Step away from the Computer...
 

And put away the credit card...

Today I bought something I always wanted a Chris King headset in gold no less.
Also purchased $100 worth of paint for a powder coated frame I just stripped.
This lockdown and the combination of lousy weather has given me an itchy trigger finger.
Anyone else suffering from this same type of "Ailment"? And if so maybe we can think of a name for it.

Oh yeah. I got it bad. Can't believe I thought being stuck inside was going to save me money...

I've resisted temptation- when I was collecting parts for my drooly parts bike- the King was always on the list...

That's kinda what I'm workin on now. A Ba Da Bling bike.

Not spending any money here. Self employed, trying to figure out survival.

Hey, all quarantine and no tinker makes Jack a dull boy.

I do my best ebay competative bidding when I'm drunk.

I’ve heard of the “quarantine 15” for the weight some people are putting on in the current environment, so we can add the “shelter shopping” going on, too.

I've given up on ebay. I don't like giving pitney bowes and ebay free money.

Fortunately (?) I had amassed all needed parts for the bikes I have in the queue. That and the fact I just had to replace my HVAC system (Memphis in summer - AC not optional) means my wallet has clamped shut for the optionals like a giant clam on a diver's leg. But I still like to browse the 'For sale' forum here and various online outlets, and it's tempting sometimes...

It has to be an offshoot of "Cabin Fever". I have noticed it is far easier to look at the candy on the confuser and get sucked in when in lock down. Four weeks into it and no hope for recovery in site. I'm about to start watching Gilligan's Island as a reprieve. Smiles, MH

Yep, I've got that ailment, too.

Plenty of non-bike chores to keep me busy, so many that they interfere with each other and coming to the computer is a nice break.

I've purchased nearly $2,000 of bike-related stuff in the last couple of months, and have only managed to sell about $600 worth of bike-related stuff. I'll be in the hole all summer.

Waiting for a pretty new bicycle and a bunch of fancy accessories to arrive in the mail, so that should keep me occupied for a while!

I got my stimulus check deposited this morning, though, and immediately paid off my JCPenney's credit card, which was hiked up to a few hundred bucks after I bought my wife a rather lovely pearl necklace for our second anniversary last year. That felt good!

-Gregory

I haven’t been spending much money. I did turn my attention to cleaning up a Paletti frame I got a few months ago only to find out one of the dropout screws is stuck. How did I find out? By twisting off the head of the screw trying to remove it.

Spags,
A drill and a tap are gonna be your new best friends. Smiles, MH

I originaly was a Mary Ann fan but I am finding lately Ginger made puberty a little easier.

I'm going the other direction: getting together bits to rehab - perhaps even drill - and then post up on Ebay.

I'm only in the market for consumables these days and pretty well set where they're concerned, too. Well, except for tires - I can always hoard more tires :)

DD

Ha, good topic. I just bought a 256 GB iphone X for $300, but had to ride from Thousand Oaks to North Hollywood to get it. 😎 I’m not sure how far that is, but it’s a goodly distance. After riding down to Venice Beach, I found a deal on something else cool, so now I’m back up by Reseda, after taking route 27 through Topanga Canyon & those hilly hills. 🤔😁😉

Still no sign of incentive money, and I’m on disability with direct deposit. A couple news apps said Social Security folks would be among the early recipients. 🤔 I dunno.

I will very soon be officially laid off (aka Friday), after receiving a stay of execution of one week due to a project that needed my presence (and time) on. I have a good idea of what I have in the bank, my monthly 'burn rate', and a few courses of employment action; to say nothing of various filings and other ducks-to-row aligning. Pretty much not on the list is buying bike stuff. In the pursuit of 'lightening the ship' should I need to move (less stuff to pack), and just to get money back I've spent, I will be posting more and more for sale.

However...after figuring out that my left knee and leg like a certain non-drive-side Q-factor value (73.5-74.0mm at least), and that my flagship Paramount (one of my "keepers") couldn't accommodate that after having to have its already long 122.5mm BB spaced on the drive-side to get a proper chain line, I ordered a 127mm spindle'd BB (a trusty and affordable Shimano BB-UN55). This was after a good amount of math and diagrams drawn. Sadly also, her rear polished MA2 rim is cracked at 4-5 eyelets. A similar MA2 rim cannot be sourced at present, so this opens up the possibility of purchasing new rims so that the wheelset can live for another 30 years. Spoke length check (at the nipple, from the rim bed) reveals some ERD flexibility, and I'd like to put polished TB14s on there. I've built up one set of wheels with them (dark anodized) and like them very much.

Other than that, I "window shop" online and dream for free, but in reality I don't need it, and considering that the Paramount and my Impulse as built are perfect in my eyes with regard to composition, ride, and handling, nothing else needs to be bought. Trim the fleet to this core (ok, keep the Prologue, too) and rest. And ride.

I splurged on some 35mm Gravel King SK tires for my touring bike. I also recall buying a bar end conversion kit for my other tourer.
My current touring bike does not need new tires as the 35mm Pasela PTs are still brand new, but as $32 a piece for the Gravel King tires...I couldn't resist.

Thanks for putting things in perspective. Wishing you the best in these difficult times

Yeah I know! I’m going to proceed carefully to try to maneuver the remaining protruding bit out but prepared to drill, baby, drill. Second straight frame I’ve gotten with this problem.

An added note of best wishes to everyone in these screwed up times. I hope everyone’s cash flow and health remains sturdy and at minimum, our little community of bike nerds here is able to provide a temporary escape from troubles.

Having survived several unemployment times in the last 20 years, I empathize with those of you impacted by this event. Often it is more demoralizing than any other contributor. Funds/revenue flow are on either side of that. Hang in there is the only advise I can give. Take advantage of what you have to keep busy.
This time around I am good. My funding stream is secure for a change. I can't believe how fortunate I am after all this time of looking at a dark future!
Having said all that, I have started to spend a little on bike stuff. It started with the recent De Rosa frame set. It is a slow process due to my needing to calibrate my expectations to current pricing of used parts! I don't understand how anyone can say the used market is trashed? It certainly is higher than 2 years ago, from my perception. Looking for Campagnolo parts doesn't help!
I have other interest that take my time, but for me, I am still working full days only at home. Gives me 4 extra hours that I don't commute, but I am a bit more productive.

I do have more time to look for the elusive good deal to fill the need.

At the risk of duplicating a few previous discussions, my perception is that Campy, as well as certain Suntour and Shimano quality components are exempt from the used bike market slide. I'm also seeing an uptick in bike prices locally, as some people seek exercise options, as well as alternatives to mass transit.