Work is currently offering Cycle to Work Scheme, and my LBS happens to have a Bianchi Zurigo that fits the budget. My current commuter (a 2011 Saracen Urban Studio 74), meanwhile, could really stand a mate.

Mrs SR, however, is not remotely convinced. She thinks something crazy, like I ‘just got myself a new bike’. Which is sort of true, but that’s a road bike, so not at all the same thing.

What can I say to convince her that I absolutely need the Bianchi?

nope, your wife is right.

No. NO.

You need a new MTB first.

It won’t be easy with that colour…

Easy, obviously you must be buying it for her, how else do you explain the colour?

You need a new MTB first.

Perhaps, but an mtb is harder to apologise for under cycle to work. That, and I would plan to spend a good deal more than £1000 on a new mtb!

As for the rest of you, what’s wrong with the colour?!? Classic Bianchi!

I like it, anyway…

Choose a better bike, and then I’ll be right behind you, backing your every move. Until then, you’re on your own.

Tell her your other bike died 3 years ago, she just doesn’t know it yet.

its better to ask for forgiveness than permission

That said possibly not with that colour 😉

Tell her “new patio or new bike” ….

Tell her if you don’t buy it now it will cost 10 times more after brexit.

That’s the great and unanticipated benefit of titanium frames. The untrained eye has difficulty working out how many bikes there are around if they are all natural metal Ti frames

Buy a MTB.

Promise to actually ride to work on it and give her the savings to spend on what she eants/expensive present for her (ie not something you want)