Are we ever satisfied with what we've got?

Wacky Racer

I've been back into road cycling for a couple of years now, and one thing that has changed noticeably since I was a kid is the amount of decent kit on offer, components, clothing, accessories, etc. I doubt I'm much different to most on here, especially having reached a time of life when I can afford the odd luxury, in that I am constantly upgrading the bike, buying new clothes, or getting some item that I "must have".

Do any of us ever reach the point where we no longer look at, and crave, the latest spec, or that new jersey that's probably no better than the other dozen I've already got? I can't go into my LBS without coming away with something I had no intention of buying, and I still trawl online shops for bargains, despite the fact that I don't "need" anything at all.

elderone

In a word,no.It,s human nature,You can have a stunning mrs but that dont stop you lusting after other women.
Just enjoy life and buy what makes you feel good.

the_fuggler

What both of you said!

hipshot

Yes it's human nature to crave better kit, the whole industry depends on it. You have to watch it if it starts to eclipse the cycling itself though.

Reane_Machine

I find myself fantasising about what I will buy next while I'm wearing new items for the forst time.

I think it's a psychological complex.

Also I keep telling myself that I will get thinner so buying smaller clothes will be necessary in the future anyway so I might as well do it now while all the lovely offers are on... my poor wallet

tiredofwhiners

Maybe its an age thing but apart from a new frame to replace an old one about nine months ago, and the ocasional innertube/brake block, I have bought precisely zero. I have two bikes, I have more than enough summer kit, I have enough wet weather gear and although I must admit to looking through Wiggle, I just look at new stuff and thing 'meh, its the same as the stuff I have, but in a different colour'.

Its something you grow out of - like fast cars. eventually comfort and enjoyment of what you have is more important than the thrill of buying something. Its why us old one are not neck deep in debt and younger folks are still wasting money on new kit, new phones, new bikes etc.

I did however buy a new flatscreen TV foe the olympics instead of spending twice the sum on tickets.

Bozman

Are you on about women or bikes because the answer to both is no, it's purely down to money the more you have the better you get....... apparently.

Wacky Racer

Bozman wrote:

Are you on about women or bikes because the answer to both is no, it's purely down to money the more you have the better you get....... apparently.

But you could apply that philosophy to most things in life - the car, the clothes etc. But bikes seem to bring out the spendthrift in me like nothing else. I've got the house, the BMW, I've got the wife I want, and in general I'm very happy with my lot. Whilst I might look at other women and like what I see I'm not tempted to trade my wife in. I don't spend time looking at the latest sportswear for the gym, or a new squash racket because mine is a few years old, because they'll do me fine for a while to come. But for some reason bikes are like money magnets.

Joeblack

tiredofwhiners wrote:

Maybe its an age thing but apart from a new frame to replace an old one about nine months ago, and the ocasional innertube/brake block, I have bought precisely zero. I have two bikes, I have more than enough summer kit, I have enough wet weather gear and although I must admit to looking through Wiggle, I just look at new stuff and thing 'meh, its the same as the stuff I have, but in a different colour'.

Its something you grow out of - like fast cars. eventually comfort and enjoyment of what you have is more important than the thrill of buying something. Its why us old one are not neck deep in debt and younger folks are still wasting money on new kit, new phones, new bikes etc.

I did however buy a new flatscreen TV foe the olympics instead of spending twice the sum on tickets.

Not all 'younger folks' go into debt to buy new/latest things!!

To the op, I say this no, and it's not a bad thing (in most cases) wanting more/better/newer has driven men to do some truly remarkable things and in most cases these are good things

Joeblack

Wacky Racer wrote:

Bozman wrote:

Are you on about women or bikes because the answer to both is no, it's purely down to money the more you have the better you get....... apparently.

But you could apply that philosophy to most things in life - the car, the clothes etc. But bikes seem to bring out the spendthrift in me like nothing else. I've got the house, the BMW, I've got the wife I want, and in general I'm very happy with my lot. Whilst I might look at other women and like what I see I'm not tempted to trade my wife in. I don't spend time looking at the latest sportswear for the gym, or a new squash racket because mine is a few years old, because they'll do me fine for a while to come. But for some reason bikes are like money magnets.

I think it's about what you feel the need to spend money on, some people it's clothes (fashion) some its cars, some people have amazing houses but drive a clapped out vehicle, whilst other have a brand new BM parked outside their mums house (and they are 30!!) To me it's your money and spend it on what you like, I recently told someone what iv spent on bikes this year and they damn near slapped me, yet the same person has over 5k worth of Cameras. To me I wouldn't spend more than a few hundred and a 'decent' camera. So it's horses for courses

Zendog1

It took me about 6 years to kick the upgrade bug - no help as usual from the bloody NHS.

Seriously there just came a point when it just went. The only things I buy these days are straight replacement for worn out stuff.

Wacky Racer

tiredofwhiners wrote:

Maybe its an age thing but apart from a new frame to replace an old one about nine months ago, and the ocasional innertube/brake block, I have bought precisely zero. I have two bikes, I have more than enough summer kit, I have enough wet weather gear and although I must admit to looking through Wiggle, I just look at new stuff and thing 'meh, its the same as the stuff I have, but in a different colour'.

Its something you grow out of - like fast cars. eventually comfort and enjoyment of what you have is more important than the thrill of buying something. Its why us old one are not neck deep in debt and younger folks are still wasting money on new kit, new phones, new bikes etc.

I did however buy a new flatscreen TV foe the olympics instead of spending twice the sum on tickets.

I'd like to think it was an age thing, but I'm 51 and have even gone past the MLC.

BTW - do men really grow out of fast cars? I'm not in debt, I work hard for a good wage. But, I do have the latest phone, pc, etc. Life is for living, money isn't worth much to a dead man.

Bozman

Joeblack wrote:

Wacky Racer wrote:

Bozman wrote:

Are you on about women or bikes because the answer to both is no, it's purely down to money the more you have the better you get....... apparently.

But you could apply that philosophy to most things in life - the car, the clothes etc. But bikes seem to bring out the spendthrift in me like nothing else. I've got the house, the BMW, I've got the wife I want, and in general I'm very happy with my lot. Whilst I might look at other women and like what I see I'm not tempted to trade my wife in. I don't spend time looking at the latest sportswear for the gym, or a new squash racket because mine is a few years old, because they'll do me fine for a while to come. But for some reason bikes are like money magnets.

I think it's about what you feel the need to spend money on, some people it's clothes (fashion) some its cars, some people have amazing houses but drive a clapped out vehicle, whilst other have a brand new BM parked outside their mums house (and they are 30!!) To me it's your money and spend it on what you like, I recently told someone what iv spent on bikes this year and they damn near slapped me, yet the same person has over 5k worth of Cameras. To me I wouldn't spend more than a few hundred and a 'decent' camera. So it's horses for courses

If you use something and don't leave it at the back of the garage there's no issue with spending money on it, sometimes i take a step back and wonder why i've spent so much but i use them, look after them and the wife's ok with it so that's good enough for me.

dylanfernley

oh the woes of consumer addicts, its a never ending , never satisfied problem.... you need my relatively cheap counselling to free yourself from this viscous lifestyle

Sprool

Who dies with the most toys is the winner.

Joeblack

It can sometimes be a matter of "what he's got" syndrome, there's nothing wrong with wanting better quality items but sometimes I really do think why change when what you've got does a perfectly good job, take someone upgrading from Ultegra to DA, 99% of cyclist wouldn't see any benefit yet a lot will make this change.

red dragon

It is bad luck to leave a bike shop empty handed. :roll:

simon_masterson

It's pretty easy for me; I have no money and neither does my wife.

But I'm in a privileged position: I already own the coolest bike on Earth. I ogled and gazed at it with wonderment as a wee lad. It was daddy's bike, and now it is mine. He may have given it to me in a frankly unrideable condition on an 'I don't want it back' basis, having not really maintained it conscientiously to any degree throughout its life, and already given it away to someone else on indefinite loan (who kept it outside), before letting it sit at the back of the shed for a few years, but I don't care. There is no amount of money that will be unfit to spend on it, and I will continue to invest in her no matter how many people incorrectly tell me that the bike's not worth it.

Honestly though, the idea of owning hundreds of bikes really does not appeal to me all that much. The maintenance routine would be awful...

tiredofwhiners

Joeblack wrote:

Not all 'younger folks' go into debt to buy new/latest things!!

Not all granted, but the vast majority - absolutely they do. Someone else posted about a 30 year old with a new BMW on the front drive - probably of their parents house because they want bling now, won't save and bemoan that they cannot afford to buy a house when there's £40k of metal rapidly depreciating on the drive.

Not all, but most for certain.

Joeblack

Simon Masterson wrote:

It's pretty easy for me; I have no money and neither does my wife.

But I'm in a privileged position: I already own the coolest bike on Earth. I ogled and gazed at it with wonderment as a wee lad. It was daddy's bike, and now it is mine. He may have given it to me in a frankly unrideable condition on an 'I don't want it back' basis, having not really maintained it conscientiously to any degree throughout its life, and already given it away to someone else on indefinite loan (who kept it outside), before letting it sit at the back of the shed for a few years, but I don't care. There is no amount of money that will be unfit to spend on it, and I will continue to invest in her no matter how many people incorrectly tell me that the bike's not worth it.

Honestly though, the idea of owning hundreds of bikes really does not appeal to me all that much. The maintenance routine would be awful...

I agree, tbh I'd much rather have something with such emotional attachment that all the bling bikes in china

Joeblack

tiredofwhiners wrote:

Joeblack wrote:

Not all 'younger folks' go into debt to buy new/latest things!!

Not all granted, but the vast majority - absolutely they do. Someone else posted about a 30 year old with a new BMW on the front drive - probably of their parents house because they want bling now, won't save and bemoan that they cannot afford to buy a house when there's £40k of metal rapidly depreciating on the drive.

Not all, but most for certain.

I posted this, and I think your wrong to tarnish people with that brush, old and young alike have caught affluenza in the past 10 years and although statistics may show the majority are in the younger bracket, there is a large amount of 25-35yo that have set up new business in the depths of the recession, this is something that requires money management skills, also do not forget that these 'younger' people you talk of will be paying this debt back a long time after you golden oldies have gone

diy

Personally I challenge myself to achieve the result for the lowest possible spend. I don't always do it though sometimes I will enjoy buying the bling but normally I find I get more enjoyment out of the bargain.

Take cars for example: Most disappointing purchase was my merc sl, £80k money pit, favourite car i have ever owned Volvo 740gle spent £150 on two tyres and couple of oil changes in 4 years and took it from 170k miles to 240k I think this says a lot about me

loismustdie

Yes - a couple of things I wouldn't change, cost no object:

My watch - Rolex Submariner LV (the green limited edition). If I had the money, I might buy a vintage 1960's Submariner (maybe a Red), but the LV would still be my every day watch.

My bike - Van Nicholas Astraeus, almost complete Dura Ace 7900, Easton components, Quarq powermeter. Genuinely can't think of a way I'd change it (certainly not in a way that would be even remotely cost effective).

Wacky Racer

loismustdie wrote:

Yes - a couple of things I wouldn't change, cost no object:

My watch - Rolex Submariner LV (the green limited edition). If I had the money, I might buy a vintage 1960's Submariner (maybe a Red), but the LV would still be my every day watch.

My bike - Van Nicholas Astraeus, almost complete Dura Ace 7900, Easton components, Quarq powermeter. Genuinely can't think of a way I'd change it (certainly not in a way that would be even remotely cost effective).

I concur with the Rolex. I have the two tone steel/18k ltd edition Submariner with the red and gold bezel and diamond and ruby dial. I love this watch so much I'd never trade it for anything else, no matter what it was. Mine is my every day watch, my wrist would be lost without it.

nunowoolmez

I just had to replace my 1999 Fiesta, failed MOT (badly) & not worth spending on repairs. Went to car lit & bought a 10 year old Renault Megane for £800 inc years tax & MOT. Done 109000 miles! Barely a week earlier i bought a Canyon Ultimate CF frameset for £760! That will be 2 bike projects completed in a year, am i in debt? No. I spend eff all on everything else apart from cycling stuff, holiday adventures, & nice kit! I work hard for decent money & put away a tidy amount into savings accounts every month. It's all about priorities i guess. Although i do think living outside your means is a dangerous game. If you can afford stuff & it doesn't do any harm then who cares! Lifes for living!!!

Frank the tank

Don't read any bike mags, visit any bike web sites or go to your LBS. This is the best way to avoid wanting new stuff just for the sake of it. It's all marketing. Wait 'til you need to replace something before you go looking that way you won't be tempted into spending unneccessary cash. Unless of course you just want more stuff be it bikes or kit.

nunowoolmez

Yep, more stuff for me!

One things for sure, this is much more expensive than running! Oh well, bikes are much cooler than trainers anyway!

luv2ride

I certainly think its a "condition". I've convinced myself I need a good goretex rain jacket, on the basis I've just built up a winter bike and, as my other half has become very fond of pointing out, now I have no excuse but to still go out when the skies turn black!

Went out yesterday wearing my old (and trusty) Altura Crosslite with the express intention of proving that it wouldn't breathe well enough as I'm a sweaty so and so when hammering it out on the bike. I proved 4 things; a) the Crosslite is easily good enough for me, reasonably breathable and fit for purpose, b) in the low light I was grateful for the bright red colour of the Crosslight (the high end jacket i think i "need" is black with few reflectives), c) the Crosslite has useful pockets (the high end jacket doesn't) and d) the Crosslite was great value (picked it up in a sale for 50 squids - new jacket will likely be 150).

My conclusion? I'll probably still buy the new jacket as I love new techy stuff, and i admit that I'm addicted! I do always seek out the very best deal before splashing out my hard earned, and its part of my release from a very stressful job. However, I'm glad to hear from others that it might pass someday as it would be pretty liberating not to be planning the next purchase all the time... now, let's google "Shimano RS80"

briantrumpet

elderone wrote:

In a word,no.It,s human nature

Maybe I'm not human in that case. Satisfied. Bloody lucky to be in that position, but satisfied.

mervzila

Frank the tank wrote:

Don't read any bike mags, visit any bike web sites or go to your LBS. This is the best way to avoid wanting new stuff just for the sake of it. It's all marketing. Wait 'til you need to replace something before you go looking that way you won't be tempted into spending unneccessary cash. Unless of course you just want more stuff be it bikes or kit.