This is exactly how I felt too.....but unfortunately
ebay has a purchase history page, so out of curiosity/self flagellation I went through my 2017 purchases last night,....dear god, talk about laying your obsession out before your eyes....In my defence I have cycled nearly 10,000 miles this year so I think I've earned it
First off I'll start with actual bike shops and online retailers, where I've spent £220 on tyres, chains, inner tubes, brake and gear cables and brake pads. Not too bad, but then we get onto ebay.... (shuffles awkwardly and makes promise to bury bank statements outside when no ones looking)
From my ebay purchase history it seems I'm a complete Campagnolo fan boy, with a magpie type weakness for shiny silver, and bought (gulp):
Components
5 pairs of wheels (1 tubular, 4 clinchers)
2 single wheels for spares
2 hubs for spares
2 sets of brakes calipers
1 seatpost
2 x 10 speed rear derailleurs
1 double chainset
1 front derailleur
1 pair of STI shifters
1 stem
3 x cassettes
2 pairs of pedals
2 x saddles
3 pairs of wheel quick releases
Accessories/spares
1 front light
1 seatpost holding bracket spares
2 x pairs of SPD-SL cleats
1 set of square taper crank bolts
1 pair of ergopower rubber hood spares
1 x sidi replacement heel pad
1 cassette lockring
3 tubs of tubular glue
1 wrap of handlebar tape
1 fancy handlebar end plugs
1 musette
1 metal polish (for bike chrome shiny shiny)
2 bottle cages
1 campag pin badge
1 campag enamel sign
1 campag brake and cable kit
1 set of park tool cable cutters
Clothing
4 cycling caps
5 pairs of cycling socks
3 pairs of vintage crochet cycle gloves
9 vintage/retro cycling jerseys
Total ebay spend for 2017 = £2372.
Sounds a lot, but probably only what smoker spends on their habit in a year, and I got some real bargains there. But having seen that laid bare I'll try and wind in the retail therapy a bit next year....but that's next year, there's still a few weeks left of this one
....I plan to buy a 2nd hand classic steel frame before years end and build up a new bike with some of the above bits.