One of my friends runs a LBS. He bought the Team Once Giant composite frame a few months ago (I didn’t even think you could get that frame alone, it’s the one sold with campy record normally) and built is up with K’s (SL) and Dura ace. I talked my wife into test riding it a few weeks ago (a weekend long test ride) and she really liked it. I thereafter talked her into allowing me to buy it for her for a steal (1,600.00) since it has about 200 miles on it.
Here is where my guilt gets the best of me . . . I bought it for her full well knowing I’m going to end up with it. She rode in the past but has had back troubles over the years (not caused by the bike mind you). Back problems have been gone for a few years so she had been talking about a bike again, hence the test ride. However, by nature she is a swimmer and just likes being in the gym. I give her a few months of warm weather riding each year and she’ll be back to the “fitness center” full time, however, I do hope she can physically ride again at least. That said, I fully support her riding and told her I’ll ride with her whenever she wants but just know I’ll end up with the bike and suspected as such when convincing her to buy it. It’s really not my fault we ride the same size frame after all
There my guilt is out somewhat, now I’m kind of proud that I’ve got her back on the bike or got myself a sweet new ride. I guess either way I’m the winner in the end . . . It sure is hard to be me.
Too bad that I don’t have your problem. I’d love to get my wife a composite Giant TCR so that I’d get to use it. But that would never happen. In our family, I’m not allowed to even touch her P2K. What’s hers is hers and what’s mine is also hers.
Men around the world will marvel at your ability, hold seminars and make more money than you ever imagined. You have cracked one of life’s final bastions of male ignorance- making a woman happy and still serving your own interests. I for one envy you, and while you may feel guilt I would suggest practicing your acceptance speech for the aforementioned steed, remember to remain humble and look sad as you ride off into the sunset grining from ear to ear…
I can just see this backfiring on you,she will love the bike,give up the gym and ride more than ever,all while you ride along watching,she might even ride so much she will be kicking your but in a few months,good luck and keep us informed
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I can just see it now: You, standing in the driveway as your lovely wife rides off on a three hour ride, saying in your best Milton(from Office Space) voice: “Um, excuse me! Umm, that was supposed to be MY bike. Umm, I wanted that bike. Could somebody get her back here, please?”
Seriously, though. Try not to beat yourself up over this. Your wife is probably well aware of your intention to jack her new bike out from under her. In general, women are very good at detecting when men are being devious, primarily because we aren’t very subtle about it. (Look honey! I bought the new LawnDominator 6000 StarFire so that I can do a better job of making the yard look nice for you!)
Women, on the other hand, they can scheme. Plot too. My wife for example, she’s a schemer. Always plotting. She even plots in her sleep. I know because I can hear her evil chuckle sometimes.
I must say, I wish I could pull that off, but I do think it might be a bit obvious seeing as my wife is 5’2" and I am 6’4". Look Honey, a new bike just for you, simply ignore the fact that you cannot stand over the top tube with your feet on the pedals, let alone the ground…
I have the same problem being 6’4" with a 5’4" wife,my wife just discovered my new Specialized MTB last night,and wondered were the new Gary Fisher i just bought two years ago was,at least she has not discovered the new Tiemeyer tt bike i got for Christmas,(shhh i think i here her coming)
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last year I bought a P2K frame and just put it down in the basement in the laundry room for safe keeping. At my house I do all the laundry and my wife rarely goes into the basement at all, so, the one day she goes down there I come home and here, “uh, what is that blue bike in the basement?” She thought it was a covert op or something since I had the bike for a few months and she didn’t know about it . . . and she check the basement regularly now.
The worse thing is she would joke to my friends, “he bought another bike, just what he needs another bike, a TT bike and didn’t tell me about it” and of course, they all said, “well, we knew about it the whole time”
I have a friend who’s really into cars (races 'em too). He’s now bought two cars without telling his wife. He simply put the first one in the garage. She went in there to get something and came back with the whole “Honey, what’s that red car doing in the garage?” His response while walking to the garage, “What? I don’t know what you’re talking about. Oh Honey, did you get that for me??”
Thats were mine is,in the basement in the laundry room,my laundry room,she has her own upstairs,(this is what you get when two 40 somethings get married and get a big house, so you still have your own space)but she likes to use mine??? thats why almost all of my bikes get painted yellow and red,pretty soon they all look the same,i have even heard her tell a friend,she can’t keep up with all of then because they look the same.Wish me luck
“He’s now bought two cars without telling his wife.”
I did something like that with my wife when we first moved in together. She had two cats but I’m a dog person. I brought home a year old black lab when she was at work. When she saw it in the back yard she asked “what the hell is that”, to which I replied “it’s a dog”. Bad answer.
I then explained that the dog was house trained and got along great with cats. When she finally agreed to let him in the house the first thing the dog did was chase the cats under the bed and then immediately have a pee on the living room rug.
To make a long story short, we kept the dog, but we were both in the dog house for awhile.
Along the JeffJ line of thinking, my wife has always wanted a horse and my bikes are starting to take over the kid’s play room. How are these two facts related you ask … read on. Cruising down the road the other day on my typical look and came across a horse trailer - you know one that you can stand up in with the little door up front built for two horses. Stopped, thought for a minute. Measured it up next to the bike. Figure I can get 4-5 bikes inside all hung nicely out of the way, all the tools, special rack for wetsuit (finally can lay it flat as DeSoto recommends), small workbench along the side that folds up out of the way when traveling, a bunk bed, little RV AC unit on top. (Direct TV with OLN might be over the top.) What a great way to get your stuff to the races. Thinking about bringing it home and tricking it out as described … but just until my wife gets her horse, of course. Wish me luck guys.
Jeff, Wifey knows what you’re up to. We always know . . . *always. *But, we love our hubbies, so we let you think you’re fooling us. Plus, we want stuff too, and can sight things like this when the time comes. “But honey, member when I even gave you my very own bikey??” Diabolical . . .
I agree with Kategt. from my experiences your screwed later or sooner. My wife bought me oval aerobars for my b-day, I paid for them of course. Still trying to figure that one out. As my wife says “who always wins?”
