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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to refuse to fix DH's bike for him, and make him learn how to do it himself?

28 replies

OohMavis · 11/06/2016 20:31

He wants his innertubes changed. He's had the bike for two years and hasn't done a bit of work on it himself, having never owned one and having never had to lift a spanner in his life, he's always asked me to sort it for him. Up until now I've not had a problem, we all have our strengths and his are not DIY or anything mechanical. Mine are.

But I hate changing innertubes. It's a pain in the arse. And yanky. And I'm fat and pregnant and not in the mood. So I said no, and directed him to a tutorial on youtube

He's now talking about taking it to the bike shop in town and being charged £20 in a way that's supposed to change my mind. It's not!

He said if the roles were reversed and I asked him to carry lots of stuff to the garage for me (like yesterday...) and go into the loft (also yesterday) and clean the carpets (last week) and he refused, when I can't do those things myself, I'd have every right to be annoyed about paying someone to do it. Hmm.

I told him I'm posting this AIBU. He said go ahead. Over to you.

OP posts:

twirlypoo · 11/06/2016 20:33

You are pregnant! When carrying a mans child, the least he can do is fix his own inner tubes Can you lie on the sofa eating chocolate while shouting step by step instructions at him?

PinkSnowAndStars · 11/06/2016 20:34

I think you should do it..... If he's happy to step up and do everything else!

I can't change a lightbulb... I'm terrified of electric (long story!!) 3 out of the 4 bulbs in my bathroom are out... And Not so DH is refusing to do them... I may start refusing to do the washing!!

BowiesJumper · 11/06/2016 20:35

But he COULD do it if he watched the video, you can't carry stuff or go in the loft because you're pregnant. So they're not comparable.

gleam · 11/06/2016 20:36

Both of us would use the bike shop...and why not?

CaptainMarvelDanvers · 11/06/2016 20:40

Can you not teach him how to do it?

I do think in a partnership you need to work to each others strengths and weaknesses though.

I stuck firmly on the fence.

CaptainMarvelDanvers · 11/06/2016 20:40

*I'm

MsJamieFraser · 11/06/2016 20:43

My 10 year old child changed his innertubes and also amended his bike brakes! His dad showed him last year...

YANBU!

fuzzywuzzy · 11/06/2016 20:44

As pp said he can't compare his recent chores with wanting you to repair is bike, you're pregnant and unable to do the things he did, he wants you to go up in the loft and carry heavy things whilst pregnant? Really?

He owns a bike, he needs to learn bicycle maintenance.

CMOTDibbler · 11/06/2016 20:45

He needs to learn, so if he gets a puncture whilst riding he could do it himself rather than having to be rescued.

DH usually changes mine for me as I can't use one arm - but I know how to, and if I really had to, could by using my feet (while desperately hoping another cyclist would find me)

ivykaty44 · 11/06/2016 20:47

Why do his inner tubes need changing? Do they both have punctures?

Ameliablue · 11/06/2016 20:48

MsJamieFraser, I was far better at it as a child but then I stopped cycling and forgot how.

You could suggest he uses tyre slime which would be cheaper than the £20 and should cut down on the number of punctures. Having said that, I've bought some but not actually used it yet so can't be sure it is as good as it sounds.

KimmySchmidtsSmile · 11/06/2016 20:55

I would do it. Except you're pregnant so fuck that for a game of soldiers.
I often use cycle repair shops anyway so unless things are really tight rather than dp being really tight I would happily pay someone else to do it.

Original poster

OohMavis · 11/06/2016 20:58

Exactly! He can but just hasn't learnt how yet. I did say I'd sit there and tell him how, while sipping a nice cold drink, and he said I could just show him... But that would mean I'm doing it, so nah.

Yeah both are gone. He's been walking to work for three days while he's been trying to persuade me.

And that's what I told him, I can't do those things because I am growing a human, not because I can't be arsed to watch a YouTube video!

OP posts:

GeoffreysGoat · 11/06/2016 20:58

You're physically incapable. He's incompetent.

My 3yo will be changing his tyres (with help from vehicle-obsessed grandpa) as soon as I get round to getting him some new ones - he can't even pedal yet!

PrincessWellington · 11/06/2016 21:07

Show him how to do one then he gets to do the other one

timeisnotaline · 11/06/2016 21:09

It's a basic skill for riding a bike. Agree with pps who say it's not comparable because he can learn and you can't climb a ladder pregnant. You should fix it for him if he will breastfeed the baby though, that seems fair.

If only it was men who had their tubes tied not women I could make a great joke

Paintedhandprints · 11/06/2016 21:10

But it's not difficult to change the innertubes?

Original poster

OohMavis · 11/06/2016 21:16

He'd know that if he tried. He'd find it easier than me too, he has big man arms as opposed to my weedy ones. Its just a pain in the arse he can't be bothered with so he's hoping fluttering his eyelashes and complimenting me on how well I fix his bike will get him out of it. Nope!

OP posts:

Lurkedforever1 · 11/06/2016 21:21

Yanbu. Small dc can change them with someone instructing them and doing anything requiring strength. He's being pathetic

ijustwannadance · 11/06/2016 21:26

He's being a tit. I can change innertubes but I couldn't be arsed and would rather pay £20 to get it sorted.

His choices were to do it himself or take to the bike shop. His problem. He could've sorted it days ago. Must enjoy walking to work.

LifeHuh · 11/06/2016 21:28

Yes, he should learn - what would he do if he got punctures in both when he was out riding?
I think you should talk him through it but he should do the actual work - but really,it's not difficult is it,my biggest issue is getting the tyre back on the wheel and that's cos I have tiny hands ,if I was a bloke it'd be a doddle !

MrsSpecter · 11/06/2016 21:37

Its really his problem to resolve. If he wants to resolve it with a trip to the bike shop that would be absolutely fine by me.

BarbaraofSeville · 11/06/2016 22:49

YANBU. How far is his cycle commute and what would he do it he got a puncture en route?

If he can't change a tyre, maybe he would want to look at the slime inner tubes or similar.

I can change a tyre and my DP has been a bike mechanic in the past (he loved people like your DH who couldn't be arsed to do an easy 5 minute job but also laughed when they moaned about paying him to do it and always offered to just sell them the new inner tube unfitted) so hardly ever lets me do it, but I have always insisted that I needed to be able to do it myself and if he always did it for me I would never learn.

AHedgehogCanNeverBeBuggered · 11/06/2016 22:57

He can't be arsed to change his own inner tubes? It's a doddle, after a 5 minute tutorial he'll be fine. It does take longer the first couple of times but after that it's a piece of cake. He needs to stop being a lazy man-child and learn an essential skill for any bike owner.

WhereTheFuckIsMyCunt · 11/06/2016 23:01

I think he should do it but you should stand there telling him what to do. Which will be better than a YouTube video. Then he's learnt a new skill. He needs to know how to do it if he gets a puncture while out riding.

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