Nah, I'm pretty sure that most of the guys that went to medical school are still paying their tuition and malpractice insurance.

The rule I use for myself is to use it up until it dies, or until I do--whichever comes first.

Ciao!

I kind of like this idea. Though I would like to buy what I wanted, I only tend to buy what I need, which is really a first for me, but because cycling is so darn expensive, it actually forces me to most of the time. The shop I use has a similar program actually for its customers. You buy a bike w/ a computer from there, then they put you in this program that for every 250 miles you ride you get a $25 gift certificate, or something like that. I might be more miles to get the gift certificate, but I have witnessed a couple of customers come in and take advantage of that program. That is a pretty cool one and it tends to get the new cyclists in to riding more I have noticed.

I know, I know. I was just bustin' on you. I'm kind of a luddite. Someday I may catch up to the rest of the world, but I just don't use bike computers and don't have a smart phone.

And since we're sharing, here's my system: I acquire bike stuff when it comes my way. Most of it is decent, but not great, stuff. Everyone once in a while I get a fantastic deal. My commuter is an old 90s hybrid I picked up for a hundred bucks (it was 14 years old but still new with the store price tags on it, just never ridden). I've picked up upgrades now and again over the years to where it now looks like a Surly LHT clone and would probably take at least $1000 if it got stolen and I wanted to replace it. But if it did get stolen, I'd probably just start again with a $100 and start building it up.

To me, it's about collecting, and frugally, rather than just throwing money at it. Like cccorlew above, I try to finance my bike habit based on savings realized from bike commuting, although I don't keep strict track of expenses. Like tracking hours in the saddle and miles traveled, that would take all the fun out of it for me.

Holy Crap! That would give me about $100 a week, my wife would divorce me.

funniest post on here, i literaly lawled :L

I don't like to waste money needlessly but if I want something and the bills are paid, I'll try to get it. I work overtime to help with buying any "toys" I want.

Right now I'm wanting, not needing, new bottle cages and my first pair of bibs. I figure for the ones I want it'll come to around 150.00 total. Can make that with some OT.

If you think of all the places you can save a dollar here or there, (bottled water, soda, cereal and on and on) you can find a way to save for some of the smaller items.

My system is very sophisticated. When I find out about something that looks, or sounds good, I buy it.
Cervelos are sounding better every day.

The little system I use to stop spending too much on cycling? Marriage.

Heh. Mine worked the other way. She digs the bod and supports any and all cycling purchases to keep it.

Similar situation here. Only at my age, SWMBO appreciates not only the effect of my riding on my physique, but also its impact on my life expectancy.

That said, I can't spend money I don't have or can't afford. However, it seems foolish to deny myself things I can afford just because I don't "need" them. Life's too damned short for either misplaced frugality or financial irresponsibility. So yeah, I am "that guy". There's no way I can justify the quality or quantity of gear I have based on my riding prowess, but you know what? I truly love the stuff I have, and because of that, I love using it. And the more I use it, the more likely it is that someday my performance might approach what my gear is capable of.

At least that's my story, and I'm sticking to it

I get teased sometimes about my bike. Things like, " you have a Corvette bike and a Brigs and Straton Lawn mower motor for it."
At this stage in life ( been retired for many years now) I feel it's time to have some of the nicer things, within reason. There is no rerun in life. When it's over, it's over. So I am going to enjoy what I can while I can. I enjoy cycling it so why not.
I say if you can afford it, go for it, cause there no do overs. When the next hour is gone, it's gone for good. Just saying.

i do it by "when there is extra money in the savings account and there is something I want or need after everything more important has been given necessary attention, I will buy it."

seems pretty simple to me. sure, there is a lot of stuff I would like to have, and some could argue that there is some stuff that I "need" but I guess in the grand scheme of things, it's never that serious.

that being said, I put $25 per pay period (2 weeks) into a separate savings account for "fun" money... also if I get a bonus, a small chunk will go there. it adds up fast enough to cover most (if not all) things.

I like your system ... and it sounds remarkably similar to our system.

I like it. If my wife will go for it, I can get a new high end bike with schwagadelic wheels every year.

In practice, this is probably cheaper than earning and spending credits...

I've always enjoyed having the best of the best. I'm at that point now in my life
where my bike gets most of that attention.

I like the way you do it. I wonder if I can convince the wife and Dave Ramsey to go along with it.

Followed by "kids," and then by "college."

Keeps you out of trouble for a long time.

Well, if you put real money into real savings, and then paid cash, I think Dave would be okay with it.

I like this logic. I know a guy who has a big private jet that costs $2000+/hr to operate.

Why do you have to play tricks and games? If I want something, I go buy it.

I did something similar. I wouldn't buy certain items until I met specific personal goals (for example; getting a "real"
jersey until I could maintain a certain MPH average that was significantly better than what I started with, etc...).
Then I set another goal and got shoes, then a helmet and eventually, I wasn't riding my road bike with MTB gear.

When I was able to keep up with and eventually be competitive with my riding buddy (who races regularly),
I decided it was time to upgrade my bike. But I'm done for a good long while now. As planned, I'm going to
ride my current bike all year and I'll build up a carbon bike for next year when I have the time off from scratch.
That's the one thing I just couldn't do...keep a bike "as is" from the factory.

Next on my list: Shoes and new shades, some weekly riding gear and that's it. For real.



BTW...I "buy smart" as well. I saved at least a thousand dollars off my bike by buying in the winter and off season.

Does your GF cycle?

The reason I ask is that my wife already complains about being a cycling widow. The last thing she wants me doing is spending more time on the bike.

Yeah. I buy the best I can afford. And why not. If you got it, enjoy it.
I have not one gripe with the guy who rides a sub-$1,000. bike.
There are a lot of really great bikes at that price. I did that.
I still ride a sub-$1,000. bike. I just upgraded the snot out of it.


My GF is sitting right next to me and I told her what you wrote and she got a hearty laugh out of it!
(Coincidentally, I got her a bike. She'll be riding with me soon enough.)



Amen to that.
Nike says "Just Do It!" In New York, we say "Do You."
Get what "you" want. Forget the haters.
After all, they're all gone when one logs off, hey?

For the Bike Snobs who criticize your Motor, most of those guys just walk into
a bike shop and whip out a Credit Card and walk out with an awesome bike.
Easiest thing in the world to do. The rest of us have to earn it.

I want to die completely penniless once my loved ones are cared for.

After all, we ain't takin' it with us, right?




My SWMBO I had to try to "sell" on why I needed what I got for my bike as I upgraded.

After returning from riding through a lightning storm,
I tried to use that as an excuse for "needing" a carbon framed bike.
She responded with: "Or, you could just "not" ride through lightning storms."
Back to the drawing board for me.

My system is based on performance goals. When I started I had a cheap mtn bike. I told myself when I could ride my local loop without putting my foot down, I'd upgrade to something decent within my means. Done. Now I have a time goal. When I can make that same loop in under XX minutes I'll upgrade to something very nice within my means. The road bike has been the same but first with miles - 2000 in a year upgraded me from an old Raleigh to my more modern but still modest LeMond. Once I can hang with the pack of my local team and I'm ready to enter a race (goal spring 2012) I'll get a better road bike. With the knowledge I've gained along the way I feel like I can make a much better buying decision for my needs.