there was a Performance shop around here..

And yes, my girlfriend was nearly the same at the bike shop. She hadn't even started riding her new road bike yet and she was already buying clothing, accessories, etc.
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Old 03-21-05, 05:44 AM
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Too cool! Now you'd better hurry up and get that bike finished for her
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Old 03-21-05, 05:50 AM
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That is too cool! I'm jealous.
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Old 03-21-05, 06:17 AM
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Originally Posted by Patriot
I


Well, an hour later, and $163 lighter in my wallet, we finally leave. She says to me, "So, when will my bike be done?"

I'm like... "Um......"
that's a very good question, when will her bike be finished, If I were you, I would really finsihed it right away.
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Old 03-21-05, 07:05 AM
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The chance to shop for new shoes is clearly the key to many a woman's heart.
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Old 03-21-05, 07:06 AM
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That is one of the funniest and, yes, coolest stories I have heard here. You had me in fits. I so wish my girlfriend was like your wife. I would gladly let her loose in the bike shop. I, unlike you, am not knowledgeable enough to build her her own bike (I am a newbie). I envy you, sir...in a good way.

Thanks for the laugh! (already a poseur!! RIOT!!)

Brian
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Old 03-21-05, 07:08 AM
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Originally Posted by Pfoot
The chance to shop for new shoes is clearly the key to many a woman's heart.
Yes, even if they have cleats. See, you guys aren't the only ones who like matchy bike clothing. Ha!
Glad to hear another lady rider is on the way. Patriot, better get the toolbox out and get going, bud.
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Old 03-21-05, 07:28 AM
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Hell, you got a lot of stuff for only $163 bucks!
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Old 03-21-05, 07:37 AM
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Congrats on "getting" your wife so involved.

I'm headed back to Arizona next month (my work here in Oregon is done soon) and will be making every effort to get my wife away from the dark side and into the light of physical fitness and health that she soooo much needs to be a part of......
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Old 03-21-05, 08:10 AM
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I wish we had PBS here too. I'm in a similar situation, gently encouraging the wife to more into riding. OK, maybe not so gently... we did camp-out on the slopes of l'Alpe d'Huez for the uphill TT this past summer. I guess that's one reason she was determined to get a bike as soon as we got back!

And you're right about the "clothing on sale" bit.
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Old 03-21-05, 08:18 AM
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Nice Patriot. I like how your wife is into cycling---more women need to be like that.
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Old 03-21-05, 09:59 AM
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same thing with me yesterday. I got to spend my Performance coupons on some gear for her: , a jersey, shorts, and a few spare items for new bike.
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Old 03-21-05, 10:08 AM
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Originally Posted by Patriot
Well, an hour later, and $163 lighter in my wallet, we finally leave. "

Sounds like to me you got off pretty cheap, enjoy. There isn't nothing like the wife showing interest in our hobby...errrr sometimes.
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Old 03-21-05, 10:20 AM
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I'm glad that you and your wife can share a hobby! But...ouch. I hope my hubby doesn't talk about me like that. I mean, I know he was frustrated when I didn't jump right in, but he encouraged me by other means than sales prices on accessorized clothing -- because those just wouldn't be motivators for spend-phobic fashion-challenged liddle ol' me. He invited me along on short rides with him...encouraged me to do casual rides with others...as my interest grew, he slowly began replacing parts on my bike, Cane Creek wheels here, dual-pivot brakes there...now he's bribing me to begin racing by offering to put DuraAce 9-speed on if I do. Not sure that I can resist that!

Good luck, and remember to stay motivating -- I adore the chance to spend weekend time on the bike with my sweetie, but sometimes he pushes just a LEETLE too much and turns the ride into more of a pain-fest than a shared hobby...
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Old 03-21-05, 10:30 AM
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You have what I call "G.B.S.S.M.M.S." I've had it since the day I got married but it didn't have a name until the day I joined Costco.

It's more commonly referred to as "going broke saving so much money syndrome" and it's amazing how many guys have it but can't identify it.

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Old 03-21-05, 10:30 AM
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Very cool with the wife. Just curious is that a Public Bike Shop (PBS)?
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Old 03-21-05, 10:44 AM
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These things come to mind:

"Don't you just love it when a plan comes together?"

"The more you spend, the more you save."

"Be careful what you wish for."

Congrats
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Old 03-21-05, 10:47 AM
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Women who ride are cool

Neil . . . whose wife rides a Cannondale R1000 triple and a Gary Fisher Tassajara.
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Old 03-21-05, 10:51 AM
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Patriot,
Kewl. My wife is the same way but also is looking at hardware!
we go to the LBS, I go right to the mechanics corner, she goes to
the jerseys etc. (she REALLY likes cycling socks). but then says
"Aren't our helmets 4 or 5 years old? shouldn't we get new ones?" and
proceeds to pick up the Giro Pneumo saying she likes how these look
and fit (tried it on before I even got there!). Given the choice between
a SRAM PC48 and PC89 she said "might as well get the better one, its
got to last"
We are very lucky men.

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Old 03-21-05, 11:32 AM
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While visiting So. Cal. and Sun Dance cycles recently, my wife was my fashion consultant on the wind vest I bought there.

Then she proceeded to the socks and gloves, buying a pair of LG gloves with the Sun Dance logo on them. She also went on to say she really needs to look at some riding clothes for this summer. Excellent!

I have her new Bianchi set up in the basement next to my bike on trainers...she's been on the thing two or three times only all winter, but at least she's thinking about hitting it a little when it warms up outside.

We went on several slow rides of 10-15 miles last summer as her introduction. If that's all I ever get I'm a happy man. Those rides are the only time I have no worries about speed, other than to make sure I'm going slow enough to simply make it a fun little trek for us together.
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Old 03-21-05, 11:49 AM
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Also a difference between me and my girlfriend. I was concerned about riding before clothing. My girlfriend was concerned about clothing before riding.
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Old 03-21-05, 11:51 AM
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Originally Posted by lauren
You give your GFs bikes!? Hmmm
yah, I bought my wife a Bianchi (but its yellow), then bought
her an Eisentraut. Made my buying a few old frames
much more palatable.
There is method to our madness (well sometimes)
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Old 03-21-05, 11:53 AM
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Originally Posted by lauren
You give your GFs bikes!? Hmmm
Not my girlfriend, just my wife.
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Old 03-21-05, 11:54 AM
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My friend Patriot, you do not have time to be posting here. Get a wrench in your hand and get that bike finished.
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