[Closed] The missus.......

You're obviously also young enough to not have learnt the most important lesson of hiding bike purchases from your other half.

Is that a new bike?

No no, not new, nothing to see here. Move along. Now how about that holiday.

What colour are your existing bikes?

Order it first, then say you've had it for ages. My Best by far half pulls that s**t every single week.

My money, my bikes but... usually have to build up to it over a few months, you know lay the ground works then one day there's a new bike in box. Less of a shock that way. Alternatively build them up bit by bit or claim it as a halfords special.

i don't have that problem any more. i changed girlfriends 'til i found the right one then got married.

Anyone else have problems justifying bikes to their other halves?

No.

I often get the catty comments when parts turn up 'oh...I thought it was a present for me?!'

Funny...we both earn the same money, I pay maintenance for two kids with my ex and yet I pay more into our joint account...still to be ridiculed and guilt tripped whenever I spend MY money.

If you're engaged or married...just tell her it costs the same as her engagement ring...and to be thankful she's not paying for it.

Create an email from a bike shop, and say congratulations youve won a new bike, and would you please come and collect it asap,then hide ANY bill or statement from a credit card comapny or bank that says youve paid for it, best to use a company many miles from where you live though.

You won it in a competition.. thats 2 full bikes, brakes and forks ive won in the last 18 months alone. What can i say.. im lucky.

edit beaten to the competition idea with slow typing

Explain that bikes are like golf clubs. They all essentially perform the same function but are specialised for different disciplines, hence the need for several.
She wouldn't expect you to putt with a driver would she?

Cycle to work scheme? That way you save 40% and it is interest free purchase. Or at least it's a way of persuading otherwise difficult people that these necessities are cheaper than they actually might be.....

No. No problems justifying it to the missus at all.

Then again, she is a roadie with no soul, so I doubt she can feel things like emotions.

Mates Mother in law. Andy is that a new hang glider in the garage

Andy. No

MMIL Are you sure, it looks longer than before

Andy , No, it's the same

MMIL Ohhh it must be me then

Andy Mmmmmm

MMIL unzips the bag, oh Andy your glider has changed colour......

I picked up Andy for a two week holiday in St Andre and we are just about to depart when his most favourite person in the world pulls up. MIL doesn't know we're off for two weeks, wants a chat with Andy who promptly suggests that they talk soon.

I drive off thinking WTF!

nope no real issue the missus just got herself a Blur LTc so I'm in the poor bike camp now...

I was with an ex for 5 1/2 years and she had no idea I had more than one bike, until the morning after we broke up, when she had to wait to give me a lift to work whilst I decided which would be best suited for my new temporary commute to work from a friends house before I could return to collect the others! (Oh and my clothes, Xbox, guitars and all my other crap)

Health and safety obviously.
Only a "proper" road bike will allow you to cycle safely on todays less than safe roads. How would she feel if you crashed because you didn't have the right equipment?
Will this work........no chance.

just keep buying them.
she'll give up eventually

and you can definately justify another one if you're commuting on your BFe

it says a lot about relationships when you have to create fake emails, receipts or hide stuff that "she'll not notice" rather than just talk about it or are you all just joking?

build em by stealth, start with a frame.....

before you know it youve got a fleet

Wives/girlfriends will always find something to moan about and give you grief for. Just make all the right noises then buy what you want anyway.

Oh, and having all bikes the same colour helps with turnover!!

2 tips:

All my bikes are the same colour scheme. They can then be updated/swapped/added to accordingly.

Stealth bank account. I have my personal account I get paid into, which then pays my wages into our joint account. However a small proportion is 'deducted at source' into a third account which had no cards or chequebooks. Or evidence of any kind. Bikes and bike parts are then 'won' with no evidence of financial transactions...

just keep buying them.
she'll give up eventually

that definitely worked for me, and the fact that bikes appreciate in value, so they're an investment. that's right isn't it chaps.

Let her go off on one
Stare her in the face and ask
" and your point"
Seems to work here

Best option is just to buy it. Then live with her being shitty for a week or two or until she buys something for herself. Just buy it and ride to storm.

Don't tell her, just buy and if she finds out and gives you a hard time just remind her how much make-up and other 'girls stuff' costs every month.

jesus - as per RD, we have separate incomes and contribute (more or less) equally to household outgoings and joint savings. What remains is hers to do what she likes with and same for mine.

Of course, having a bike company for which all bike expenses are justifiable business expenses helps as well....

just keep buying them.
she'll give up eventually

Kind of this, you will find that there is a point were they (wife G/F MIL (WTF)) will understand that buying bike stuff is just what you do. I personally would not try and hide anything. Be nice but buy what you want.

I had the same conversation, ended up ordering a carbon Nomad.
The missus is free to go on as many holidays as she likes...

I don't have that problem any more.I dumped the b@?%$.

Next time she's out get all of her shoes out and take a mass picture. When the moaning starts break out the picture.
If you can afford it,do it. Have you seen how much all that face cream costs? Our last holiday I rumbled mrs Zip doing nearly £300 on clarins.

Post the bike or hide to a friends house mate.. Then bring it piece by piece.. While you post the old bike in forsale section.. If its different color.. Just buy a spray paint can.. And spray the garage or any wall that looks like an overspray.. I believe you can do it from here 😉

Always remember:

Forgiveness is much easier to come by than permission.

I swap and change that much,i cant keep up with myself! so the other half is oblivious now,saying that she has her own issues " clothes shopping"

Heard a tale about someone who specced a pretty expensive custom build at la bycicleta in Sheffield. Paid for it. Wouldn't take it home until the owner had written a letter congratulating him on winning the star prize in a competition. The prize being that bike.

Whilst some things may have magically appeared on my bike (thanks to the upgrade fairies) that's takIng things a bit far I reckon!

La bicicleta is a very accommodating shop in that respect ;o)

(It wasn't me....)

I'm in the middle if this exact argument but my wife (currently on maternity) has pulled out the big guns; "And when will you ride the Ti frame that took me two years of saving to get for your 40th, well, WELL?"

I'm still trying to think of the right answer....

When I was in the shops over the weekend I mentioned I was after a Road Bike, [b][u]this opened up a proverbial can of worms about how I'm always after more or something better.[/u][/b] Problem is I only have my BFe which doubles as my commuter and my DJ which I use for pump tracking and playing at Lee. Trying to use a reference that it was a similar situation to clothing didn't exactly prove my point.

Try a new girlfriend!

n+1 girlfriend ????? !!!!

all of the above are great ideas, best thing to do is match the colour of the frames and have one in a constant state of repair in the shed and a mass of bikes so that keeping an eye on what is being wheeled in/out is tricky

'the bearings are dead in these wheels....'

"Is that a new bike?"

"Nah, I've had it for ages. Just don't ride it very much"

If she questions why it looks shiny and new, just say "thanks, I've spent ages cleaning it up."

If she contributes to it then fair enough, if not her tuff luck, suck it up baby!

Sadly after so many years my better half now knows more about whats likely to have cost a bit and what does not than most average cyclist do opps.
But as long as she does not see money going out of the joint account all is fine
Op just needs to learn to keep a little Side lol

Mrs Nano has plus 1 bike over me and her road bike is full carbon. Justifying my reduced in sale Forme was easy as a result.

Always helps is your OH is a bike tart 😉

When I wer a lad I was brought up to know honesty was always the best policy. And we wonder why divorce rates are getting higher every year.

Joking. 😉