Your partner's better be better. photo: Eroica Cicli
Rule #12. Someone was working overtime to come up with this beauty. One should always be dreaming about the next bike unless the next bike means divorce, restraining orders and/or living in a van down by the river. Velominati need and enjoy having some limits set as were are prone to excess in all things.
S-1. I learned an important lesson the first time I was brought down to Frank’s basement bicycle stable. There, at least four badass bikes were hanging on the wall and he was quick to point out that two of them were his partners. And her #1 was better than his #1; you have to make sure she has a better bike than you.
That was all that needed to be said. The deep wisdom of it was obvious and obviously passed down through the ages. Unless you are a professional (you are not), you are paying for your bikes (you are) and if your finances are shared with a partner, pay attention. The best way of not getting to s-1 is to make sure your partner’s #1 is nicer than yours. All upgrades to your own bike barely merit discussion as long as said upgrades don’t improve it past you know what.
So your partner is not a cyclist? That does complicate things. Whatever they love the most, upgrade it beyond reason. She loves to read and her book group is her favorite thing? Make believe you actually want to join it (?!), to scare her, then don’t. That is like an upgrade, in that you are not ruining the thing she most enjoys.
I’ve been trying this for a long time. I tried unsuccessfully to gift my fiancée a new racing bike instead of an engagement ring. While that bombed badly, I did learn. After I finally bought out the clone, my wife ended up with the LBS owner’s Merlin and you best believe shop owners tend to have the best bike in the shop. Before I finally upgraded to a carbon bike I made sure my wife was already upgraded to something better. And just yesterday, as she was putting her front carbon tubular wheel (yes, slightly lighter than mine) in the back of the truck, I saw her kiss it. Yes, brothers and sisters, these things do pay off.
If you want n+1, start planning for partner’s n+1. It’s going to cost, but it is going to be fun, and it’s better than s-1.
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Yeah, this is smart stuff--the kind of smart that only makes immediate sense to you after you've failed repeatedly to understand and implement it, to your cost. And by "you" and "your," I mean "me" and "my."
My newish #1 is nicer than her road bike. But her new graveur is much nicer than my graveur.
The missus gets the best vehicle. A twin turbo six w/300+ ft-lb of flat torque curve. Seven transmission speeds and all wheel drive. It's nice. Very. She doesn't mind me getting a bike or two. We have 3(n+1) in the house with myself and the two kiddos. I love building bikes for the kids more than myself. Her bike is a pristine Trek in purple fade that was purchased new around 20 years ago. Maybe 20 miles on that bike. There's no n+1 there. Simply, n. If she wanted one though... yes, you can bet it'd be nicest one in garage. I am in agreement with the thesis being presented.
The Basso in the photograph is flat out gorgeous. Wow.
My wife's #1 bike cost more than mine but I have little headroom for more upgrades in relative valuation. The CR wheels I'm about to order will put me in violation of the Gianni Clause of Rule #12. Does the fact she has MORE bikes than me factor into the n+1 equation? (Also of note is that one of them is a 1991 LeMond Buenos Aires.)
Please advise.
I'm old school = my bitch stays home to fix me a good recovery meal and to clean up my cycling kit.
@Chipomarc
Actually, I'm between having a bitch at the moment, but that's how it would be if I did have an bitch.
^ Plus one badge, right the fuck there. Please?
@wilburrox
Yep. My bike is nicer than hers, but her's is still pretty. But her Sky blows my beater, former rental, 110K miles SUV out of the water. Of course, I secretly like being able to treat that thing like it's a beater, former rental, 110K miles SUV :)
@Chipomarc
So I take it you are single!
Frank Vandenbroucke would be racing with Team Cannondale for the 2016 season if it weren't for that Sarah Pinacci poisoning him.
I have a shit car ,the wife a Beemer SUV with a V8 which practically drives itself. So I am able to make up for it in bikes . Have mentioned occasionally on this site my 40th Anniversary Marinoni . Sometimes I think I look at it more than I ride it . Built up with manic attention to detail it blossomed into one of finest looking bikes that I have ever seen . Problem is I can sure build up a frame but when it comes to computers am in the first grade . Hope to post a photo of it someday when some kind person shows me how.