Curbing your desire to spend...

jonny_trousers

Anyone successful at doing it?

Having completed my first 100+ miler last year and wanting to enter several sportives this year, I find myself looking at lighter, stiffer, quicker and yes, sexier bikes than my trusty Equilibrium. The problem is, what I know would do me fine, and what I keep trying to convince myself I should get are two different things. I could probably be more than happy and perfectly comfortable on a 105 equipped Canyon Ultimate AL, but having looked on the Canyon site, I've now convinced myself that if I'm buying a new bike, I might as well pay they extra for an Ultimate CF CLX with di2! If you've got the money to spend on flash gear you don't really need then why the hell not? But then I'm not sure I do have the money to justify it.

Any of you discovered enlightenment and the technique for keeping things in perspective?

veronese68

Jonny_Trousers wrote:

Anyone successful at doing it?

No.

Jonny_Trousers wrote:

Any of you discovered enlightenment and the technique for keeping things in perspective?

Fear of the EPO combined with guilt is what usually stops me.

jonginge

No.

I need a BBRight compatible chainset to complete a build. I could go for a rotor but, no, I'm eyeing up the SRAM red powermeter...

rolf_f

I make sure that whatever I buy, it's what I really want. That way, I still love it years later! Eg my Look - almost same spec as when bought (though that may change a little) - had it for 3 years I think and there's still no new bike I want more!

Bustacapp

Jonny_Trousers wrote:

Anyone successful at doing it?

Having completed my first 100+ miler last year and wanting to enter several sportives this year, I find myself looking at lighter, stiffer, quicker and yes, sexier bikes than my trusty Equilibrium. The problem is, what I know would do me fine, and what I keep trying to convince myself I should get are two different things. I could probably be more than happy and perfectly comfortable on a 105 equipped Canyon Ultimate AL, but having looked on the Canyon site, I've now convinced myself that if I'm buying a new bike, I might as well pay they extra for an Ultimate CF CLX with di2! If you've got the money to spend on flash gear you don't really need then why the hell not? But then I'm not sure I do have the money to justify it.

Any of you discovered enlightenment and the technique for keeping things in perspective?

I just remind myself that the best money I ever spent was £10 on a computer game called Unreal Tournament. It has brought over a decade of enjoyment to me.

So, would spending £4k on a machine that does pretty much the same as a £350 make me happy?

daviesee

Steps:-
1. Contemplation. Spend a long time thinking about what you want, why you want it and what is the ultimate solution.
2. Spend right, spend once - Once you have decided what you want research to get the best that you can afford. I would never advocate getting in debt when not required but if you buy the best at the start, you cut out those intermediate purchases.
3. Enjoy it. Now you have your purchase - use it, get your moneys worth and cost will be forgotten.
4. No lust - As you have what you want you will soon realise that the new versions that appear every year are 95% cosmetics and nothing will significantly improve on what you have.
5. Accumulation of cash - Start again at step one.

jonny_trousers

Rolf F wrote:

I make sure that whatever I buy, it's what I really want. That way, I still love it years later! Eg my Look - almost same spec as when bought (though that may change a little) - had it for 3 years I think and there's still no new bike I want more!

Ah, the little devil on my left shoulder likes this one! It's worth spending the money because I'll never need to upgrade again! Although, a very average, recreational rider will obviously need a set of Cosmic Carbones too one day, right?

rubertoe

Veronese68 wrote:

Jonny_Trousers wrote:

Anyone successful at doing it?

No.

Jonny_Trousers wrote:

Any of you discovered enlightenment and the technique for keeping things in perspective?

Fear of the EPO combined with guilt is what usually stops me.

This.

Sit on hands. Bin Computer. Give Cards to EPO.

Then go and get it anyway...

And yes, the Carbones are a must.

gtvlusso

My theory is this:

If you save up and buy what you really really want, you will enjoy it far more than compromising because you want it right now.....

if I get back to racing or competing - then I have a 'Look' build in mind that I have lusted after for years. It will be my keeper.

However, I would buy a second, quality, wheelset for racing.......

jonomc4

Bustacapp wrote:

I just remind myself that the best money I ever spent was £10 on a computer game called Unreal Tournament. It has brought over a decade of enjoyment to me.

So, would spending £4k on a machine that does pretty much the same as a £350 make me happy?

Unreal Tournament - now I was big into that game - played for a clan - nearly lost my marriage Still go back and play a quick game occasionally but nowhere near as good as I used to be - shock whore extreme

DrLex

[...]technique for keeping things in perspective?

I surprised myself with the total after listing all the bike-related spending in a spreadsheet, so now seeing how long I can go without further purchases, to at least try and bring the ratio below £1 per mile.

rolf_f

Jonny_Trousers wrote:

Although, a very average, recreational rider will obviously need a set of Cosmic Carbones too one day, right?

That's OK as long as you are not selling the old wheels. The principle doesn't work if you sell stuff to fund new stuff. Then you are just buying a new bike by stealth!

itboffin

why curb? Spend until it hurts then spend some more

veronese68

itboffin wrote:

why curb? Spend until it hurts then spend some more

I did wonder why you were posting on this thread.

cyclingprop

Just picked up my new wheels, why are you asking me?!

Bustacapp

jonomc4 wrote:

Tournament - now I was big into that game - played for a clan - nearly lost my marriage Still go back and play a quick game occasionally but nowhere near as good as I used to be - shock whore extreme

Shock & Rocket slut myself. Hate the snipers!!

jonny_trousers

You lot are really not helping, you know. I like it!

meanredspider

I've actually reached something approaching a point where all I spend on is consumables. That's pretty much from buying "the best" (or something approximating to it) just once. Then, whenever something catches my eye, I can think "Is it better than what I have?" and the answer is almost always "No". It's been "expensive" getting to this point but much better than "buy cheap, buy twice"

the_fuggler

Pretty much what everybody else has said. Always buy the best you possibly can to get the most enjoyment out of it for the longest possible time. And then succumb to the lust.....!!

tarbot18

Ive got 3 bikes , old mtb for winter commuting , road bike for summer commuting and long rides and full suss mtb for weekly play in the wilds.
I have an allowed budget of £50 ish per month i try and keep to , there always seems to be something needing replacing on one of the 3 although it is normally the full suss as that gets a good hiding .

About to get bike 4 next month when our bike scheme starts again, 29er mtb this time to replace the old winter hack although 4 bikes is a nice round number............

itboffin

Buy everything you can see whilst foaming at the mouth pushing people out of the way and shouting MINE!

clarkey cat

My spending has really dropped off. Just down to basic maintenance costs at the moment. And it is making me miserable...

jonny_trousers

Just found out what my tax bill is. I guess it's the Equilibrium for a while yet.

daviesee

Jonny_Trousers wrote:

Just found out what my tax bill is. I guess it's the Equilibrium for a while yet.

Tax bill = Self employed?
Self employed = Company bike surely? :P
http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/manuals/eimanual/eim21664.htm

gtvlusso

Curbing my desire to spend, by selling my fixie....

iPete

gtvlusso wrote:

Curbing my desire to spend, by selling my fixie....

what what what, i seem to recall that being a lovely clean tarty bike?!

essex-commuter

iPete wrote:

gtvlusso wrote:

Curbing my desire to spend, by selling my fixie....

what what what, i seem to recall that being a lovely clean tarty bike?!

I desire a fixie, let me know....

gtvlusso

essex-commuter wrote:

iPete wrote:

gtvlusso wrote:

Curbing my desire to spend, by selling my fixie....

what what what, i seem to recall that being a lovely clean tarty bike?!

I desire a fixie, let me know....

On the classifieds, so, I won't troll here.

It is a beautiful, light and fast bike - My knees cannot do fixed any longer.....I am sad

Will PM you a linky.

Anyway, the money may go towards Dura Ace for the roadie.

jonny_trousers

daviesee wrote:

Jonny_Trousers wrote:

Just found out what my tax bill is. I guess it's the Equilibrium for a while yet.

Tax bill = Self employed?
Self employed = Company bike surely? :P
http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/manuals/eimanual/eim21664.htm

Yeah, I need to get my head around that. Right now my accountant claims for all cycle commute related purchases and 20p a mile for the journey.

daviesee

Jonny_Trousers wrote:

Yeah, I need to get my head around that. Right now my accountant claims for all cycle commute related purchases and 20p a mile for the journey.

That's one way of doing it.
If you are after a lush bike though it is more cost effective for your company to simply buy the bike and loan it to all employees. You may even be able to claim back the VAT.
Then there are the company helmets, lights, hi-viz, consumables, wear & tear, breakfasts.......
:P

prawny

I've managed to curb my spending to some degree by completely running out of money. Hey presto.