a new technique for the unicycle collector

General
1

I’ve been trying to find the right moment for days to warn my wife about my next
unicycle purchase (28" Sem from UnicycleSource). Last night I just couldn’t wait
any longer and I ordered it over the Internet.

Then I had a flash of inspiration on how to break the news to her… I’ll send
her email!

For your enjoyment, here is a copy of what I wrote.

Hi!

Guess what! I bought another unicycle!

I figured that it would be easier to tell you this way so I wouldn’t have to see
you roll your eyes (or worse).

I’ve been saving up for a new bicycle for myself since I started riding again 4
years ago, (money saved by quitting smoking and not buying pop/candy bars at
work and coffee at Arabica in the morning) so I will be able to pay for this out
of my own money.

I hope you don’t mind…I really love unicycling and I wanted to get one with a
larger wheel so I can go on some longer rides. Think of how much money I am
saving by not buying a bike instead! I think you know that this is not
something that will sit in the corner and gather dust - I will get a lot of
enjoyment from it.

Also, I might as well confess that I renewed my “Rivendell Bicycle Works”
subscription. They give you a $10 discount when you renew, so I bought a
standard handlebar to put on your bike. With the discount it will only cost $8.
I think this will make a big difference in your riding comfort and safety with
the brakes. I hope we can ride together more often this year (with you, I
promise to ride a bike - not a uni).

I love you… see you later.

~Rick

This seemed to work out pretty good. I got an email back from her this
morning saying:

Rick,

I think that it’s great that you bought a new unicycle! That was very
considerate of you to use your own money. I’m also happy that you renewed your
Rivendale (sp?) and bought me new handle bars.

I hope your day is a ok!

Love you, GB

(whew!) (pretty sneaky to put the handlebar thing in there, huh?) So… for all
you unicycle collectors out there that are fearful of a Negative Spousal
Reaction; I offer up my letter as a template for your use. OR, perhaps John
Drummond could come up with an electronic greeting card based on it.

YOUR ORDER HAS BEEN ACCEPTED. CLICK HERE TO NOTIFY YOUR
WIFE/HUSBAND/SIGNIFICANT OTHER.

2

RE: a new technique for the unicycle collector

> Then I had a flash of inspiration on how to break the news to her… I’ll
> send her email!

That was a good one. But it appears to be a one shot deal. In other words, it
will be hard to duplicate that on your next unicycle purchase (which sounds like
it will be within the next 2 months). Buying something for your wife is a great
touch, though. You can even use it when you’re not adding a unicycle, and
hopefully this won’t make her suspicious.

Here’s some advice from “Garage Man”: My cycles hang on hooks in the garage
(someday I’ll have to post some pictures of the new garage/arrangement).
Eventually, there will be enough hanging up there. Always keep a few extra empty
hooks up there, and then all you have to do is sneak the new unicycles in. And
add new hooks periodically when she’s not around.

This works unless the unicycles arrive from eBay sellers, in a big box in front
of the house and your significant other gets home first…

John Foss, the Uni-Cyclone

who just bought a Loyd and a Univega to add to the “collection”

3

Re: a new technique for the unicycle collector

Man, Im just a youngin’ but I thought the man was the head of the Family. I hope
I dont have to sneak around when I get married. But then again I may find a
unilady too. “Rick Bissell” <rick@tridelta.com> wrote in message
news:000e01bf845a$670b9a80$53a8a0c0@tridelta.com…
> I’ve been trying to find the right moment for days to warn my wife about
my
> next unicycle purchase (28" Sem from UnicycleSource). Last night I just
> couldn’t wait any longer and I ordered it over the Internet.
>
> Then I had a flash of inspiration on how to break the news to her… I’ll
> send her email!
>
> For your enjoyment, here is a copy of what I wrote.
>
> -------------------------------------------------------
> Hi!
>
> Guess what! I bought another unicycle!
>
> I figured that it would be easier to tell you this way so I wouldn’t have
to
> see you roll your eyes (or worse).
>
> I’ve been saving up for a new bicycle for myself since I started riding again
> 4 years ago, (money saved by quitting smoking and not buying
pop/candy
> bars at work and coffee at Arabica in the morning) so I will be able to
pay
> for this out of my own money.
>
> I hope you don’t mind…I really love unicycling and I wanted to get one with
> a larger wheel so I can go on some longer rides. Think of how much money I am
> saving by not buying a bike instead! I think you know that
this
> is not something that will sit in the corner and gather dust - I will get
a
> lot of enjoyment from it.
>
> Also, I might as well confess that I renewed my “Rivendell Bicycle Works”
> subscription. They give you a $10 discount when you renew, so I bought a
> standard handlebar to put on your bike. With the discount it will only cost
> $8. I think this will make a big difference in your riding comfort
and
> safety with the brakes. I hope we can ride together more often this year (with
> you, I promise to ride a bike - not a uni).
>
> I love you… see you later.
>
> ~Rick
> ---------------------------------------------
>
> This seemed to work out pretty good. I got an email back from her this
> morning saying:
>
> ---------------------------------------------
> Rick,
>
> I think that it’s great that you bought a new unicycle! That was very
> considerate of you to use your own money. I’m also happy that you renewed your
> Rivendale (sp?) and bought me new handle bars.
>
> I hope your day is a ok!
>
> Love you, GB
>
> ----------------------------------------------
>
> (whew!) (pretty sneaky to put the handlebar thing in there, huh?) So… for
> all you unicycle collectors out there that are fearful of a Negative Spousal
> Reaction; I offer up my letter as a template for your
use.
> OR, perhaps John Drummond could come up with an electronic greeting card
> based on it.
>
> YOUR ORDER HAS BEEN ACCEPTED. CLICK HERE TO NOTIFY YOUR
> WIFE/HUSBAND/SIGNIFICANT OTHER.
>

4

I read about a guy on this forum, who ordered a unicycle in pieces to get it into the house without his wife noticing. I can’t find the thread, but I found this old one from 2000 instead. I’ve decided to try the same daredevil stunt, and I’m going to start with the frame. Once I get the unicycle assembled, I’m home free. I have several unicycles, and my wife can’t tell one from the other. My concern is that she will react to the delivery notifications from the post office (they sometimes send out paper notification in the mailbox). Note to self: Started earlier next time so that the notifications arrives just before Christmas.

How is this working out for you?

I’m not surpriced to see that John Foss developed his own strategy decades ago.

5

I hide my new purchases for a few weeks. Then after some time has past, I bring them out in the open. The wife asked, Did you get a new unicycle? My response is , No i’ve had that. And it’s a true statement, to some extent.

6

In my experience one can’t rely on this for purchase of a first giraffe:

‘Is that a new unicycle?!?’

‘No… maybe you are getting shorter?’

I get around the issue of parts in the post by keeping a broken bicycle in the garage that ‘needs fixing before I put it on ebay’. It’s had five new rims, countless tyres, several sets of cranks, a carbon fibre unicycle saddle, a Rohloff Speedhub and a new tent and it’s still not ready!

7

I got home last night to find a new unicycle box delivered. Of course my daughter thought it was another unicycle. Turns out it was only a couple tires, I took advantage of the free shipping, from unicyle.com. Box was gone before the wife saw it.

My wife wouldn’t notice another one, she thinks I already have 9. So I guess that means I’m good until I get to #9. Besides, I did sell my Sears uni from the 80’s. That paid for one tire, almost.

Giraffe? Fat tire? humm… I hope the giraffe comes in a small box.

You sure your wife isn’t going to give you hell for sharing that here? Nevermind, most wives don’t unicycle. You’re safe.

YOUR ORDER HAS BEEN ACCEPTED. CLICK HERE TO NOTIFY YOUR
WIFE/HUSBAND/SIGNIFICANT OTHER. wth?

8

I use the broken bike in the garage tecnique too… I’m just reusing the spokes… (a new uni hub appears!) and the rim (oops, I found in the garage a new tire!) and the brake ( the v-brake now seems a disc brake…)

Parts can be better hidden receiving the shipping directly at your job address!

9

My partner bought me my 1st uni as a gag gift, so all subsequent purchases are her fault anyway.

Not that it matters much, uni’s are dirt cheap compared to bikes.