Quote Originally Posted by stella
Kitsune,

I have the same problem, my s.o. is not a cyclist and will never be! I've tried, she just won't convert!

I used to have a disposable income and was able to purchase what I wanted/when I wanted. Then I returned to grad school full-time, now my s.o. pays all the bills. Here's what I do now:

1. prioritize my list of "most wanted bike stuff"
2. ask for the cycling stuff as anniversary/birthday/x-mas gifts.
3. She loves a good wine (I don't): I total up how much she spends on the wine and say: "Since I don't drink, how about we put the equivalent $$ towards (insert bike stuff here) I want?" Part of this rationale includes: "You still get to enjoy your wine and I get to enjoy my cycling, you get to enjoy the body cycling gives me..." OR: "wine is gone, the cyclng stuff lasts!"
4. hit yard sales, craigslist for good deals on stuff. I was able to get a used brooks saddle for $20.00 for my beater bike. It was on a bike in an outdoors shop as part of a Thule rack display. I bartered w/the owner and he sold me the saddle!

I was able to get myself a new brooks saddle for my road bike this year using #3.

I hope these tips help!

Stella, these are good. I used #3 a few years ago when I wasn't biking and husband was and i wanted to go to Italy ( "your new bike cost X dollars so how about if i go to Italy and 1/2 of x= 1 ticket to fly there and the other 1/2 of x pays for my room!" )