Hiding an N+1 from the missus

Guy at work still has the bike he bought without his wife's knowledge stored in a spare office. 3 years now...

...stealth is the answer here...component by component replacement.... although I just landed a new Factor O2 and my wife was genuinely understanding.  I did say that I'd probably get rid of some of my older bikes, but it's difficult - they have zen. 

Not so long ago I was looking for a mtb for my girlfriend, something good but obviously not too pricey. While searching I began to get pangs of lust for a hardtail. I had a road bike, touring bike, full suss mtb but while looking through hardtails for her.....I bought a Kingdom Vendetta Ti....She is now my exgirlfriend and I have a bloody gorgeous aggro hardtail. 

I don't understand why people need their other half's permission to buy something, assuming there is a roof over your heads, heat, light and food on the table.

Would it really cause a row if you bought a new bike without approval?

Good God, are you a man or a mouse?

Honesty and being upfront about your cycling fetish is always the best way to go. Where would the lying stop after the first untruth has been told?

Of course, you could always bribe her. I'd imagine she'd love a new hoover when you get a ew bike 

As someone said above, as long as you're not compromising your finances in other areas (including saving towards whatever targets you have) surely you can spend your money how you choose.

That said, I did once bring a new bike home while she was at work, left it in the space that the old one was in (and put the old one in the spare room) and it took a week for her to notice.

Just buy a bike and put it where you intend to keep it. If I care home and there was a new handbag/shoes/bike/laptop/nintendo she bought herself on the dining table I wouldn't give a shit, why should it be any different the other way around

"those wheels new?..... No babe, just cleaned them up" 

(she knows)

My wife neither knows nor cares what I spend on my hobbies within reason, so long as it does not compromise our finances in other areas.  I always talk about intended major purchases, because she's very incisive at getting to the nub of what it is I want and whether I'm looking to buy for the right reasons.  As such she's saved me from a few mistakes, but equally, I've enjoyed things I've bought much more because she's been behind it. 

Were I intending to hide a purchase, I would do it in 'plain sight'.  The idea of modding an existing bike is a good plan.

Have done it, but only on cheap items (eg training wheels, second hand frames) and didn't feel great about doing it and stopped. Certainly would not spend over around £200 without approval. TBH it's a good sense check or I would have spent way too much money on bikes, when really, what I need to spend is time on the bikes I have...

Self-build is the way to go. My old Triban 3 (now a pub bike) has been through commuter build to fast road with Di2 to light tourer to pub bike. Started with Claris, then Ultegra Di2, then back to 105, then to Tiagra, and now back on Claris. Wheelsets from whatever it came with to deep section aero to dynohub and now on a mixed set of whatever I had in the shed. My partner calls it Trigger's Broom and quite rightly so.

Alongside that one I've been through 3 other bikes and have two in the shed that I've had in more or less the same configuration for almost 3 years. Haven't bought a frame for three years either. 

Never dishonest about these though although equally she doesn't ask how much I'm spending on them. As far as she's concerned I don't smoke or drink or have flash tastes or any other expensive hobbies and so it's fine within reason. I think I'm at the stage now where expenditure is going to be limited to tyres and other consumables.

Alternatively you could treat your spouse/partner with respect, not lie to them or try to pull a fast one and just say you're going to spend some of your money on yourself.

No, sorry. I feel that dishonesty is a slippery slope. I would also not appreciate it being done to me and would lose trust in that person. I'm not being judgemental, everyone has different relationships, that's just how I am.

I'm up to 4 bikes now but all but the oldest were secondhand and cheap (the most I've ever spent is £640 for a 5 year old TCR used for racing). 2 or 3 would be better.

Same colour as the last bike and delivered to work address. Sell a few old bits on eBay, that always covers the cost of the new bits. Not that I know what you are talking about.