AND another thing..

[elk]

I felt kind of badly about spending SO much $$$ on all these winter riding clothes...but truth is, most of it we get on sale (right!)? AND it has been SO worth it.

I told my DH (who goes a little pale around the gills as the boxes arrive daily) that I feel like I've already gotten my money's worth from most of them...and they are so well made that they'll last many winters to come.




besides. i think of all that $$ i'm saving on not buying expensive american spirit cigarettes..(gag)

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

OMG, that's right, I forgot that you were a smoker before you started riding bike not that long ago! Congratulations AGAIN for kicking that totally NASTY habit! (from one who was there)
It's not even the money for the cigarettes themselves so much as the major money you would have spent on illness and doctors visits as the smokes made you more and more unhealthy every year. That's where trading your smokes for a bike and a new lifestyle is going to save you heartbreak, pain, and untold thousands over the years to come. Plus, you will be gaining muscle and losing fat and your heart and lungs will get stronger and healthier from the exercise, not only from the stopping smoking. What an incredible gift to give to your husband!

What's a few hundred bucks in good wool clothes compared to that?

My DH loves riding too, and though he buys fewer biking clothes than me, he still buys his share of "good stuff" of various brands. We kid each other....when he gets a package I say "Sweetheart!-your daily bike parts delivery is here!"
And when I get a package (even if it's the only thing I've gotten all week and it's just a used book from Amazon or some vitamins or something) he'll call out "Sweetie!- your daily Ibex delivery is here!". We have fun with it, even when we are not buying anything.

[mimitabby]

We kid each other....when he gets a package I say "Sweetheart!-your daily bike parts delivery is here!"
And when I get a package (even if it's the only thing I've gotten all week and it's just a used book from Amazon or some vitamins or something) he'll call out "Sweetie!- your daily Ibex delivery is here!". We have fun with it, even when we are not buying anything.

you guys are worse than US!!!

and yes, Elk, how wonderful that you quit smoking!
you are entitled to SPEND!!!

[Triskeliongirl]

I hear you. I too have spent the last couple months in a shopping frenzy as I lost weight and had to replace my regular and cycling wardrobes. At one point, my husband was also concerned about all the deliveries until I explained that I had to send back more stuff than I kept due to the size inconsistencies. Guys don't get that part. They buy clothes by body measurement, and for the most part manufacturers make the clothes to match the posted body measurements. Why can't they do that for us gals???

But yes, I am glad I have the gear. Take yesterday. I never would have ridden except I just had to know if I would stay dry in a cold wet windy drizzle in my new goretex pants and craft rain jacket. The clothes keep me healthy and sane, and I was careful to buy stuff I can also use for skiing or other outdoor activities. So I do think it is money well spent. And good clothes do last a long time, as long as our bodies don't keep changing size.

[elk]

I hear you. I too have spent the last couple months in a shopping frenzy as I lost weight and had to replace my regular and cycling wardrobes. At one point, my husband was also concerned about all the deliveries until I explained that I had to send back more stuff than I kept due to the size inconsistencies. Guys don't get that part. They buy clothes by body measurement, and for the most part manufacturers make the clothes to match the posted body measurements. Why can't they do that for us gals???

But yes, I am glad I have the gear. Take yesterday. I never would have ridden except I just had to know if I would stay dry in a cold wet windy drizzle in my new goretex pants and craft rain jacket. The clothes keep me healthy and sane, and I was careful to buy stuff I can also use for skiing or other outdoor activities. So I do think it is money well spent. And good clothes do last a long time, as long as our bodies don't keep changing size.

EXACTLY!!!!

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

All so true.

The fact is, the clothes I wear for cool weather biking (good quality wool stuff, leggings, boots, wool socks, base layers, vests, neck gaiter, gloves....) is (except for the chamois items and the hi-vis yellow safety items) all stuff that I just wear every day anyway! I often go for cold walks during my day, or out into the cold for errands, etc. It's all comfy breathable clothing that looks nice on me for everyday wear. It looks sporty, but not in a weird way. It certainly is not all skin tight lycra plastered with Tour De France or Lucky Charms logos. Looks more like stuff you might go cross country skiing or hiking in or sipping hot cocoa in or something.
Interestingly, I used to wear black leggings and stretch capris for years even before I got into biking, so the change was not dramatic. I'm just an aging beatnik.

[GLC1968]

My DH loves riding too, and though he buys fewer biking clothes than me, he still buys his share of "good stuff" of various brands. We kid each other....when he gets a package I say "Sweetheart!-your daily bike parts delivery is here!"
And when I get a package (even if it's the only thing I've gotten all week and it's just a used book from Amazon or some vitamins or something) he'll call out "Sweetie!- your daily Ibex delivery is here!". We have fun with it, even when we are not buying anything.

This exact same thing happens in our house, too!

And I've gotten him hooked on wool now, so when I order something for me, I also get something for him and that usually softens him up a bit!