[Johnny M]

So here I am, two broken forks in as many months. Can not ride, feeling depressed and my wife gets all bent out of shape when she sees me shopping for a new fork. Mind you we are not destitute, but the cost of a new fork hurts (weeks pay for me). So now I am cannabolizing my F/S to build up my old Shrek 850 fully ridgid. Got to do something, can not waste the summer waitng to buy a damn fork. Especially since I have concluded that I need a freeride fork (big $$).

Anyway, my question is, how do you explain to your significant other, who does not understand, the enormous expenses involved in this sport? Anybody ever stopped riding for financial reasons?

 

[Lighty_]

Anyway, my question is, how do you explain to your significant other, who does not understand, the enormous expenses involved in this sport?

Um, I'm guessing she is already familiar with the enormous expenses involved, and that's why she's against them.

What she doesn't understand is why it's worth it, and that I don't think you can explain with words. It's something that I suspect will require a practical demonstration involving her being on a bike out on a trail.

Hooray for single people.

 

[warlock^_^]

Hooray for single people.

Hurray! Bought 2 fox forx (Vanilla125RL & F100RLT).....nobody complains!

 

[ArmySlowRdr]

Yeah 'splainin' to the wife comes w/ the married territory.
Just yesterday I had to explain why I really needed a canon digital rebel---what's wrong w/ the last cam ya got was the query. Sometimes short answers are best--not a THING was wrong w/it dear--it's just the rebel serves a different purpose.

She is alreay resigned to the fact that I'm addin' a full susser to the stable after the 05s are out.

When I wasn't making as much, money did hold me back from some of the organized races in texas for a while which at the time I perceived as being way too expensive to go camp out w/ the family and race w/ regularity.

So here I am, two broken forks in as many months. Can not ride, feeling depressed and my wife gets all bent out of shape when she sees me shopping for a new fork. Mind you we are not destitute, but the cost of a new fork hurts (weeks pay for me). So now I am cannabolizing my F/S to build up my old Shrek 850 fully ridgid. Got to do something, can not waste the summer waitng to buy a damn fork. Especially since I have concluded that I need a freeride fork (big $$).

Anyway, my question is, how do you explain to your significant other, who does not understand, the enormous expenses involved in this sport? Anybody ever stopped riding for financial reasons?

 

[LBmtb]

Totally know how you feel. My gf HATES mountain biking. She hates it because she'd rather have me spending that much more time either thinking about her, being with her, or spending the mtb money on her. I'm currently TRYING to save up for a new bike but she insists that we need to take a little vacation together or something of the sort.

 

[Christine]

Being single has its advantages However, my father still seems to think I'm 12 years old and I have to be careful how much I tell him, such as the actual price of the Blur (I lied and he still freaked out.)

Since I'm not dating anybody serious, these bikes have to win his approval the way a suitor would, I suppose "What are your intentions with my daughter? How much are you gonna set her back? You're not gonna get her mixed up with the DH scene, I hope? Explain those bruises on her legs...."

I hope you can keep riding in spite of this marriage thing getting in the way!

 

[vermont]

i just tell her how much cheaper bike parts are than coke n hookers...lol no seriously folks the best way is to turn her into a rider...then she'll understand...at least thats what happened to me Now she's got 3 bikes and loves new parts as much as i do

 

[Redmon]

My wife encourages me to spend money on something I love doing. In fact, while we were on vacation she bought me a brand new Yeti 575

Shawn

 

[DiRt DeViL]

Beg for pardon is better than to ask for permission, that's my moto.

My wife is getting better at detecting new parts on my bikes and usually asks how much it costed when a package arrives. I never tell her the exact amount but she's always watching me. I'm always telling that I'm done buying parts but stuff keeps arriving, guess that I'm addicted.

 

[Belisarius]

My wife's actually pretty reasonable about bike parts and upgrades. Must be because we just got her a new roadie a few weeks ago, and she's already out and slapped aerobars on the thing. So I can play the hypocrite card (though never, ever call it that to her!) for a while longer.

And sheesh, its a lot easier justifying MTB purchases to her than it ever was offroading purchases. At least with biking there's a health benefit. With offroading, this part increases your vehicle's ability to get places, which puts this other part at risk, necessitating an upgrade. Neverending spiral.

 

[Brown_Teeth]

Slush fund, you know the extra money goes in, wife never finds out... works for me but she still gets POed seeing my 3 bikes and only one arse riding them

 

[Nat]

So here I am, two broken forks in as many months. Can not ride, feeling depressed and my wife gets all bent out of shape when she sees me shopping for a new fork. Mind you we are not destitute, but the cost of a new fork hurts (weeks pay for me). So now I am cannabolizing my F/S to build up my old Shrek 850 fully ridgid. Got to do something, can not waste the summer waitng to buy a damn fork. Especially since I have concluded that I need a freeride fork (big $$).

Anyway, my question is, how do you explain to your significant other, who does not understand, the enormous expenses involved in this sport? Anybody ever stopped riding for financial reasons?

A few years back my wife put together her build list for a Quasimoto. She was reading it to me over the phone, and I asked what the total cost would be. She quickly blurted out, "five thousand seven hundred dollars..."

I was a bit shocked by that amount, so it took a moment for it to sink in. She heard those few seconds of silence and interpreted it as meaning I disapproved. She started sobbing! We still laugh about that.

 

[precar]

All sports are expensive

I was having a discussion with a female friend yesterday about how expensive a sport mountain biking is. She asked me which sports are cheaper, and I just threw out the example of soccer. I said "All you really need is a soccer ball." Although I was exaggerating, she told me it's really expensive when you add up the costs of gear and club fees. She knows because her sister plays soccer competitively.

The point is, it's really hard to find a hobby/sport which isn't expensive to keep up with on a regular basis. At least I feel less guilty now for taking up mountain biking instead of soccer.

 

[Irk]

This is how we handle it...

I mention to my wife that I would like to buy or NEED to buy some bike part.

Every time she has the same response which is, 'Blah blah, blaaah blah bike blah bla blaah bla bike.'

Seriously, I did just mention to her the price of the frame I am considering buying and her only response was 'HOLY CRAP!'. Notice she didn't say 'No.' Well, that's what I noticed.

I've promised not to run us into the poor house and she's pretty cool about this being my hobby.

I am considering trying to get her into the sport. If any of you have accomplished this with your significant other please PM me (to avoid hijacking this thread) with how you succeeded?

 

[danK]

Totally know how you feel. My gf HATES mountain biking. She hates it because she'd rather have me spending that much more time either thinking about her, being with her, or spending the mtb money on her. I'm currently TRYING to save up for a new bike but she insists that we need to take a little vacation together or something of the sort.

LBguy, your girlfriend is only going to get worse. Nothing personal, but she sound like the type that will be exponentially more nagging if/when you get married. No toys for you!

 

[summitlt]

The point is, it's really hard to find a hobby/sport which isn't expensive to keep up with on a regular basis.

knitting

 

[The Jesmond Dingo]

Yeah,but you need Ti needles,and pure silk thread,trust me,it's not cheap ;-}

 

[sonyisdope]

My fiance loves pimping her ride! For her birthday I got her XT V brakes, and for Christmas last year I got her a Thompson seatpost! You just need to tell your significant other that you don't want people to laugh at you on the trail, she'll understand. Also, don't forget to explain how buying higher quality products equates to more durable products that require less maintainance, and in the end you can spend more time with him/her because you won't be working on you bike. Or you can spend all your spare time not working on your bike or riding on this website coming up with replys to peoples issues. NOW GO BUY THAT NEW FOX FORK!

 

[noslogan]

Im no longer allowed

to ask how much here shoes, purses, belts and silk thingies cost.
I do have a bad habit with the bikes.
Just took the sixth bike out for its first ride today.

 

[Thomas15]

Some posters have suggested that this poor man get his GF into the sport. Good idea, but I'm sure he has already tried this.

In a nutshell, this problem has two fascets, the first is that some girls just are not interested in being out doors -period. You can never get them to enjoy anything fun or useful like fishing, hunting or mountain biking. Stay away from this type if you want to be happy or if you don't mind being broke because she spends all of your money before you ever get a chance to.

The second type is semi-agreeable to give it a try, but there is a danger! If we try too hard to impress them, I mean by smoking them on the most advanced trail we know first time out, then they will not warm up to this hobby.

It is hard for guys to ride the tow path trail for a couple of weeks before bombing the big one, but this is the only formula for sucess. If you are able to pull it off, the rewards will be big. You will then be able to buy any part, tool, or attend any event out there, in short you could then get whatever you need to keep riding! Remember, patience is the key.

Tom