Busted! N+1 discovered by wife...how to placate?
04-21-17, 09:21 AM
#151
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Lo these many years, and a practice run before that.
Different strokes for different folks.
But if I wanted to disguise a bike purchase (too late for OP for this one), I think I'd transform an existing bike piece by piece over a period of a year or so. Come to think about it, that would describe my current bike if I swapped the frame and headset. I never thought of it that way before.
Wives could argue. Wives can argue that dark isn't the absence of light ... logic isn't a factor.
This wouldn't be a double-edged sword---this would be handing the sword to your wife and fighting bare-handed.
This wouldn't be a double-edged sword---this would be handing the sword to your wife and fighting bare-handed.
But if I wanted to disguise a bike purchase (too late for OP for this one), I think I'd transform an existing bike piece by piece over a period of a year or so. Come to think about it, that would describe my current bike if I swapped the frame and headset. I never thought of it that way before.
04-21-17, 09:29 AM
#152
Old guy on a Bike
I just hope that if I die, my dear wife doesnt sell my bikes for what I told her I paid for them.....
04-21-17, 10:22 AM
#154
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Martyn Ashton - Amazing Road Bike Stunt Riding
"It's not every day that you see a carbon road bike being used as a stunt machine."
Cheers
04-21-17, 10:47 AM
#155
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Next time make sure to cover the new bike in dust and grime BEFORE bringing it home. then you can tell he that it followed you home and you had no choice but to give it shelter.
VBEG LOL
Cheers
VBEG LOL
Cheers
04-21-17, 12:39 PM
#156
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6 pages in just 2 days ...? hit a popular nerve!
04-21-17, 03:05 PM
#158
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To the OP - thought about setting up a bi-weekly cleaning service? Mine comes in at around $200/mo and I find it easily worth double that - frees me up for adventures and fun rather than cleaning floors/toilets, etc.
Bill
Bill
04-21-17, 05:03 PM
#160
Full Member
oh man, this is sooo easy....
I was bitten by the cycling bug a few months ago, and after setting up my first bike (Trek Crossrip) as a commuter with rack & panniers, I started to wonder whether I should get a second sportier bike "just for fun".
I knew my better half would pour cold water over that idea immediately, so I bought my N+1 clandestinely, and kept it hidden in my (usefully full) garage.
This morning I thought...hey, I should try my new bike for my commute...maybe I could get there faster?
Unfortunately I forgot my water bottle and as I opened the door to fetch it, she-who-must-be-obeyed spotted the new bike. If it had been the same colour as the other bike, I might have gotten away with it, but the bright orange frame was a dead giveaway, and I was royally busted.
She was not best amused, and my feeble excuse about saving $15 a day in transport costs fell on deaf ears...after all, I already had a bike, so why did I need a second one? I got the door closed on me with complaints of me spending our money on unnecessary toys (although I found it pretty easy to justify the cost...must be a boy thing).
I have a few other "equipment oriented" hobbies (astronomy, target shooting, computers) that tend to lead to the acquisition of several versions of the primary gear. I have tried to explain that all of my telescopes, rifles and computers have different purposes, and that bikes are just the same. You wound't ride a rock-garden on a Pinarello race bike now, would you?
So....can anyone recommend ways to win over a non-cycling partner to the benefits of more bikes?
At least I found out that N = 2 is probably going to be my limit unless I want to risk S=1 :-(
I knew my better half would pour cold water over that idea immediately, so I bought my N+1 clandestinely, and kept it hidden in my (usefully full) garage.
This morning I thought...hey, I should try my new bike for my commute...maybe I could get there faster?
Unfortunately I forgot my water bottle and as I opened the door to fetch it, she-who-must-be-obeyed spotted the new bike. If it had been the same colour as the other bike, I might have gotten away with it, but the bright orange frame was a dead giveaway, and I was royally busted.
She was not best amused, and my feeble excuse about saving $15 a day in transport costs fell on deaf ears...after all, I already had a bike, so why did I need a second one? I got the door closed on me with complaints of me spending our money on unnecessary toys (although I found it pretty easy to justify the cost...must be a boy thing).
I have a few other "equipment oriented" hobbies (astronomy, target shooting, computers) that tend to lead to the acquisition of several versions of the primary gear. I have tried to explain that all of my telescopes, rifles and computers have different purposes, and that bikes are just the same. You wound't ride a rock-garden on a Pinarello race bike now, would you?
So....can anyone recommend ways to win over a non-cycling partner to the benefits of more bikes?
At least I found out that N = 2 is probably going to be my limit unless I want to risk S=1 :-(
04-21-17, 05:18 PM
#161
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I have never seen the need to hide whatever I buy from my wife. As long as the household expenses are taken care of, whatever I do with my money is my business. I don't care if she spends her money on clothes etc so why should I have to apologize for spending mine on bike stuff?
This was the one thing I made clear from day one. Keep a joint account for household expenses and separate personal accounts for our hobbies and things should work out just fine.
This was the one thing I made clear from day one. Keep a joint account for household expenses and separate personal accounts for our hobbies and things should work out just fine.
04-21-17, 06:04 PM
#164
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Where does retirement money come from - do you consider it a "his retirement" and "her retirement" or "our retirement"? Serious question from someone who in 33 years of marriage have never had separate accounts for anything. Everything is joint, including non-qualified investment we have for retirement. The only exceptions are qualified retirement accounts which, while not joint (they can't be) are considered by both of us to be. (and would be if we every separated.... according to divorce laws in the state I live in).
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Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
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“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
04-21-17, 06:08 PM
#165
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This is very good advice. Happy wife, happy life. Does the OP get into some hobby and then lose interest? If not, then I would suggest that you save your breath regarding "the benefits of more bikes," and let your behavior-- riding consistently, losing weight, whatever-- speak for itself. Lots of decent advice in the thread, but I admit I LOLed at the vacuum cleaner suggestion.
04-21-17, 07:32 PM
#167
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Thread Starter
Ah, you might if your name is Marty Ashton. MAke sure she doesn't see this or she might say, "If he can do it then you can do it too!" ;<) LOL VBEG
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5z1f...feature=relmfu
Martyn Ashton - Amazing Road Bike Stunt Riding
"It's not every day that you see a carbon road bike being used as a stunt machine."
Cheers
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5z1f...feature=relmfu
Martyn Ashton - Amazing Road Bike Stunt Riding
"It's not every day that you see a carbon road bike being used as a stunt machine."
Cheers
04-21-17, 07:36 PM
#168
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Good idea, and something my wife has suggested before....however domestic help is really expensive in Australia. There's a $18/hr minimum wage here, and most people expect more!
04-21-17, 08:15 PM
#169
Its all about the cruise
Lol seems like this thread has turned into a question that belongs on Family Feud. "100 cyclists surveyed...Top 6 answers on the board to this question.."What is the best way to win over the non cycling wife who ultimately controls your life anyway???
GREAT SEX! makes it allllll go away lol..Cause if you cant perform in bed like you can on the road you aint #^&% in her book lol...
But seriously I think the OP did do a tongue and cheek on this one. Enjoy your bike dont worry about it, life goes on. I would like to think a good relationship can overcome another toy purchase....
GREAT SEX! makes it allllll go away lol..Cause if you cant perform in bed like you can on the road you aint #^&% in her book lol...
But seriously I think the OP did do a tongue and cheek on this one. Enjoy your bike dont worry about it, life goes on. I would like to think a good relationship can overcome another toy purchase....
04-22-17, 05:45 AM
#170
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04-22-17, 04:44 PM
#171
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Thread Starter
Now...I reckon I had get away with a new wheel set more easily, don't you think? What those old Zipps / Enves? Every bike needs spare wheels, just like a car!
04-23-17, 06:25 AM
#172
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Tell the wife she should be thankful she's not married to a lardbutt couch potato. Buy what you want. She has no business telling you how to spend your money.
04-23-17, 09:47 AM
#173
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In some states, everything in the house and in the bank is co-owned. there is no "yours and mine."
I suppose if the wife came home with a $3.2 million diamond tiara and said "I paid for it with My credit card from the joint account" everything would be cool, right?
Fact is, in a team, everything is everybody's. Every dollar I spend on my doesn't get invested in the retirement fund ... which means when we no longer have incomes, I have toys and the wife and I have no food or medical.
"Short-sighted" and "selfish" are two great ways to stay single, or get single again.
04-23-17, 10:13 AM
#174
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LOL.
In some states, everything in the house and in the bank is co-owned. there is no "yours and mine."
I suppose if the wife came home with a $3.2 million diamond tiara and said "I paid for it with My credit card from the joint account" everything would be cool, right?
Fact is, in a team, everything is everybody's. Every dollar I spend on my doesn't get invested in the retirement fund ... which means when we no longer have incomes, I have toys and the wife and I have no food or medical.
"Short-sighted" and "selfish" are two great ways to stay single, or get single again.
In some states, everything in the house and in the bank is co-owned. there is no "yours and mine."
I suppose if the wife came home with a $3.2 million diamond tiara and said "I paid for it with My credit card from the joint account" everything would be cool, right?
Fact is, in a team, everything is everybody's. Every dollar I spend on my doesn't get invested in the retirement fund ... which means when we no longer have incomes, I have toys and the wife and I have no food or medical.
"Short-sighted" and "selfish" are two great ways to stay single, or get single again.
Well therein lies the OPs way out. He bought it for her as much as him. What kind of woman would be ungrateful for a gift?
04-23-17, 11:57 AM
#175
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