[Closed] Families eh......... outlaw content

If you've only got one bike, what're you going to ride?

Any local bike hire places in the area? "Sure, I'd love to lend him a bike, but I've only got one that's safe at the moment. But it's ok, I found this place round the corner that rents 'em."

I'm guessing he'll bail as soon as he has to put his hand in his pocket anyway.

Unreasonable at not wanting to lend a bike? Not at all. I think if I were you, I'd be exponentially more amenable if they'd had the courtesy to ask me first. Unreasonable at not wanting to babysit, meh, maybe. How well do you get on with him?

Does he actually even want to go, or is this a 'let's get rid of the boys for an afternoon' exercise? Maybe get him in the mood by sending him a Youtube link to a black trail?

what cougar said absolutely top advice.

Well I sugested that he hire one and they said there won't be anything open, what with having an excelletn knowledge of trail centres in Wales and their opening hours and all that 😉

To be fair there's not a chance in hell he'll be riding my Nicolai and the other bike - if built up - will be brand new and he's not getting on that either.

I've already explained that the 29'er will be too big for him as he's a bit shorter than me with much shorther legs.

Your bike, your life, call your own shots.

Last time I leant my car out it came back with a blown diff. Last time I lent a bike out it came back with a crisped front wheel, which was a relief in that it meant i no longer had to listen to clunking, clumsy, tooth bending, link twisting gear shifts every five seconds.

Never again.

Sounds like there are bigger issues than you just not wanting to ride with him / lend him a bike.

why can't he ride your bike? it's only a bike. Can't see the problem.

You get to ride, he gets to do something that he might enjoy and get into, what's not to like?

Well, as you said in your original post, you'll only have one bike. Can't really expect you to run alongside, pushing him along can they?

Most of these things tend to fizzle out, imo anyway,, if you don't mention them again.

Mind, if it's still on the cards come the break, and a hire centre is open, there's no harm in him coming along is there? A bit churlish otherwise, I think.

Lent my brother in law my FS bike for a lap of Cwmcarn, I rode my wifes old steel Rockhopper which is way to small, had a proper laugh he rode everything (black sections too) overtaking alot of people on the climbs, now have a new person to ride with when I visit them 😀

He'd never ridden a MTB before either no crashes and loved it, the looks on peoples faces as he cruised by them in leisure wear was worth it alone, followed by me on what appeared to be a childs bike ring the bell frantically 😀

You could always mention the 'you bend it you mend it' clause and give a rough list of costs 😯 if you really don't want to lend him a bike

You can cover yourself with glory by not only agreeing to this, but saying "He'll like it so much, he'll need his own bike"

Then buy a BSO from a supermarket for him as a Xmas present. After all, it's only a bike.

🙂

Thinking about it, I've a better idea.

"I've found this great hire shop, so [i]we can all go out riding![/i] I've booked a bike for him and one each for the ladies. I'm really looking forward to it now, I can't wait!!"

You can cover yourself with glory by not only agreeing to this, but saying "He'll like it so much, he'll need his own bike"

... suggest that his wife buy him one for Christmas. Helpfully send them a link to what you ride, at RRP.

Well, perhaps you *need* another bike 🙂

Should you get yourself another bike and manage to scare off your brother in law with tales of horrific injuries and videos of people bending themselves, well, that would leave you one bike up and spending the day riding around on your own.

A bike is a bike - let him borrow one. I lend bikes to folk and have borrowed them. usual rules apply - bend it and mend it

epicyclo - excellent idea 😆

LOVE Cougar's 2nd reply! I would be really pi**ed off! not necessarily with the "he can have your bike" with the whole booking of the trip without discussing it with me! Sounds like you need some serious talking!!!!

I wouldn't lend a total novice my bike. Coupled with the fact that you might get hypothermia standing around in the winter cold waiting for him.

[i]I don’t really want to be spending my day of freedom babysitting him to be honest.[/i]

I take it you don't actually like him much? 🙂

I don’t really want to be spending my day of freedom babysitting him to be honest.

Is this more the issue than the bike lending?

I was going to suggest you borrow a bike off me, but if he's shorter than you he must be a flipping midget :p

It's not that I don't like him, he's alright but as hels has said it could turn cold etc.

TJ if only it was that simple, it would work out somehow that I'd get them blame for any damamge etc.

MC - I'm not bothered abotu the trip thing, just the assumption that I'll happily lend my bikes out - despite the obvious stumbling block of only having one functioning bike at the moment 😛

Cheers Nige 😉

Not unreasonable at all. I definitely wouldn't let a complete novice out on my pride and joy, either. I'd be a bit annoyed with you wife, sister in law and mother in law if they just expected you ruin your one fun day having to babysit too. A bit of talking is required by the sounds of it

You obviously 'need' that second bike badly, leverage with components purchases? 😉
Have used a similar ploy with the current 'race'/short travel bike (bro in law lives near Thetford 🙂 )

I've had a better idea - get a missus who doesn't plan up your Christmas season and offers up your bike (and riding time) without discussion!

EDIT:

You obviously 'need' that second bike badly, leverage with components purchases?

Actually, you should buy a third, fully built up bike as a 'spare', and for loaning out to friends and family. You don't need to discuss this, obviously. 😉

All very mumsnet this.....

LoCo

The 2nd bikes frame has been ordered and is somewhere between the US and here, just need wheels, forks, tyres and I'm done 😀 But as I said the wheels will more than likely be a crimbo pressie from the wife.

So a totally virgin bike under a total novice on say for example Coed-Y-Brenin on an inevitably near zero, slippy day in Decemeber - don't think so 😆

Mrs Toast - don't think the wife would be too happy with that, personally not to bothered about the trip away as I can't be doing with crimbo anyway

Yep, total novice and north wales in winter doesn't sound fun, perhaps you need to show him whats involved first!

Mrs Toast, I'm liking how your logic works, I'm off to order a Niner 😀

I take it that neither the wife or sister in law have bikes? If they do then suggest that, due to his size, he would be better borrowing theirs (its only a bike...)

why do you let your wife make plans and then TELL you, mtfu and have some balls. If you don't then this will become regular.

flower - nope neither of them have bikes

Cruz - that'd go down so well

why not tell him that you don't think he'll be able to manage the trail centre in winter and that you'll do something else.

or

don't finish the 29er.

grow a pair and tell your missus what you feel 🙂

Perfect excuse to buy another bike - assuming you want one, let him borrow your old bike you take the new one.

Don't mind taking newbies riding and I'll lend them one of mine, have been known to lend out my bestest bike on occasion too. I try* not to crush their spirits with enormous climbs and tortuous techno rockfest descents. Depends how you feel about your BiL tho and I'm not sure how happy i'd be if it was either newbie ride OR cracking ride with mates.

*try, don't always succeed tho.

what is SWMBO?

she who must be obeyed, only just figured it out after reading this thread 🙂

Tell him you're planning on doing the Snowdon Rnagers path, find some video on google, pic's of mashed up bodies, and tell him it should be really fun and slippery in the snow/ice. Has he done any training for the climb up Lanberris? Suggest he get's himself a new bike (obvious linking to a Nicolai at RRP as suggested above).

The worst thact can happen is he (or recently bereved relatives) ends up selling his barely used Nicolai, best he gets into it.

SWMBO

There's your problem. Get a 'She Who Has A Discussion And Comes To An Agreement'

she who must be obeyed, only just figured it out after reading this thread

I always assumed it was something like "Significant Won't Mountain Bike Other"

I always assumed it was something like "Significant Won't Mountain Bike Other"

No, you're right (unless it has some other meaning specifically on here). It's of similar vintage to Arfur Daley's "er indoors" I think.

Theres an easily solution to this. "I only have one bike, as the other WONT be complete in time due to needing XYZ, which I've ordered, but wont be delivered until January."
TBH I wouldn't be keen on lending either of my bikes to anyone either, although there are a select few riding mates who I'd trust to look after it. But im 6'5" so my bikes dont fit most people luckily.
I think you need to talk to your wife about this organising your whole xmas. What about visiting YOUR family?

Take him out on a ride in advance and tear the legs off him and generally chuck him down some really difficult stuff. He'll either hate it and decline the xmas ride or love it and genuinely look forward to it

Yinn,

They're of a similar feeling as I am, and we'll eb seeing my sister & her kids on Christmas eve, undoubtably during the few days between too.

If I'd been presented with this scenario I would now be in one of the two following places.

1. New budget bike on the way which after the expected mayhem would become my knocking about bike (I'd spec it based on this premise). This would be a cool singlespeed cruiser or a gnarly jump bike.

or

2. My brother in law would be so averse to the proposal after someone accidentally showed him some pictures of ice festooned adventurers slogged their way across the frozen wastelands of Canada, that I wouldn't even have to object and would be free to carry on as I pleased.

I'd give him the choice of bikes, just telling him to be careful.

It's nice to ride with beginners and see them get a buzz from it, pass on a few tips etc.

It is only a bike.

No, you're right (unless it has some other meaning specifically on here). It's of similar vintage to Arfur Daley's "er indoors" I
think

I think it dates from Rider Haggard's She from about 1887

http://www.amazon.co.uk/She-H-Rider-Haggard/dp/1551116472/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1319455640&sr=8-6

Don't go, spend Christmas with your extended family. You've got the rest of the year for riding