It has been quite a long time since I posted here, but I wanted to get some perspective on a small problem I'm having.
I've been cycling for a few years now with my original entry level road bike. It was a birthday present from my husband, and I picked it after trying countless others. The feelings I have for it are still the same and I am enjoying the sport even more since I have had a chance to get more experience. You know how it is!
About 4 months after I got the road bike, I invested in a commuter bike because my interest in biking was growing. He frowned and fussed a bit, until I explained that it was like having a sports car for fun (the road bike) and a utility vehicle (the commuter). He mostly understood that but even now he still shakes his head sometimes at having/needing 2 bikes (not sure what he would do if I liked mountain biking-we'd probably be divorced!).
Cut to the present. This spring and summer I have once again started cycling more often and doing longer distances. In fact I just finished my first official metric century recently! This has led me to where I am now, looking flirtatiously at a new bike. First I brought up the idea of "upgrading" my components and he got grumpy. See, he thinks that one bike should work for the entire life of my hobby and you should not need anything else. After reading more and researching, I concluded in the back of my mind that a whole new bike might be more economical, plus that way he could get mine fitted for him and we could ride together. If I even mention getting a new bike, he now becomes very upset. Now, we have separate banking accounts, and I have my own full time job so I am not seeing the problem in this. To me it is a natural progression to move up to a better bike after a time. It doesn't mean the older one is trash (I'd never part with it!), it just means you've outgrown its capabilities. ITs like upgrading your PC or similar.
I am finding myself pouring over "bike pron" (manufacturer's websites, reviews, videos, sourcing out local bike shops) when he isn't around.
It seems pretty obvious that he sees the replacement of my original bike as a slam against him in some way, but I can't fathom the workings of the male mind enough to fix that. Help!!!