Oh lordy. The wife has said she wants a folding bike

[a_chap]

I think so too...they could both put their bikes on the car and go on biking adventures, and you're not stuck with one bike (what if she ends up not liking the folding bike?)

Having biking adventures together is why I bought a tandem.

By the way, tandems are a great idea for couples. I had never realised how fit the wife was until we started riding a tandem together. At the tops of hills when I'm gasping for breath she's still able to continue talking at me with barely a pause.

That is because he is a proper cyclist who rides an expensive special bicycle. He probably thinks that a folding bike will let down the family image with the neighbours.

The family image. Ha ha ha. Hilarious. Oh my sides.

What exactly are you trying to say Hocus?

 

[Boycey]

Brompton or divorce are the only two realistic options.

this^. they are expensive but hold their value second so if it really is a temporary urge a_chap's wife will be able to sell it on quickly and for not much less than she paid for it. though she will have to wait 6-8 weeks unless she finds a place carrying them in stock

 

[a_chap]

Sounds a bit as if she might not want to put a wet and or muddy folding bike in her car either!

That's a good point I'd not considered.

So I just asked her (she's having a bath prior to a wall-papering lesson) and to my surprise she claims she would indeed put a wet or muddy bike into her car.

However I imagine the car would need a deep clean afterwards and probably also boiled for twenty minutes to disinfect it.

 

[a_chap]

this^. they are expensive but hold their value

I made exactly this point to her. But then again it's one of the arguments I used to get to let me buy my Pashley.

a_chap's wife will be able to sell it on quickly and for not much less than she paid for it

Than she paid for it? You must be joking. Who do you think's going to be paying for it? A clue: not her.

 

[spanglechick]

I made exactly this point to her. But then again it's one of the arguments I used to get to let me buy my Pashley.



Than she paid for it? You must be joking. Who do you think's going to be paying for it? A clue: not her.

?

Is her job unpaid?

 

[a_chap]

She earns a humble wage working in the NHS. But it'll still be me who pays for the bike.

 

[Lemon Eddy]

Brompton or divorce are the only two realistic options.

insert joke about divorce being cheaper, faster and more socially acceptable than buying a Brompton.

 

[geminisnake]

That's a good point I'd not considered.

So I just asked her (she's having a bath prior to a wall-papering lesson) and to my surprise she claims she would indeed put a wet or muddy bike into her car.

However I imagine the car would need a deep clean afterwards and probably also boiled for twenty minutes to disinfect it.

You get dog/back seat covers which would keep the car but not the bike clean

 

[Frumious B.]

Muddy folding bikes can go in a bag to stop the car boot getting dirty. This one is for a Dahon and costs £17.99. You can also use it to take your bike on a train when no bikes are allowed.

 

[Corax]

She needs to start arriving at work before the parking spaces are taken, simples!

Or just walk a mile? Barring mobility issues, it's not a bad thing....

 

[gentlegreen]

6 times more exercise or something per mile - if I walk the 4 miles to work and back, I arrive a lot more knackered than if I ride the bike - however enthusiastically - steady 3MPH walking, 11MPH average cycling.

 

[weltweit]

6 times more exercise or something per mile - if I walk the 4 miles to work and back, I arrive a lot more knackered than if I ride the bike - however enthusiastically - steady 3MPH walking, 11MPH average cycling.

Yes, there are so many times on a bike that you are just cruising along a flat or down a hill I am sure walking is better for the health.

 

[Hocus Eye.]

Having biking adventures together is why I bought a tandem.

By the way, tandems are a great idea for couples. I had never realised how fit the wife was until we started riding a tandem together. At the tops of hills when I'm gasping for breath she's still able to continue talking at me with barely a pause.



The family image. Ha ha ha. Hilarious. Oh my sides.

What exactly are you trying to say Hocus?

On the first point about your wife's fitness. You were probably joking with your comment implying that she was not pulling her weight. However if her legs are much shorter than yours then she is effectively in a lower gear than you and creating less torque than you are so you get knackered, but it is not her fault. A similar thing happens when two people with different length arms row a boat in synchronisation. The one with the longer arms does more work as they make their oars travel further at the same speed.

As for your family image, I was thinking of that photograph of you in breeches and the rest of the Edwardian style clothes standing by your Pashley. Toodle pip.

 

[Frumious B.]

I wouldn't get a bike just for two 1 mile trips a day, I'd get an electric scooter. This one does 15 mph and the wife can give you a backy on it. You can pretend that you're in One Direction and she's in Little Mix.

http://www.razor.com/uk/news/ £500 cheaper than a Brommie.

 

[a_chap]

On the first point about your wife's fitness. You were probably joking with your comment implying that she was not pulling her weight.

I was indeed. Although there's so much scope for witty banter along the "pulling her weight" line! However I shall not as that would cause her to have me murdered.

However if her legs are much shorter than yours then she is effectively in a lower gear than you and creating less torque than you are so you get knackered, but it is not her fault.

FWIW Mrs Chap's legs are considerably longer than my stumpy pins.

A similar thing happens when two people with different length arms row a boat in synchronisation. The one with the longer arms does more work as they make their oars travel further at the same speed.

I know. There was some talk about this when I was training for my cross channel row last year. Thinking back by the time we got to France the most knackered rowers did indeed have longer arms.

As for your family image, I was thinking of that photograph of you in breeches and the rest of the Edwardian style clothes standing by your Pashley. Toodle pip.

Indeed, Sir!

 

[equationgirl]

mrs a_chap with her new bike

 

[equationgirl]

a_chap if she has to get an inferior model

 

[a_chap]

I hadn't realised you' met the wife.

However her weapon of choice is usually a kitchen implement of some sort.