Originally Posted by
Santaria
I will probably never have the $45k in the bank I would need to survive unemployed for half a year, that's not in the cards anytime soon for me. What I do have is a solid career track, a dedication to my family and a desire to enjoy my life (and theirs).
$90K/year lowest possible living expenditures sounds pretty extravagant for Brownsville, even for a family of 6. Yeow!
When I get cheap bikes I find it hard to let them go. Once I get them dialed in they're fun to ride. I try to only keep the mid-range and up bikes, however. I actually like mid-range MTBs from the mid-late 90s better than the current ones and they usually go for 1/100 - 1/10th the cost. I like 'em steel and light (24-25 lbs). That GT was a tad portly for my tastes but was still a sweet ride after a tire replacement. Practically like new. Although a saddle replacement woulda been nice if it were a keeper.
I like mid-80s to early 90s road bikes the best. More steel and fairly light ones can be had for cheap. Plastic stuff does not excite me much.
Stop counting your chickens before they hatch.