buying a road bike for Christmas - clueless!

lucan

Is it Wiggle that offer a 30 day "return it if you don't like it" offer? If it is, and if they have a suitable bike in your price range you can't go wrong because he can swap it for something else if it's not quite right for him.

You could ask your local bike shop if they would do a similar thing.

kingrollo

PS - you sound like a great wife !

Im hoping for carbon wheels - but will probably end up with a couple of boxes of Maltesers

amelie19

Well the bugger managed to "come across" a link to the allez on my laptop while i was cooking dinner and asked me what's up with that.. as I just cannot lie i had to tell him the truth! as expected, he was shocked and said i can't buy that for him, it's too expensive, etc.. but he was over the moon with my choice though, he said he was looking at a similar model and he really, really likes it, he still said it's too expensive so we managed to come to an agreement.

We're gonna look at ebay together and choose a second hand one for Christmas. We're also gonna go to the local bike shop and get him properly measured, see if they have the allez in stock and have a good look at it.

I'm okay with that, i think it would have been a nice surprise especially now that i know he would have been happy with it, but hey!

I still need to convince him now, but i'll try and get the whole family involved so hopefully he'll still get the bike for christmas with no more drama!

but thank you for the replies guys, we're still open to suggestions now!

dmch2

CiB wrote:

A bike is a very personal thing - it's so much better if it's right, it fits properly, and it's one that the owner really wants to ride. What you OP - and perfectly reasonably too in most other present buying scenarios - are after is to take a punt on all that and more for the 5 seconds worth of "there - waddja think????!!!"

Very good point.

Get a poster company to print a full size bike poster on stiff card or something. On the back use a big marker to write "Happy Christmas - come and choose your bike with me on Monday". Cut out the bike shape, wrap it up and lean it against the tree.

Then when you go to the shop get them to have the 3 or 4 in your price range and in your best guess as to his size ready with no prices on them. Then he can choose but still gets the unveil on Christmas day. I'd imagine that sales are slow in January so they should be happy to help out

I find the same problem in reverse with my wife. She says 'Please can you buy me some jewellery/watch/clothes/handbag' etc but I'm so worried that it'll be the wrong one that I end up not buying one and getting something else that I can't get wrong! She also mentioned a Nintendo DS so that's dead easy for even a bloke to get right!

pottssteve

Hi All,

Just thought I'd mention, it would be worth saving a bit of your money for a pair of bib shorts and a jersey (at least). They don't have to be flash, and it will make the ride much more comfortable. Also, some people like to wear a helmet, though it's not compulsory, and they aren't that cheap.

Either way, have a merry Christmas!

Steve

hopper1

amelie19 wrote:

Well the bugger managed to "come across" a link to the allez on my laptop while i was cooking dinner and asked me what's up with that.. as I just cannot lie i had to tell him the truth! as expected, he was shocked and said i can't buy that for him, it's too expensive, etc.. but he was over the moon with my choice though, he said he was looking at a similar model and he really, really likes it, he still said it's too expensive so we managed to come to an agreement.

We're gonna look at ebay together and choose a second hand one for Christmas. We're also gonna go to the local bike shop and get him properly measured, see if they have the allez in stock and have a good look at it.

I'm okay with that, i think it would have been a nice surprise especially now that i know he would have been happy with it, but hey!

I still need to convince him now, but i'll try and get the whole family involved so hopefully he'll still get the bike for christmas with no more drama!

but thank you for the replies guys, we're still open to suggestions now!

Well, you know he likes the bike, so now you can do the sneaky bit!
Go to your LBS get him measured up so you know the size, continue with the guise of looking for a bike on ebay, whilst continuing to search for the Allez on the net.
Find the bike you want and stick it under the tree!...
Sorted.

kingrollo

Buy him the Allez - but then as the shop to put Zipp carbon wheels on - that will surprise him Christmas morning.

amelie19

yeah it would surprise my bank aswell! lol

lucan

He might know about the bike, but he doesn't know how many strange (some very, very strange) men you are corresponding with on this forum!

Enjoy the search and keep asking questions if you need more help.

I might mention to my wife how thoughtful and generous you are to your husband - see if that gets me a nice surprise this christmas.

amelie19

thank you! i'm already eyeing up a nice allez on ebay, it ends in 9 days but i might be able to get it, husband will just have to lend me lunch money for the next two weeks!

i showed it to him and he loved it, even though i was a bit unsure (it has a little scuff mark) but he said he loves working on them and he was literally jumping up and down the house when i showed him so i think i might get that one, it's stretching my budget terribly because it's so soon but at least i know he'll be happy with it and then i don't have to worry about it for a while.

i suppose being thoughtful with presents is sort of making up for me being quite rubbish at housework! haha

i'll let you wonderful guys know what he gets in the end

nochekmate

I see that the Allez that I had recommended to you via PM (not trying to sell you one) appears to be the choice of others too. If you are looking at eBay then look for a Buy It Now price rather than get involved in the bidding process, where there can be a tendency to over pay.

There is an Allez on eBay not too far from you for £295 I believe - a few marks mentioned, but not a bad price IMO.

A few older Allez Elites have sold for less than the £400 mark - they are a good bike at that price point.

Good luck

sparkins1972

kingrollo wrote:

PS - you sound like a great wife !

+1

I am not encouaraged / allowed to include cycling related items on any Christmas or Birthday list as apparently they are not 'proper presents' and 'a bit silly'.

I know my place...

amelie19

i know! but i don't get paid until 2 days before auction ends

amelie19

I don't think it's silly, sparkins1972! we always try and get each other something we really want no matter what looks we get from the family!

you should have seen my mother in law's face when i put

http://store.razerzone.com/store/razeru ... d.35208800

on my wishlist!!!!!

priceless ..

amelie19

Just a quick update guys, the lovely guy selling the allez has agreed to let me buy it now, pay a £25 deposit and the rest, cash on collection, so to sum it up, husband got a 2009 specialized allez for £295 which is not too bad I think. Now I just need to keep it hidden until Christmas but I doubt he won't ride it. Thank you very much for your advice and you shall hear from me again when I decide to learn how to ride a bike :oops: And I'll probably be looking for a pink one! Xx

mucknell

just read your post and to bad you dont live in northen ireland...i have just bought my new bike and am selling a specialized allez double sport with a few extras its just a month under a year old 56cm frame...

SDK2007

An amazing result !!

amelie19

We're picking it up this weekend!!

Any suggestions for a good value helmet and shorts? x

lucan

With shorts you get what you pay for. Half way into a long ride, miles and miles from home is not the time to wish he'd spent a little more. :oops:

Helmets, on the other hand (or head), are different. The one that feels most comfortable could be £19 or £159 and both will be exactly the same when it comes to the crunch. Polystyrene is polystyrene. All you pay for is the style and the name when you pay extra if the fit and comfort are right.

Just my opinion.

ChrisSA

Decathlon do a good range of cheap helmets.

gregg.pedder

amelie19 wrote:

okay okay i think i'm getting a rough idea about brands and quality..

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/spe ... 5#features

what about this one?

+1 This one is as good as you will get for less than £500. I use that exact model as my hack/commuter, and do upwards of 20-25 miles a day and its great, love riding it, im sure you're husband will too.

bakerstreet

Buckled_Rims wrote:

amelie19 wrote:

i will try and see if i can get anyone else in the family to chip in, then i might be able to stretch it to £400-500

thanks


edit:

for example i have found this:

http://www.mailordercycles.co.uk/produc ... 1b0s6p8279

how come it's that price then? bad quality?

Yuk! Might be OK for some but it looks rubbish.

try for example:

http://www.tredz.co.uk/.Giant-Defy-4-2010-Road-Bike_27728.htm

Use this as a guide to minimum spec bike.

Seconded

amelie19

Hello again guys!

We picked up the bike last weekend and he's been riding it ever since.. ( i know! i tried to tell him not to but he convinced me by saying with money he saves on the bus fares i can then get more shoes )

Also, the guy that sold him gave him some useful tips about maintenance and a little crash course and he was just really nice in general.

Well, he pretty much loves it, he's ever so careful now, started locking the garage door and locking the bike to the shelves in the garage too! (we live in a very nice and quiet area!)

So i'm very happy with the outcome and thanks very much for your help!

amelie19

Triple post! sorry

amelie19

Triple post! dunno how i managed that sorry

lucan

I love stories with a happy ending.

So, when are you getting your new bike so that you can cycle together?