How do you get it past the other half???

dartmoorscottydog

Like some others on the forum I really fancy a Cannondale Supersix in the sales. Question is how do you get it past/through your other half?? There are (as I see it) various options:

1. Assertive approach - "I'm buying a new bike" - not likely to succeed
2. Passive approach - "can I buy a new bike" and what do you do if she says no?
3. Dangerous approach - "I've bought a new bike"
4. Optimistic approach - "I can save £400"
5. Optimistic approach with dangerous catch - "I can save £400 what would you like"?

So how should you / have you approached this potentially dangerous situation or am I just being a "woose"?? All solutions gratefully considered - replies from the feminine members of the forum welcome!!!

milese

Just lie about how much it will cost, or make out selling your old bike will cover the cost.

I've halved the price things cost before, and still got a 'hooooooow much?'

lemoncurd

Go for the Dura Ace SuperSix to test the water, then back down to Ultegra.

Or hide it in the shed and only sneak out for rides after dark.

How many bikes have you got now?

APIII

I think I've been through all the options over the years. I'm now back to option 1 as honesty is actually the best policy. If buying new stuff is genuinely a problem with your other half, either you are being selfish or you need to find a new other half

nochekmate

I've had that many bikes coming and going over the last two years that my other half has lost track of my dealings - current stable is hard to justify but I think that I have most bases covered at the moment.

MaxwellBygraves

Lie about cost - unless she's a keen cyclist she won't be able to tell the supersix from a £500 entry level road bike.

kev77

I bought it then lied about the price!

Then she discovered google!

Deep shit!

Omar Little

Pretend to read about a competition in a bike magazine of your choice. Moan about how you never have any luck in these things, how they are all rigged, basically whine enough until you make her tell you to take a chance and enter it. Then get her to post the entry to this 'win a bike' competition on her way to the shops or work or whatever. Couple of weeks later, either phone yourself or send yourself a professional looking letter announcing that you won the competition, act excited and surprised and above all else thank her for believing in you and mention how you would never have won this competition without her good advice and you are taking her out to dinner to celebrate.


Either that or MTFU

Stuy-b

hunny can i buy a new bike....... no. no new bike = fail

hunny i bought a new bike...... punch ..... black eye, new bike = massive win

navrig

Buy the bike, sell your old bike (or store it at a mate's house) and respray your new bike to look like your old one.

desmosedici

Being a single dad, I've lost count of how many bicycles and motorcycles I've had to store for friends while negotiations were going on with the other half. In one case, I basically got a 750 motorcycle from the NBF.

crescent

Buy the new bike and dismantle it to component level. Gradually phase in the new components to your existing bike until the entire bike has been changed

Failing that, option 5 sounds the most likely to appeal to a woman's logic i.e. I saved £50 on these shoes so I spent it on a matching handbag. Might be the best option!!!

Tell her you would like to spend £2500 on a new bike and let her negoiate you down the actual price you want in the first place.

Gazzaputt

Pondering this at the moment of getting a 3rd bike past her.

RowCycle

I kind of lied about the price, and it slowly crept back up after the purchase.

I just bought a set of wheels, the conversation went something like:

me: "I fancy buying a new set of wheels, is that ok"
her: "will you buy them regardless of what I say"
me: "probably easier if you just say yes"
her: *rolls eyes* "ok then"

surreyxc

If she kicks up a real stink, just stop cycling for a few months and go to seed, I am sure she will love the beer gut, bad breath from junk food and lowered sex drive and you stuck in doors everyday, oh and buy a play station, they love Playstations.

gilesjuk

You need a missus who cycles. They'll still moan a bit, but if they have a decent bike they will know the difference it can make.

Squillinossett

gilesjuk wrote:

You need a missus who cycles. They'll still moan a bit, but if they have a decent bike they will know the difference it can make.

This! Mine loves cycling now, and even took me last week to help choose a new bike!

She does not mind me buying stuff (within reason i.e no lightweight obermayer's)

This did come at a price though.....a Felt F4....but fully worth it.

Rigga

Tell her you've adopted an african orphan and you got a free bike.

celbianchi

My partner races her bike as well, so it's not an issue for me, we both spend recklessly on new kit whenever we fancy it.

However, were she not, I go along with one of the suggestions above that unless it is a ridiculous purchase way outside what your disposable income can handle, if she kicks up a stink it's a bit sad. You are only on the planet for a short time, enjoy it while you are here.

Bobbinogs

My problem is the opposite. My wife grew up in a cycling-mad household so she keeps encouraging me to buy new stuff and I have to rein her back, bloody torture it is

ollyridesfirst

I lie about price....plain and simple!

Apart from my wheels, which she really wasn't happy with, but they were an eBay job so i couldn't really fib.

My new bike cost £150
New Fizik saddle is borrowed from a mate at work
New S-Works helmet was only £30 and it could save my life

Thank god she doesn't have access to my Paypal account...!

edhornby

If you're gonna spunk a whole load of cash on a flash bike, buy her some shoes

Anonymous

So long as you're not cutting spending on 'together' time (holidays, dinners, etc - not at ALL implying physical gifts) then be honest.

As a windsurfer, I tried to cover up new 100% carbon purchases then realised it was better/easier on me and her to be honest in what I bought, justify the saving I had just made to her, which helped me justify it to myself (I am a big advocate of ebay/used).
So when I bought a 200 quid 'pole' as she puts it, i just say 'yeah but its 500 quid new so its such a good saving'. Also means I have to hunt extra hard for the bargains, so I save myself more, so I get to buy more! - Im just Bi-winning here.

Fortunately managed to scrape together enough to visit her in Thailand and off to the theatre before she heads off so am in the good books!

CrackFox

dartmoorscottydog wrote:

3. Dangerous approach - "I've bought a new bike"

This. Present it as a fait accompli. She'll make a bit of a fuss, but her delicate female heart will be fluttering at your manly assertiveness and she'll probably get a little bit aroused. Either that or she'll snort, lower her head and charge.

ride_whenever

edhornby wrote:

If you're gonna spunk a whole load of cash on a flash bike, buy her some shoes

Yeah, some sidis so she can come out with you... But darling, they're handmade and italian!

hammerite

I usually just say. "I think I need a new X bike, I've seen one that I like and it has X% off now. It really is a good deal. If I don't get it now, then I'll not be able to get another one like it".

RoadyForever

Lie - unfortunately I do not see another option

HungryCol

Planning on getting a Supersix next year until my side of the family sprung a "we're having a surprise Birthday for Mum in Italy next year"! Family would go ballistic if I came out with "but I want to buy a bike". Wife says it's either the holiday or the bike, she kinda doesn't want to know the exact price of the bike but understands that it's a few grand (ahem and the rest). Such a dilemma, wife is right though. Maybe I wait until 2013 before I get a new bike Bloody families, who the snuck has surprise Birthdays in Italy?! :?

Brian_of_Bozeat

APIII wrote:

**** honesty is actually the best policy. If buying new stuff is genuinely a problem with your other half, either you are being selfish or you need to find a new other half

+1

Cornish-J

grow some balls and just TELL her the score! 8)

iesous77

Rear Admiral for US navy born in 1955 Jay. A. Deloach says it best


"If you have a good idea, go ahead and do it, it's far easier to apologise than it is to get permission"



works for me