The Entanglements of Rule #12

The dangers of living with a VMH.
The dangers of living with a VMH.

It is so deeply entangled at this point, I can no longer tell the threads from one another. The strands once ran cleanly from one bicycle to the next, linking a discrete sequence of events, considerations, wants, and desires. But then, 15 years ago, a strong force entered my life and I was forced to find alternate means of justifying the acquisition of new machines and kit.

Finding a partner to spend your life with is an incredible experience; to discover the half of you that was missing and feel it join to its mate to become whole is something that defies description. But it doesn’t make buying another bike any easier. If your partner isn’t a Cyclist, there will be endless debating over ancillary details like explaining why already having a bike doesn’t preclude needing the machine in question, or why the existing stable can’t fulfill the purposes of the proposed new steed. Then – should the case have been made and the principle of the purchase agreed to – there will come the maddening discussions of budget and the prioritization of food or clothing over the bike. Suffice to say, being in a relationship with your life’s partner is worth it, but only just.

Partnering with a Cyclist is messier still. While food and clothing are quickly rank ordered at the bottom of the priority stack, there is the introduction of quantities of bicycles on the already-stretched budget. As the VMH happily supports and participates enthusiastically in the selection of wheels and kit, the knowledge will be creeping in that this acquisition only emboldens her for her own Rule #12 endeavors; n + 1 slips to n + 2.

It happened smoothly, without me noticing. Happy to have justified and gained budget approval for my original Bianchi EV2, I scoured the farthest reaches of the primordial Interwebs to stretch my budget to the maximum. I emerged from the other side with a full Dura-Ace 9-speed equipped racing machine, at which point I had no alternative but to accept that her steel Bianchi needed more than fresh bar tape in order to stand up against my lovely new steed.

She approved her own budget (I hold a seat on the finance committee but do not have a controlling vote) and emerged from a much shorter process with a Camapa Record 10spd equipped EV4. That’s two EV’s more than mine. Her superior machine meant that I had room to make upgrades while flying unnoticed under the radar; lighter wheels, better pedals, saddles, and stems flowed on and off my prized EV2 for several years until finally she had to admit I was due for a more substantial upgrade.

I have found, through this process, that the secret to a happy partnership is to keep the VMH in a slightly better bike than mine at all times. My upgrades stay one step behind, which gives me room to fiddle with my kit while her machines jump in leaps and bounds. Should I find myself unable to justify my own new upgrades, I approach the Committee with the suggestion that she requires an upgrade – a proposal which is approved without exception or opposition. She always lays claim to the best and lightest machines and I get to build and kit out twice as many nice bikes.

I know I’m not the only one taking this approach; Gianni’s VMH got a full Carbone climbing rig and months later he was throwing a leg over his own new steed. My mom recently acquired a 6.5 kilo Redline gravel machine which I’m sure will precede my dad’s next bike. Keeper Jim kitted his wife Jess out with a beautiful carbone rig only to Twitter his way into his own a short time later. All the more reason to marry a Cyclist.

Oh, the web we weave. And if any of you even mentions the word “tandem”, I’m banning you for a week.

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140 Replies to “The Entanglements of Rule #12”

  1. @Marcus Hmm, that could explain why the Amazon man and the Ocado guy were having a punch-up outside our house last week.

    Sadly if she’s having an affair with the Wiggle chap then it is about to come to an end.

    I am seriously annoyed with them at the moment – I order a whole Record gruppo, most of which was sent as requested by tracked courier to my office in Dubai. The one missing bit, the chainset, was sent later by regular post. Dubai has no postal delivery. The chances of it ever arriving are near zero, and even if it does I have to drive to the central post office and fight my way through queues and forms.

    Wiggle have sent numerous apologies but won’t do anything until 25 working days have passed. Their mistake, my problem. So I’m now an ex-customer, having spent a couple of thousand a year with them for the past few years.

    Yes I know I should support my LBS but that’s easier said than done in the UAE. Until recently there was only one decent shop (in Dubai, none in Abu Dhabi) and they charged exorbitant prices, along with a healthy dose of Attitude. Even the new LBS which supports our team was giving me a ‘special’ price which was about 50% higher than online. I’ve got a whole Record set for less than they would have charged for Chorus. Well, I say a whole group but…

    When I bought my wheels and Powertap I got them locally and paid about 10-15% more. I don’t mind that for the advantage of having a local supplier and someone to sort out problems, but there are limits.

  2. My VMH is an accountant too, so there’s no hiding expenses anywhere, but she is a very keen cyclist and due to my time constraints she rides more than me.

    We have matching BMCs and both got DA C24s for Christmas.

    She is certain her Red broset 2012MY BMC is almost worn out from her 56kg of power pounding and is keenly looking for a replacement in the near future.

    To my shame I’m discouraging her from a new purchase so soon.

    Also she’s keen on nice kit, loving all white, so every order is a combined effort of non-essentials.

  3. @Barracuda

    All my mail from wiggle comes to work, its then tried on/inspected/etc at work and deflowered of all its unnecessary wrapping and or tags and boxes and taken home like id had it for years and just never had time to do anything with it.

    Shock of my life came when I kept hinting at how crap my wheels where on my new bike and the VMH opened up the wiggle site on her lap top and said, ” Just fkn order the damn things, theyve been on the wishlist for that long I sick of the website coming up every time I log on ”

    Score – new set of Duraace C24″²s now proudly adorn the Fuji.

    This is also my modus operandi for the larger purchases. Sometimes the accounts committee seems to pick up on the changes and modifications, sometimes not.

    Shock of my life came when I sold my downhill bike on ebay. I told a friend that I got a great price for it to which she retorted that the buyer had gotten himself a great deal given all the upgrades listed on the ebay advert.

  4. @meursault

    Nice article Frank, having a better bike than your partner is tandemount to inequality, right there.

    Well played – see you next week.(Insert smiley-winkey emoticon here..)

  5. @Barracuda

    Score – new set of Duraace C24″²s now proudly adorn the Fuji.

    Sweet! Getting those out on the road is truly something to look forward to. You’ve probably already discovered this, but their performance just may feel ever so slightly underwhelming at first, because the hubs seem to require a certain breaking-in period. Mine first got ‘loosened up’ after I did the first 300-or-so km on them – but now they are like Danish butter. Bliss.

  6. I hope all those bikes are lined up because they are being exchanged for ones of the correct size!  You gotta rethink that fit thing bud!

  7. @Robert

    I hope all those bikes are lined up because they are being exchanged for ones of the correct size! You gotta rethink that fit thing bud!

    At last… you know, all these years we’ve been looking at Frank’s bikes but none of us has had the courage to say it. In fact I think most of us never even noticed.

    “The Lord said unto Robert, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Velominati, and the children of Merckx:

    For I will shew him how great things Frank must suffer for my name’s sake.

    And Robert went his way, and entered into the website; and putting his hands on his keyboard said, Brother Frank, the Prophet, even Johan, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy bikefit, and your seat tube be filled with the Holy Post.

    And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was re-sized.”

    Acts of the Velominati 9:18

  8. Well the “get a proper size” comment came up later then usual.

  9. @ErikdR

    @Barracuda

    Score – new set of Duraace C24″²s now proudly adorn the Fuji.

    Sweet! Getting those out on the road is truly something to look forward to. You’ve probably already discovered this, but their performance just may feel ever so slightly underwhelming at first, because the hubs seem to require a certain breaking-in period. Mine first got ‘loosened up’ after I did the first 300-or-so km on them – but now they are like Danish butter. Bliss.

    Funny you should mention that, my half dozen rides did feel sluggish and I was questioning whether I had indeed “upgraded ” from the original Oval rims that addorned the Fuji, but some 300 kms in they are rolling pretty well.  Phew, dodged a bullet there

  10. My VMH started out as a runner. A few months into our relationship, she was injured and my younger brother abandoned his bike, so we fetched her a pair of shoes and got her on the bike. First time out included the obligatory can’t-get-out-of-the-cleats spill, but she hardened up and rode the complete planned route with a bloody knee.

    At 153cm and 44kg, we’re having a tough time fitting her on the bike. Slamming the stem didn’t do the job, so we’re planning on a Deda Pista -30deg to get her lower. These days she rides from home to whereeverthefuck my team is training that day, and last weekend she arrived at the car with blood running down her legs and arms. “Oh, it’s just a crash…” – nutter. We’re planning her first century soon, as a warmup to a three-day, 600km tour across the country.

    The only problem with such a VMH is, indeed, equipment. I’m not allowed to upgrade my aluminium road bike until she gets a better one (hers is, admittedly, crap – but one does not look a gift horse in the mouth…), and that pair of spare race-wheels that I had lying around suddenly became her new wheelset. On the other hand, waking up at 4am to the smell of fresh coffee and bread more than makes up for it.

  11. @frank

    @frank

    @Mike_P

    All of which makes me slightly grateful that my wife is simply the finance committee chair and not a VMH. I’m not sure my head could deal with the complications.

    Rule #12 issues could certainly come up for my two young boys as they grow.

    Easy. They get your hand-me-downs!

    That’s right and since I have 2 I am going to need a steady flow of bikes through the place in another 5 or six years….  good thing they got my height and not he VMH side of the family height

  12. Logic dictates I need my Chorus equipped De Rosa as my main bike and a Veloce equipped crosser for everything else.

    Logic can go fuck itself.

    Bike number 6 is currently hiding from the VMH in my friends shed awaiting restoration, it’s an old Raleigh aero tubed Panasonic replica, just like I had when I was 14. Do I need it? No. Do I want it built up using period Gipiemme groupo just because I can? Yes.

  13. @Velocitractor

    Logic dictates I need my Chorus equipped De Rosa as my main bike and a Veloce equipped crosser for everything else.

    Logic can go fuck itself.

    Bike number 6 is currently hiding from the VMH in my friends shed awaiting restoration, it’s an old Raleigh aero tubed Panasonic replica, just like I had when I was 14. Do I need it? No. Do I want it built up using period Gipiemme groupo just because I can? Yes.

    Of course you’ll be posting photos on “The Bikes” after it’s completed/ you’re out of the dog house…….

  14. @gaswepass

    I dont see a single flat bar in that pic. not one? the Veloforma 29er hardtail pretty rad lookin not to mention riding (apparently, haven’t dared touch one lest they reproduce in my basement

    You’ve got plenty of room in the basement. Probably get 10-12 more bikes down there.

  15. @GogglesPizano

    That’s right and since I have 2 I am going to need a steady flow of bikes through the place in another 5 or six years…. good thing they got my height and not he VMH side of the family height

    Awesome – have kids, save on a workstand.

  16. All this talk reminds me of a guy in the Inverclyde Velo back in the 80s who tried to pass off a new TT bike as just a repaint of an existing bike.I’m not sure it worked though . . .

  17. At this juncture, I would like to propose an addition to the lexicon

    VELOMINATRIX (n). the significant other of a velominatus who wholeheartedly disapproves of what is perceived as unnecessary expenditure on the bike and related products.

  18. @scaler911 sure will, might take a few months as I have a Pat Hanlon steel crosser to build too! This will have to do for now

    @RVester Sure does…

  19. @ChrisO

    @Marcus Hmm, that could explain why the Amazon man and the Ocado guy were having a punch-up outside our house last week.

    Sadly if she’s having an affair with the Wiggle chap then it is about to come to an end.

    I am seriously annoyed with them at the moment – I order a whole Record Gruppo, most of which was sent as requested by tracked courier to my office in Dubai. The one missing bit, the chainset, was sent later by regular post. Dubai has no postal delivery. The chances of it ever arriving are near zero, and even if it does I have to drive to the central post office and fight my way through queues and forms.

    Wiggle have sent numerous apologies but won’t do anything until 25 working days have passed. Their mistake, my problem. So I’m now an ex-customer, having spent a couple of thousand a year with them for the past few years.

    Yes I know I should support my LBS but that’s easier said than done in the UAE. Until recently there was only one decent shop (in Dubai, none in Abu Dhabi) and they charged exorbitant prices, along with a healthy dose of Attitude. Even the new LBS which supports our team was giving me a ‘special’ price which was about 50% higher than online. I’ve got a whole Record set for less than they would have charged for Chorus. Well, I say a whole group but…

    When I bought my wheels and Powertap I got them locally and paid about 10-15% more. I don’t mind that for the advantage of having a local supplier and someone to sort out problems, but there are limits.

    could make a really good porno plot with this. The lines would be awesome.

    Wiggle delivery guy: “your hubby ordered a new 175mm crankarm. But the only one I have in stock is 200mm. So I guess that will go better in your seat tube.”

    Or something like that.

    With apologies to you and your wife…

  20. @Gianni

    @G’rilla

    @Gianni

    That photo scared me. I feared it was a Cogal shot and there was a crazy subset of Cogal riders out there showing a pant-load of seatpost. Whew, no, just the Strack stable. I feel better.

    I wondered the same thing. “Did Frank’s 8 brothers stay at his house last weekend?”

    That’s a scary thought. A phalanx of Franks, each taller, louder and more awesome than the next.

    …or an addendum to Rule #25: The bikes leaning up alongside your house should be worth more than the house.

  21. @ped

    At this juncture, I would like to propose an addition to the lexicon

    VELOMINATRIX (n). the significant other of a velominatus who wholeheartedly disapproves of what is perceived as unnecessary expenditure on the bike and related products.

    I think a Velominatrix would not just disapprove but punish you severely for even thinking about a new bike. She would mock the length of your stem and the amount of seatpost you show. She would show disdain for the smoothness of your guns, ridicule you for being two months away from peaking and laud he butterflies who go faster up hills than you. She would lash you with bits of cable housing and, should you complain, assert the principle of silence.

  22. @wiscot

    @ped

    At this juncture, I would like to propose an addition to the lexicon

    VELOMINATRIX (n). the significant other of a velominatus who wholeheartedly disapproves of what is perceived as unnecessary expenditure on the bike and related products.

    I think a Velominatrix would not just disapprove but punish you severely for even thinking about a new bike. She would mock the length of your stem and the amount of seatpost you show. She would show disdain for the smoothness of your guns, ridicule you for being two months away from peaking and laud he butterflies who go faster up hills than you. She would lash you with bits of cable housing and, should you complain, assert the Principle of Silence.

    Sounds like someone needs a new saddle…

  23. @scaler911

    @gaswepass

    I dont see a single flat bar in that pic. not one? the Veloforma 29er hardtail pretty rad lookin not to mention riding (apparently, haven’t dared touch one lest they reproduce in my basement

    You’ve got plenty of room in the basement. Probably get 10-12 more bikes down there.

    What had been seen can’t be unseen huh? I’m trying to thin the herd, although a 650b duallie sounds really, really good. And I do plan to win the drawing for the Veloforma 29r w full carbon build raffle next month. Yeah, that should do it. What were we talking about?

  24. @scaler911

    She says “well you should just get another one then”.

    But I got to thinking, do I get a MTB or a ‘cross rig that would satisfy more of my off road wants?

    Difficult question. They are two completely different kinds of bikes, as you know.

    I’m personally happy with a ‘cross bike for racing and graveling, and a full suspension MTB for trails and mountains.

    A hard tail MTB could possibly do both, but the gearing would need to be customized for each. On a 30% grade for 30 minutes, you really need the 24×36, but you could never race ‘cross that way.

    Another option is to go single ring on the front and just swap between a 34 and a 46 depending on whether you’re riding mountain trails or ‘cross. Since you could skip the front derailleur, it wouldn’t be too difficult.

  25. Two things:

    First, why do I not see a Neederaap nestled in that mess?

    and…

    Secondly, I found this today that dovetails nicely with @Frank’s article…

    @http://superissimo.com

    The argument started again last night. It’s a cut that won’t heal; it’s a slice on the palm of a miner.

    She warns other women not to marry a bike racer; Most always gone, not around much to change the diapers, not a trace of bedroom heroics, and the yard work/paint-patching would never happen were it not for the visits from Mother-in-law. Not much at all can be expected, save a lousy check from time to time, so she says.  For me, it’s natural to counter that a cyclist should carefully select a mate who is not plagued by the distractions of a career. Things on the mind besides nurturing, causes and priorities her own, cold dinner and a sense of righteousness – none of these do a champion make.  Touché, no?

    All that in mind, it should have been NO hot news that as our guests sat in for a seemingly endless evening of political assertions and socioeconomic save-alls, my mind was focused on other things.  Should I ditch the radial-laced wheel for the next brevet?  When again does tomorrow’s threshold unit begin?  Etcetera.

    The dissonance of my expression surely told her I could not care less.  My spartan dinner servings belied my early evening efforts to feign interest in anything but the riding.  So as the guests shuffled out-far past their welcome, and failing miserably to put proper social etiquette before their own self-indulgent conversational coffin nails-I bore down for my punishment.

    And it came.  Again.

    I could’ve held myself gingerly, feeling sorrow, but I didn’t.  I knew well that next year things will be easier.  My work will pay off, and my teammates reassure me: Nobody fucks with a CAT 4.

  26. @G’rilla

    @scaler911

    She says “well you should just get another one then”.

    But I got to thinking, do I get a MTB or a ‘cross rig that would satisfy more of my off road wants?

    Difficult question. They are two completely different kinds of bikes, as you know.

    I think my decision would be based on the quality and quantity of my local singletrack.

  27. @EricW

    I like to imagine @frank picking up a seatpost, looking at the minimum insertion label, and laughing.

    Plus one badge to you.

  28. @Nate

    @G’rilla

    @Gianni

    A phalanx of Franks

    We need to find a reason to put this in the lexicon.

    “Echelon of franks” might be even better.

    My brother is 6’7″ and weighs about 160 pounds. He’s basically a zipper.

  29. @gaswepass

    @wiscot

    @ped

    At this juncture, I would like to propose an addition to the lexicon

    VELOMINATRIX (n). the significant other of a velominatus who wholeheartedly disapproves of what is perceived as unnecessary expenditure on the bike and related products.

    I think a Velominatrix would not just disapprove but punish you severely for even thinking about a new bike. She would mock the length of your stem and the amount of seatpost you show. She would show disdain for the smoothness of your guns, ridicule you for being two months away from peaking and laud he butterflies who go faster up hills than you. She would lash you with bits of cable housing and, should you complain, assert the Principle of Silence.

    Sounds like someone needs a new saddle…

    I’m 100% happy with my saddles these days but issues with my right foot/shoe insole have been quite painful. Yesterday’s remedy with scissors and duct tape seem to be promising though.

  30. @gaswepass

    I dont see a single flat bar in that pic. not one? the Veloforma 29er hardtail pretty rad lookin not to mention riding (apparently, haven’t dared touch one lest they reproduce in my basement

    We have mountain bikes and commuters kicking around as well, but there simply wasn’t room along the wall to bring them out. First world problems.

  31. @Barracuda

    @Marcus

    @ChrisO

    @Deakus

    We’ve even got to the stage where boxes from online retailers herald my monthly trips home, like flowers appearing in spring.

    The first five minutes is something on the lines of kiss kiss, hug children, get offered tea, “How was your flight… there’s a box for you in the cupboard under stairs and Rouleur in your drawer.”

    On one memorable occasion I had literally just arrived – I was still in the hallway with a bag on one arm and a child in the other – when the doorbell rang behind me. I opened it to find a delivery man with a box from Wiggle, as if he’d just been sitting in the front garden waiting for me to arrive. It was very funny at the time.

    Just as long as you are sure he didn’t end up in the front garden because he had to jump from the bedroom window.

    This, well played.

    All my mail from wiggle comes to work, its then tried on/inspected/etc at work and deflowered of all its unnecessary wrapping and or tags and boxes and taken home like id had it for years and just never had time to do anything with it.

    Shock of my life came when I kept hinting at how crap my wheels where on my new bike and the VMH opened up the wiggle site on her lap top and said, ” Just fkn order the damn things, theyve been on the wishlist for that long I sick of the website coming up every time I log on ”

    Score – new set of Duraace C24″²s now proudly adorn the Fuji.

    The VMH had just gotten off the plane from India and I was anxious to surprise her with the wheelset I’d bought her while she was gone.

    I had just gotten my own Zipp 404’s and that was what I’d bought her, so while she was gone, I got rid of the empty box and put her new box with the new wheels exactly where it had been. Then I pretended I was going to show her how easy it was to convert the freehub body on my wheels to Campa. I feigned needing a part from the box and asked her to go look for it, expecting her to find the new wheels.

    She was gone an age and I went looking for her, to find her standing in the hall (jetlagged) with both wheels in her hand and her head buried in the box.

    “I don’t see that part you need.”

    “Look at what’s in your hands.”

    “Yeah, what?”

    “Those are your new wheels.”

    (Looks at wheels. Expression changes from confusion to excitement.)

    “OH! I DIDN’T EVEN NOTICE THEM!”

    The moral of the story is wait to play an elaborate surprise until the VMH has gotten some sleep.

  32. @frank

    @EricW

    I like to imagine @frank picking up a seatpost, looking at the minimum insertion label, and laughing.

    Plus one badge to you.

    Sorry mate. Spoke too soon. You got upstaged by @ChrisO on this one.

    @ChrisO

    @Robert

    I hope all those bikes are lined up because they are being exchanged for ones of the correct size! You gotta rethink that fit thing bud!

    At last… you know, all these years we’ve been looking at Frank’s bikes but none of us has had the courage to say it. In fact I think most of us never even noticed.

    “The Lord said unto Robert, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Velominati, and the children of Merckx:

    For I will shew him how great things Frank must suffer for my name’s sake.

    And Robert went his way, and entered into the website; and putting his hands on his keyboard said, Brother Frank, The Prophet, even Johan, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy bikefit, and your seat tube be filled with the Holy Post.

    And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was re-sized.”

    Acts of the Velominati 9:18

    @DerHoggz

    Well the “get a proper size” comment came up later then usual.

    I’ll continue to be impressed by people who are so amazing at fitting bikes they can do it with just the bike and ignoring the rider.

  33. @frank

    @frank

    @EricW

    I like to imagine @frank picking up a seatpost, looking at the minimum insertion label, and laughing.

    Plus one badge to you.

    Sorry mate. Spoke too soon. You got upstaged by @ChrisO on this one.

    @ChrisO

    @Robert

    I hope all those bikes are lined up because they are being exchanged for ones of the correct size! You gotta rethink that fit thing bud!

    At last… you know, all these years we’ve been looking at Frank’s bikes but none of us has had the courage to say it. In fact I think most of us never even noticed.

    “The Lord said unto Robert, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Velominati, and the children of Merckx:

    For I will shew him how great things Frank must suffer for my name’s sake.

    And Robert went his way, and entered into the website; and putting his hands on his keyboard said, Brother Frank, The Prophet, even Johan, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy bikefit, and your seat tube be filled with the Holy Post.

    And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was re-sized.”

    Acts of the Velominati 9:18

    Seeing as how my groomsmen are all cyclists and my bachelor party is going to be a brutal ride, I might just have this included as a reading in my wedding.

  34. It seems Rule #5 doesn’t apply to matrimony. What a bunch of pussies, hiding purchases from your wives. Some way to base a relationship, on deception, fear and lies. If you can’t enjoy your passion without having to veto/hide it from your significant other, then you’ve chosen the wrong partner or you need to grow a pair.

  35. @brett

    It seems Rule #5 doesn’t apply to matrimony. What a bunch of pussies, hiding purchases from your wives. Some way to base a relationship, on deception, fear and lies. If you can’t enjoy your passion without having to veto/hide it from your significant other, then you’ve chosen the wrong partner or you need to grow a pair.

    and there I was thinking you possessed wisdom beyond your years…..

  36. @brett

    It seems Rule #5 doesn’t apply to matrimony. What a bunch of pussies, hiding purchases from your wives. Some way to base a relationship, on deception, fear and lies. If you can’t enjoy your passion without having to veto/hide it from your significant other, then you’ve chosen the wrong partner or you need to grow a pair.

    Amen.  I even got mine trained to rub my calves down after a ride.

  37. @frank

    @Nate

    @G’rilla

    @Gianni

    A phalanx of Franks

    We need to find a reason to put this in the lexicon.

    “Echelon of franks” might be even better.

    My brother is 6’7″³ and weighs about 160 pounds. He’s basically a zipper.

    Wouldn’t it be a phalanx of phranks?

  38. My poor cerveau is too pooped to come of with anything halfway as intelligent or witty as I’ve seen here. Thanks for the laughs.

  39. @kixsand

    @frank

    @kixsand

    I would like another bike. I purchased my first bike last year – a very nice and relatively modestly equipped road bike – carbon frame and shimano 105 bits and bobs. Since then I’ve spent on a proper set of wheels, better tires and various accessories – to the point where there is little in the way of a logical argument for investing more into it.

    Sorry, I don’t follow. I was with you until you mentioned “logical argument” at which point you threw out “whim” and “fancy” And you lost me.

    Apologies all around – you’re correct, of course. Maybe a new saddle, or stem, or handlebars or pedals!

    As penance, I’ve just ordered a pair of Carbone Ultegra PD-6800’s – I feel back on track.  Thanks for the kick in the ass Frank.

  40. @wiscot

    @frank

    @Nate

    @G’rilla

    @Gianni

    A phalanx of Franks

    We need to find a reason to put this in the lexicon.

    “Echelon of franks” might be even better.

    My brother is 6’7″³ and weighs about 160 pounds. He’s basically a zipper.

    Wouldn’t it be a phalanx of phranks?

    A phalonx of fronx?

  41. @Cyclops

    @brett

    It seems Rule #5 doesn’t apply to matrimony. What a bunch of pussies, hiding purchases from your wives. Some way to base a relationship, on deception, fear and lies. If you can’t enjoy your passion without having to veto/hide it from your significant other, then you’ve chosen the wrong partner or you need to grow a pair.

    Amen. I even got mine trained to rub my calves down after a ride.

    Separate personal spending accounts also help. I don’t comment on the shoes, and VMH doesn’t comment on the bikes. As long as we can still pay for food, clothes and shelter, everyone’s happy.

  42. @Bianchi Denti

    @wiscot

    @frank

    @Nate

    @G’rilla

    @Gianni

    A phalanx of Franks

    We need to find a reason to put this in the lexicon.

    “Echelon of franks” might be even better.

    My brother is 6’7″³ and weighs about 160 pounds. He’s basically a zipper.

    Wouldn’t it be a phalanx of phranks?

    A phalonx of fronx?

    Phalonx of Phronx?

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