What does your significant other think of your cycling hobby?

[oreo_muncher]

I would say "normal"...whatever that is
I tend to build a new bike every 2 years or so.My latest build,the Ti Lynskey linked in my signature came in around the £5.5k mark-ish.I've recently downsized from 5 bikes to 2 too.I don't actually add up how much I spend per annum,taking into account bike,clothes,bits,traveling expenses/cycling holidays etc,anymoreI built the Ti bike with a view to keeping it a long time so less outlay.......but.......I'm thinking about another build project already
It is what it is.At least I have something to show for the outlay..well that's my argument when the missus complains
(NB If money was a problem I would spend accordingly!)

How do you afford all this bike spending? I think I probably spent 1.5k-2k on bike stuff including my bike.

 

[vickster]

How do you afford all this bike spending? I think I probably spent 1.5k-2k on bike stuff including my bike.

How do you think adults afford nice things?
In my case, a well paid job, no mortgage now and most of all, no children bleeding me dry
Personally I couldn't justify a 5k bike, although I could happily and afford one...total replacement of my 5 bikes would be well north of that though

 

[DCLane]

How do you afford all this bike spending? I think I probably spent 1.5k-2k on bike stuff including my bike.

Like others I don't just buy bikes, parts, etc. but also sell them on.

This year I've bought a bike (last Sunday), a frame and a few other things plus multiple wheels and other parts. My spending's reined back as I'm mostly happy with what I have presently but will be £2-3k a year. Son's spending is probably £3-4k a year but he races at multiple levels.

However ... I've also sold about £1.5-2k's of parts, bikes and other items. So the balance is generally OK.

Race entries and travel to races are another big cost. Cancellation of UK / international races has meant we've spent about £4k less than planned for my son. My entries cost about £1k a year for track / hillclimb / TT / audax including travel and other costs.

However, I don't smoke, drink alcohol or do other expensive activities. My wife's got her hobbies and we're usually fine about costs. I've a good job and earn a decent amount; by commuting to work for almost 10 years I've saved way more than I have spent.

 

[ChrisEyles]

Mrs Chris thinks I'm a bit metal for going out on long/tough 3hr+ rides, even more so going off-road and getting covered in mud and occasionally going arse over tit off my bike.

She does probably have a fair point when she say I bang on about bikes and cycling a bit much sometimes.

But she does like it when I'm able to true her wheel or fit her a new freewheel & chain on her commuting bike

Fortunately I'm much stingier than she is so despite having what she would consider to be too many bikes, it's not a financial sticking point.

Cycling's a relatively harmless and unobjectionable hobby, surely?

 

[vickster]

Cycling's a relatively harmless and unobjectionable hobby, surely?

And no more costly than many others, golf, sailing, even gaming when people spend £5k on a TV and God knows what else!! A TV that's obsolete 5 years later!

 

[Sniper68]

How do you afford all this bike spending? I think I probably spent 1.5k-2k on bike stuff including my bike.

Once you get into your 50s you get "free money" you didn't realise you had
As said upthread no Mortgage,kids etc,etc.Things just start to get easier(if you're lucky)I also shoot(Air guns) and they're not cheap BUT I don't go out boozing 4 or 5 times a week(I did until my 30s),I quit smoking 40-a day 20 years ago and we both have decent enough jobs.
I will add that non of my bikes/guns is on credit either.Building a bike to my own specifications might cost more than buying off peg but as I do it over a period of a few months the outlays are smaller
I took some very good advice in my late teens/early 20s.Plan ahead and don't spend more than you need to!

 

[oreo_muncher]

Like others I don't just buy bikes, parts, etc. but also sell them on.

This year I've bought a bike (last Sunday), a frame and a few other things plus multiple wheels and other parts. My spending's reined back as I'm mostly happy with what I have presently but will be £2-3k a year. Son's spending is probably £3-4k a year but he races at multiple levels.

However ... I've also sold about £1.5-2k's of parts, bikes and other items. So the balance is generally OK.

Race entries and travel to races are another big cost. Cancellation of UK / international races has meant we've spent about £4k less than planned for my son. My entries cost about £1k a year for track / hillclimb / TT / audax including travel and other costs.

However, I don't smoke, drink alcohol or do other expensive activities. My wife's got her hobbies and we're usually fine about costs. I've a good job and earn a decent amount; by commuting to work for almost 10 years I've saved way more than I have spent.

I don't smoke, drink or have any expensive activities- except my bike spending but a bit limited on student maintenance...I could get a job but workload in uni is quite a lot more this year. So Im trying to control it..yet I've spent 60 quid today on a merino wool long sleeve jersey, on sale of course. And I don't have a car nor a driving licence.

 

[Drago]

Mrs D loves my hobby. Sometimes we role play - im the hapless cyclist who has been knocked off his bike by a sexy dominatrix, who then abducts my unconscious form and takes me to her dungepn where she does unspeakably kinky things to [NEXT 12 PAGES OF FILTH DELETED BY MODS]

 

[oreo_muncher]

Once you get into your 50s you get "free money" you didn't realise you had
As said upthread no Mortgage,kids etc,etc.Things just start to get easier(if you're lucky)I also shoot(Air guns) and they're not cheap BUT I don't go out boozing 4 or 5 times a week(I did until my 30s),I quit smoking 40-a day 20 years ago and we both have decent enough jobs.
I will add that non of my bikes/guns is on credit either.Building a bike to my own specifications might cost more than buying off peg but as I do it over a period of a few months the outlays are smaller
I took some very good advice in my late teens/early 20s.Plan ahead and don't spend more than you need to!

Any tips for saving money and not bankrupting myself to have a nice budget for bike stuff..?

 

[oreo_muncher]

Mrs D loves my hobby. Sometimes we role play - im the hapless cyclist who has been knocked off his bike by a sexy dominatrix, who then abducts my unconscious form and takes me to her dungepn where she does unspeakably kinky things to [NEXT 12 PAGES OF FILTH DELETED BY MODS]

Well at least now we know your marriage is alive

 

[BoldonLad]

Any tips for saving money and not bankrupting myself to have a nice budget for bike stuff..?

The secret is Budget, and Self-Control, IMHO.

The less money you have coming in, the more in control you need to be

 

[oreo_muncher]

The secret is Budget, and Self-Control, IMHO.

The less money you have coming in, the more in control you need to be

That's why I stopped looking at my bank balance..............

 

[fossyant]

Any tips for saving money and not bankrupting myself to have a nice budget for bike stuff..?

Look after your bike. Saves the scary bills. I got 3 of my current bikes whilst still living at home waaay before 'girls' - I still have the bikes 30 years later. My best bike was money no object - top spec everything, handbuilt frame/wheels, then all Dura Ace kit. I still have the bike and it's a delight to ride.

I've also mid spec road bike (old), an old MTB and a newer MTB that I bought more recently. That costs a bit to keep going in wear and tear parts. I tend to keep my bikes but look after them, so if it's worn, the part is replaced/repaired. It's all the other kit though like clothes/shoes etc. Road bikes are far easier/less time consuming than looking after a full suspension MTB - neglect that and you could have a £300 rear shock bill, or £500 plus for a new fork.

Oh and if you end up filthy, do rinse the mud off your kit before it goes in the washing machine and destroys that too.

 

[All uphill]

Any tips for saving money and not bankrupting myself to have a nice budget for bike stuff..?

Boring answer - in the periods of my life when my income was low I would delay any significant purchase by a few days, never buying on impulse. Very often it turned out I didn't need whatever it was, just wanted it at that moment.

Now I have savings I ask myself if something will give me lasting pleasure - if the answer is yes I buy it. I have a nice bike and a crappy car!

 

[Sniper68]

Any tips for saving money and not bankrupting myself to have a nice budget for bike stuff..?

It's hard.My daughter is a 19yo Student and even with our help she will start her working life with a huge debt.You have to learn to live within your means as much as possible.Harder now than 30 years ago I think.I work with young lads who are in their 20s who are driving about in £40/50K cars that they're "leasing" for £500+ per month..it's crazy!It's all for show but it seems it's the done thing now.Owning a brand new Range Rover or Merc when I was 22 was living in dreamland
My advice is to buy the cycling stuff you can afford and not worry to much whether your bike is worth £500 or £5000!