Bike Lust is straining my (human) relationship

[Medianox]

-indysteel- No, not just for the bike conversation, for some issues in general. The bike thing I can see getting talked about later on in the summer (my birthday) or Christmas, just not now for whatever reason. It hits a nerve with him so I am letting it rest for now. I really think he has control issues and probably feels inadequate because I make more money than he does.

-Shootingstar- yes I do plan to keep my original bike forever as a winter bike or put it on the trainer for bad weather riding.

-jessmarimba-lol no. I have changed the saddle, tires, pedals, and bar tape. I added water bottle cages and the computer but the components and the frame are all original.

Again, thank you all for your insights. I may still continue to prowl bike sites, and drool over other bikes when I see them on the road but I'll keep my thoughts to myself for now. Whow knows? He has been known to surprise me and out of the blue he just may say, "hey, about that new bike you want? Lets go look at some.....". =)

[Irulan]

after four pages of dimestore analysis, I still think marriage counseling is the way to go. Ongoing issues that you can't talk about and cant resolve don't resolve themselves.

[jessmarimba]

-jessmarimba-lol no. I have changed the saddle, tires, pedals, and bar tape. I added water bottle cages and the computer but the components and the frame are all original.

Whew. I've been reading the forum on my iphone screen lately so I probably missed a key word in the entry about that. Thank goodness!

[Trek420]

To echo the excellent advice above, +1 on the counseling and talking. In terms of the bike consider wheels.

My namesake, the Trek 420 was Trek's bottom of the barrel entry level road bike. It got me back into riding. Gradually I upgraded small stuff; saddle, handlebars, bar tape.

When I rode it off the path, over a small cliff and into the creek bed (don't ask ) I needed new wheels. I got the best rims I could afford at the time; Mavic Open Sup Pro. My LBS said it would make a huge difference and hot diggity it was like a whole new bike.

Later as the chain, der, showed wear I upgraded the power train from the original Tiagra to Ultegra. Again, my LBS said I'd notice the difference of the stiffer spline drive and again he was right.

Same entry level bike.

I loved that bike.

I especially loved the whiplash effect it had on riders of "Oh, a Trek 420, whatever ..... woah! But with Mavic wheels? "

Today I have a full custom, hand made, Italian steel, made for me by the man whose name goes on the frame blah blah blah road bike. But I still miss that ol' Trek.

It was how I learned about bikes, upgrading, making decisions based on cost/benefit. It was a hoot to ride and confuse other cyclists "WTH? I got passed by a 420 .... one with Flightdeck?"

So if you like the fit keep the bike, consider upgrades. It can be less ... or even more expensive But don't ride it off a cliff to get them.