Maybe it's that he doesn't know anyone who rides off-road, or because he lives somewhere without a real winter (sorry, but Arizona's winter doesn't count in my book. ), but the boyfriend doesn't see anything other than a road bike/road cycling as a legitimate form of bicycle-based recreation.

I'm planning on buying a disc brake-equipped, steel CX bike as an all-round bike--unpaved paths, winter, commuter, whatever. His response when I mentioned it? "Why would you want that? Why wouldn't you just buy a real road bike?" I tried to explain to him that I want to try off-road riding before I commit to a mountain bike, plus I'd like a commuter to save on gas (I've found a good place to park it). "Why steel? It's heavy!" Yes, it's heavier than my road bike, but not by a whole lot, and the ride quality will be smoother. There's always something wrong with it.

Then I mentioned a mountain bike. "You have nowhere to ride a mountain bike!" Actually, we have a park with dedicated mountain bike trails here, and at least one of the other parks allows off-road riding in summer. (I'm sure there's more, but that's what I can do right now.)

"Why not just get a road bike?" Yes, I want a new go-fast road bike (the current one isn't quite cutting it anymore) but the one that fits me best (Cannondale Supersix/CAAD10) is a little out of my price range, though the CAAD10 might be doable. (I do get a discount on Fuji, and we might be able to make Fuji's carbon road bike work, but it might be a little tricky--I'm awkwardly between sizes)

I can't tell what's going on here. I can't tell if he genuinely doesn't see the value in it, or he's feeling like I'm trying to take up activities that he doesn't enjoy and he's getting jealous or what. He's aware that it's my money and I get to spend it how I want, but it's frustrating to know that he doesn't support me in this.

Just needed to vent.