Originally Posted by
Rowan
I'll try to pull this back on track a little bit but address the judgments from our precocious poster.
The people who earn six-figure sums are less likely to tour because they are time poor and heavily focussed on their careers. They can be self-employed or they might be very talented, or simply very ambitious. Because they are time poor but relatively wealthy, they are most likely to own one or more expensive bikes, they are competitive, and their main ride is a hammerfest on a weekend morning, with maybe a race thrown in every month. And there is absolutely nothing wrong with that -- they are cyclists just like us when they put a leg over the top tube.
The people who earn less than six figures -- and I am an expert here, because this is the first year I have ever earned $50,000 in a year -- are less competitive, likely to appreciate the world around them, are inquisitive about natural and cultural heritage, likely have survived a few or more personal and financial challenges, and have come to realise that there really is more to life than chasing a dollar. They work hard in moderately paid jobs more to pay for their touring and cycling interests than career advancement.
I went 12 years without owning a motor vehicle and lived in a basic but comfortable unit with minimal furniture. That gave me the ability, on a lowish income, to afford to pay off child support, and travel overseas to tour and participate in randonnees, and to indulge in bike and equipment purchases.
I've never really worked out a daily budget prior to a tour. I have had a certain amount in the bank (or in a line of credit, if needed) that I could access after paying for travel fares.
When I start a tour, I spend lightly. I will look for free camping opportunities, and try to ensure I shop as cheaply as possible for food to cook. I will ride rather than take transport. I keep my entertainment expenses low. But generally, from about half-way on, I can let the reins off a bit if things have gone well.
It's one of the beauties about having a flexible itinerary (or a very loose one or none at all) on a bicycle tour. You can change your expenditure patterns as you need.
When Harutz reveals his touring credentials, rather than troll sniping, we can probably have a civilised conversation with him.
I love falling outside your stereotypes. I have made six figures for over a decade and was doing so when I asked to be downsized so I could take a few years off to tour (ended up doing 10,000 miles on two continents, including a x-USA and then some tour) and pursue other interests.
As for being time-poor, I strolled into work this morning around 8:55 and will be at the gym this evening before 5. I never work weekeds.
While I do have a relatively nice roadbike ('05 IF SCJ SE), I also own a used Raleigh, a Bike Friday, which I bought when I had to commute to work in another state, and a Surly LHT, which is not exactly the Co-Mo Americano or something similar that I could have afforded without blinking an eye. You are just as likely to see me leading a long, moderately-paced club ride (not a hammer fest) as you are riding to work or to dinner and movie with my sweetie, and I have never raced nor do I want to. I got my partner into touring a few years ago with trip in MT and Canada. We take several long weekend trips every year and will probably take a another week-long one this year.
My dad was a deadbeat in some respects while I was growing up and we had tough financial times at various points. I remember, among other things, walking around with holes in my shoes while in college and washing my underwear in the tub during grad school because I didn't have enough money for laundry.
And 12 years without owning a motor vehicle? That doesn't make you unique. Between '83 and '95 no one in my family owned a motor vehicle. And I did not own motor vehicle (a car) until age 43. You have had it good on that front.
And just as a preemptive strike, I do not fit into that opther stereotype that I am sure you have swirling in your head: The one of someone ladended with debt who works to maintain some sort of lavish lifestyle. In '05 I bought a modest house with a good-sized downpayment. With my recently refinanced mortgage, I should have the $248K mortgage paid off in another 6 years. That's because I pay large chunks of extra principal every moth instead of spending on things like fancy cars and HD TVs. Other than my mortgage, I have no debt other than my monthly credit card bill, which I pay off in full.
What other judgemental generalizations have you got for us?