Have you ever helped convince yourself?

Imagine: you have your wish list of bikes for the 2007 season (short list for me now); you're excited about one in particular. You kind of have the money. You could really make this happen TOMORROW! It is all a matter of will power!

Reality: your accountant is telling you what a bad idea a $5000 bike purchase is. Your Fiance asks, "What, another bike? Doesn't that make 8?" No one is supporting you except that one co-worker who has no idea - but he's sooo right!

I don't know if you're like me, or not, but I buy a new bike every year. I try to sell one from the year before, to help me float the cost of the new one. There is something about a new bike. At Mountain Bike Specialists, where I spent my lunch hour yesterday, they tried to coax me into buying the 2007 Stumpjumper Carbon. I'm not sold on the carbon, but I am sold on the 5-inches of travel. That's right, I want something with more "hit" power! So, here I am. I'm up early and I'm looking at the Stumpjumper picture. I'm thinking one thing: HOW CAN I CONVINCE MYSELF TO BUY THIS BIKE THIS WEEK!

As you know, I'm fond of lists. I've decided to create a top ten list of ways to convince yourself to buy a bike.

1. Price-shmise (need I say more)
2. You race, and you need another racing bike - because Lance is going to call soon to be on the new team
3. That guy at the office said to buy it
4. You'll start riding to work more often
5. Now, you really have a bike for the backcountry rides
6. Everyone needs a Moab-ready bike
7. This is totally a birthday and Christmas present - to myself
8. I've never really used the "credit" part of my credit card (I pay them off every month)
9. You make money to spend and gosh darnit, you're going to spend it
10. I really need to do my part as a consumer - who else is going to save the country, I ask you

Let me know your bike-purchasing excuses. Post a comment!