[Closed] The wife's gonna kill me (tell me off, maybe not speak to me)......

My other half came home from the hairdresser's yesterday to find me lying on the dining-room floor surrounded by parts and a half-built Heckler that wasn't there before she left. She was surprisingly understanding about it 😀

Have been accused several times of loving my bike(s) more than my missus. Not sure my silence following this accusation helps matters at all when ogling bike porn on the internet most of the time while she watches corrie/neighbours/home and away/Gok etc etc.).

The only reason I keep my bikes in the garage is that they won't fit in the bedroom 😆

I find baffling them with....Yeah but I'm going to sell my old stem, I;'ve swapped these wheels over from my HT, Rick owes my £30 plus I still have some birthday money left...etc

they give up in the end 😉

nice just had a look on ebay and looks like you've got a bargain there!

we need to know more background info though,
how many bikes do you have?
do you have a full sus bike already?
where do you store your bikes?
etc etc,

but I think you're a dead man 😀

Currently in negotiation for a Giant Anthem X 29er on Bike to Work with Mrs Please. It is not going well.

Any tips? I have even passed up the opportunity to mock her for going to 'Rock Choir' and loving it.

I find baffling them with....Yeah but I'm going to sell my old stem, I;'ve swapped these wheels over from my HT, Rick owes my £30 plus I still have some birthday money left...etc

I say things like that as well, but reading your version suddenly made me realise that I might sound like a stroppy/defensive teenager.

hillsplease: Just give here the choice of either spending the money on a new bike OR beer, fags and hookers

HTH!

Good point well made, albeit I suspect I may find myself living in a shed presently.

Right background info:
Wife wants to move from 2 bed cottage (with nice size garage) to a 3 bed place to which I say we can't afford it atm (quite like where we live and I can put up with the size)
1 x 2Yr old daughter, trying for 2nd child - hence the can't afford to move (want wife to have baby and back to work before we move).
Standard over draft / cc bills that come with modern living (and owning bikes 🙄 )

Bikes:
1 x Dialled Love / Hate SS (pretty bling)
1 x Solid Flair SS Full Sus(pretty bling play/fr/dh bike)
1 x Trek Road bike (standard fitness machine)
1 x Old steel road bike - used to gentle rides with the wife

She has an old Dawes ladies bike SS which I did up for her and made it girly

Other stuff that costs money:

1 x Kayak
1 x PS3
1 x Wii

So not loads of bikes but a garage full of stuff/bits that should have been sold to pay for all the other stuff I have bought.

Will use the parts on the Dialled plus some gears to build it up and swap frames over when I want to ride hardtail or full sus / wet weather dry weather etc.

Will keep it at work until built.

I decided I to marry my now wife the day she came home to find me surrounded by bits of dirty bike spread all over the dining room and simply said "ooh what's this bit do?" 😆

Will use the parts on the Dialled plus some gears to build it up and swap frames over when I want to ride hardtail or full sus / wet weather dry weather etc.

Will keep it at work until built.

that's what you'll tell her,
eventually you'll have to build them both up, admit it 🙂

good idea about keeping it at work,

you're still dead though
and all the info about 2nd child and new house means you are doubly dead 🙂

I would have considered swapping you my trance frame for the flair frame

I am expecting the new pedals to arrive today while i'm at work. An un sanctioned purchase!

There will be words said when i get home!

Jackass sell me the Dialled and you will feel less guilty...

NO CURRENT bikes, frames etc. will be sold, only spares sold and extras purchased.

My real issue now though is will the brown grips and pedals on my dialled go with the blue of the Giant, I feel a custom paint job coming on.....

ahhh I've caught the bug again.... 2 Yrs since the Daughter has been born isn't too bad, is it??

"John, I'm really pleased at how you have stopped spending so much money on bikes".

24 hours later a box with 'Cotic' arrives. Well, it was my birthday (therefore only had a 8 hour grump to put up with).

Last night just missed out on a Yeti 575 on Ebay. I WILL have one before the summer....

So long as we can get into the garage, my wife's fine with it.

Thing is, I have more bikes than I use, so I really should have a clearout. I've a lot of decent kit that doesn't get used and probably won't again. That's OK when it's a £400 On-One rusty singlespeed, but not so good when it's a Rohloff-hubbed Nicolai or Endorfin. I've literally not turned a wheel on either of those two in 18 months, but I just can't face stripping stuff down, photographing everything, haggling with people and then the endless trips to the Post Office.

I knew you were about to break!
Just tell her, she'll maybe stroppy for a bit but I'd just get it out of the way, then you can tinker with it at home. Maybe do some overtime/private work to cover the cost?
By the way I was going to suggest a different colour, or maybe just strip the decals and then see what it looks like.
I think you will like it!

I fear I'm in a similar boat.

I've been wanting a Ti framed bike forever and last Oct after a beer or 2 and some prompting my a couple of so called 'mates' I bought a Van Nic Tuareg frame from On-one - 43% off - would have been rude not to.

I've since spent more than I dare add up, working out what to spec it out with and the peeps at Plush Hill Cycles have been kind enough to get me most of it.

Going to get it all built up next Monday and haven't told the wife about it.
I've gone over many options of how to tell her etc and none of them work. Usually she's quite relaxed about me buying bits but as I have a few bikes plus 2 motorbikes already I'm not sure this time.

Latest plan is just to say nothing and hope she doesn't find out. She'll never notice it among the other bikes - only downside is that my eagle eyed daughter will notice.

find baffling them with....Yeah but I'm going to sell my old stem, I;'ve swapped these wheels over from my HT, Rick owes my £30 plus I still have some birthday money left...etc

they give up in the end

+1

I also find that having only black/ grey bikes helps to confuse them.
Having said that, it helps when your other half spends even more money on clothes and shoes.

Me 'i'm getting another bike'
Her 'is it nice?'
Me 'yes''
Her 'ooooooohh! Can I have a go?'

And when we were planning the house extension

Her 'what do you want to have in the extension?'
Me 'a bike room'
Her 'a bike room?
Me 'yes''
Her 'what a good idea! They'll be safer indoors'

I'm very lucky
My bike room
[IMG] [/IMG]
Not that relevant but I had to share it!

JEngledow - Member
I decided I to marry my now wife the day she came home to find me surrounded by bits of dirty bike spread all over the dining room and simply said "ooh what's this bit do?"

Same here - took her to a DH race weekend - and she said "I want to do this!"

I once bought a GF Sugar and was assembling it with a mate in the sun on the drive when my wife came home early.
We actually jumped up and stood in front of it trying to make our bodies as wide as possible so it couldn't be seen.
Actually even she laughed.

Me 'i'm getting another bike'
Her 'is it nice?'
Me 'yes''
Her 'ooooooohh! Can I have a go?'

And when we were planning the house extension

Her 'what do you want to have in the extension?'
Me 'a bike room'
Her 'a bike room?
Me 'yes''
Her 'what a good idea! They'll be safer indoors'

I'm very lucky

I'm attempting a human cloning experiment, . . . . dya think she'd be interested? 😆

[img] [/img]

Bike! what bikes that then dear?

a bikes a bike, so i'm letting go of my 'parts bin' hardtail and replacing it with another bike* - one out, one in can't say fairer than that

*a 3k full susser 😀

I am quite lucky.

Mrs SC doesn't know one end of a bike from another. So a ti 29er looks just the same as say a green Superlight. Changes happen, she is kind of aware of them but doesn't seem to care.

All kept in the garage (under lock, key and alarm)and the only person with a key is erm. Me!

She is also very happy with all the riding I do. 2 or 3 evenings plus 1 or 2 days at the weekend. It keeps me out the house and allows me to maintain my awesome physique! 😆

Having said that, it helps when your other half spends even more money on clothes and shoes.

and have you seen the price of makeup??? jeeeeesus

My wife will notice only to the fact a 'blue' bike has appeared that isn't green, bright green, red and white, howies blue and of course her white and purple bike.

Fishbone - Hope you don't mind but for now, this will be your 'old' frame that I am 'borrowing' to see if I like it. You want '£200' for it and once built up, and I have raved on about it she might cave in - however the CC / bike account will get the money NOT you 😛

It is a double edged sword
Her 'what's in this parcel?'
Me 'my new droppy seatpost'
Her 'will it fit mine?'
Me 😥

khani - Member
It is a double edged sword
Her 'what's in this parcel?'
Me 'my new droppy seatpost'
Her 'will it fit mine?'
Me

I got robbed of my pink CK headset this way. Took months to find a replacement.

I have a mate who 'swaps' everything often 'buys' things [i]i.e. frames[/i]from me at really cheap rates, despite:

a) he's 3" shorter and amazingly fits the same bikes
b) only lives next door, so his missus must've seen me on my bikes

His other winning ploy is to have stuff delivered to my missus' grandparents house and then brings it in under cover of darkness 😆

Me I use the, if I get this, I'll sell that to part fund this. It kinda works 8)

Deffo the sell this to pay for it works and 'I can't sell it until I got the new part otherwise I won't have a bike to ride and you know I'll be hell to live with don't you?' works a treat.

I just haven't got anything BIG to sell.

after having to butter up every time soemthing was needed for teh bike an arrangement was made on a monthly allowance for hobbies clothes etc. Works great, as long as my fund balances nothing is said, can take the odd loan out of the current acc to cover buing before selling and strangley i have cut down the fleet by one recently to kep some funds in teh coffers for things i really want, rather than always having a frame or a fork that i just fancied trying. The act that her roa and mtn bike often benefit from hand me down nicer parts than they had on already helps as well.

khani - did you get a job lot on tyres ?

when discussing how shagged my current heckler is (sawing through swing arm, stripped & helicoiled BB threads, flat spot on top tube from cable rub) and how I was planning on replacing it this year she said:

How about if you got a new frame OR went to the mega?

I mean what sort of question is that!

My second hand Heckler 😉 cost me "300 quid and I made a profit on my ragley" 18bikes receipt is in secure storage

My wife has no idea how many bikes I have 🙂

(and all frames cost £99)

Not told her yet!, luckily I had mentioned I wanted some money for a bike related part first thing this morning and tonight I got questioned as to what I wanted. She rolled her eyes and I laid it on thick how one of my riding buddies is moving to Turkey so I will be doing more XC type rides with my other mates and I need gears otherwise my friends leave me behind (they don't but I like to paint a bleek picture).

Slowly slowly breaking down the barriers!

Have been accused several times of loving my bike(s) more than my missus. Not sure my silence following this accusation helps matters at all when ogling bike porn on the internet most of the time while she watches corrie/neighbours/home and away/Gok etc etc

Yep, me n'all.
If not tinkering in the garage, I'm looking at bike bits on e-bay or bike shots on various net sites, The conversation at home generally goes---Er, what this new shiney bike? Oh, I had it for age, surely you've seen it before love.

I said: [i]Look, I got some Fox 36's with adjustable travel.[/i]
She said: [i][b]Thank you! I knew you loved me.[/b][/i]
Me: [i]Yeah, can I have your old forks then, please?[/i]
Her: [i][b]Oh, absolutely, they aren't as nice.[/b][/i]

No problems here, its always handy when the wife has a more expensive hobby - horses.

After this.....

[img] [/img]

And this.......

[img] [/img]

Came this........

[img] [/img]

[img] [/img]

And all the wife said was " I dont care how much you spend on bike stuff, just as long as you dont moan when you`re on holiday with the kids"........ 😉

[img] [/img]

I'm taking note of all these tips, though I might have to go down the stoney route and get myself an eye-burningly bright road bike and say it's my 40th birthday present.

Turning 40 has meant i can get away with more stuff :P....

It can`t last for much lomger though 🙄

I started to get things posted to work until the girls in reception now grass me u[p to the wife when I need her to drop the things in that I need that day but have forgot!!
I am now very very organised!!!!

I was thinking about telling her last night after she got home from seeing friends but she was cranky and I could do no right.

I decided it wasn't the best idea to tell her!!

I think I will wait until it arrives and just let her discover it in the garage and bluff my way out!

Wife and younger son went skiing. I put together the 456 frame and bits that I had quietly been buying while they were away. I am not sure if she has noticed the 'new' bike in the garage yet (hidden amongst the others) and has not said anything or has just not seen it. I am going to play the 'well it was a lot cheaper than a skiing holiday' card when I have to admit to it. Not sure it will work but at least I have a card to play!

Employ a few different tactics:

1- Delivery to work or mates address, its an oldie but it works (move it to the garage when she’s not looking/out/at night)
2- Use credit card in my name only, not joint account and pay it off in smaller chunks so she doesn’t notice (She only looks at the online banking once or twice a month, never looks at a full statement and would only notice big amounts going out in one go, a fraudsters dream)…
3- Operate a “One in one out” policy, or at least claim to, I have a knackered old frame on standby which I will claim I’m selling in order to fund the next big spend item, as it’s all just bit’s of metal to her, one large box being posted and a similar sized one coming back must equate to a “Cost neutral” acquisition…
4- Ask permission, sounds stupid but if you put it just right, using phrases like “I thought I’d make sure you were OK with it” and “Only if you think we can afford it” basically make her think you factor her thoughts and opinions into your decision making processes (of course you’re not, you’ve probably already clicked “Go to checkout”), she’s more inclined to agree and therefore can’t bollock you, when a big box arrives and you get the “what have you bought now?” line you can respond with “it’s that Frame/Fork/Wheel I asked you about last week, I did tell you….” Normally good for at least 3 purchases until she works out you’ve bought several things on a one item “Permission slip”…

My missus never goes near the garage, she probably spends more than me on Clothes, Bags, Jewelry or any other crap she buys and then never wears/uses, But I never point this fact out, she knows it I know it, but making the point would be almost guaranteed to turn her into an arsey nightmare for a month, plus my expenditure has been pretty minimal the last 24months or so and what I have spent on has mostly been riding Clothes rather than parts…

It all sounds terrible doesn’t it, the lying and sneaking about just so you can own some shiny bicycle parts…

quite lucky with mrsconsequence i think judging by these stories! she even demands we keep the bikes in the house so they're "warm and snuggly and safe inside".

It all sounds terrible doesn’t it, the lying and sneaking about just so you can own some shiny bicycle parts…

It does a bit yeah.

I tend to just confess straight away and take it on the chin myself.

Going to pick up new road bike this afternoon.

🙂

Wife's pretty good as long as i don't take the p*** and I think she secretly likes the fact I'm not a fat biffer or play golf. 🙂

it's easier to get forgiveness than permission!

I've spent £13K on four bikes and loads of accessories in 5 months, she thinks half of them are insurance replacements and the other half are cheap ex demo's
😆

In other news, we've not been getting on for months and I'll be leaving soon anway so the 'bothered pocket' is well empty..

😯 Fair enough, I suppose.

JEngledow - Member
I decided I to marry my now wife the day she came home to find me surrounded by bits of dirty bike spread all over the dining room and simply said "ooh what's this bit do?"

That is the single most romantic thing I have ever heard 😀

Stoney: Never thought I'd say this but that green Trek is a proper stunner!
Good work fella!

£13K on four bikes and loads of accessories in 5 months

trying to get rid of the savings before divorce proceeding take the lot good idea

(Mr MC posting)

not only do I not have this problem, the reverse is true. I was looking at buying an insanely cheap Yeti ASR7 (£780 from importers) as a new frame. MC banned me not on expense grounds, but on the grounds I've always slated Yetis for being fugly and I was a hypocrite. So she encouraged to by an Orange Alpine instead 8)

Recently got some lovely Easton Haven bars for it. MC's input was "ooh the carbon ones look nicer"

In fact, thinking about it, I've been had. MC has more bikes than me...

I used to work from the point of view, of always buying parts the same colour as the parts I am replacing, worked to a point......however now divorced so no longer a problem...bikes in living room, parts bedroom and one in the kitchen with paint drying as we speak lol

Just swop 1 ruinously expensive hobby(scuba diving which includes 1/2 share in a boat)for a much cheaper one(ellsworth epiphany and all the bling) then tell her how much money you'r saving.Easy.