Overheard at Work

[Timmmy]

I was absolutely dumbfounded when this one Youtube video I was watching on top 10 upgrades for your bike (geared towards cyclists who race) said you should take the weight savings of your upgrade, and divide it by the cost of your upgrade when comparing two upgrade options. It then went on to give an example of aluminum -> carbon fiber handlebars vs butyl -> latex tubes.

Isn't this just common sense?? This struck me as incredibly obvious and yet this video was stepping through it like it was a big deal or something.

Years ago I read an article with a similar topic. But after calculating grams/dollar for the carbon-fiber brake handles and unobtanium-laced brake pads, they also calculated taking some Ex-Lax the day before a race, and just losing a pound of fat. Unsurprisingly, the latter two were quite a bit more cost efficient.

I just stopped bringing it up. The people who buy that stuff aren't interested in saving money. I used to do group rides with guys on $5000 Cervelos and whatnot, carbon aero tubular wheels, the whole 9 yards.

I just got sick of them going on and on about it, and poking fun at my mustachian steel touring bike. I ride either by myself, or with my buds on old beater mountain bikes.

I don't know anything but riding in groups (besides as a kid)... but wouldn't you rather ride with those nicer bikes and remind them how your cheap bike can hang just as good? :)

I've enjoyed it every time I get a chance to do this with my dirt bike.  My bike is 15 years old, air cooled, has crappier suspension and weighs a lot more than any of those fancy bikes I ride with but I still ride faster than most of them.  I also don't wear the fancy coordinated riding gear, I just wear some crummy old pants and a t-shirt.  The looks they give me before we start riding and after we get done are drastically different. 

[solon]

I was absolutely dumbfounded when this one Youtube video I was watching on top 10 upgrades for your bike (geared towards cyclists who race) said you should take the weight savings of your upgrade, and divide it by the cost of your upgrade when comparing two upgrade options. It then went on to give an example of aluminum -> carbon fiber handlebars vs butyl -> latex tubes.

Isn't this just common sense?? This struck me as incredibly obvious and yet this video was stepping through it like it was a big deal or something.

Years ago I read an article with a similar topic. But after calculating grams/dollar for the carbon-fiber brake handles and unobtanium-laced brake pads, they also calculated taking some Ex-Lax the day before a race, and just losing a pound of fat. Unsurprisingly, the latter two were quite a bit more cost efficient.

I just stopped bringing it up. The people who buy that stuff aren't interested in saving money. I used to do group rides with guys on $5000 Cervelos and whatnot, carbon aero tubular wheels, the whole 9 yards.

I just got sick of them going on and on about it, and poking fun at my mustachian steel touring bike. I ride either by myself, or with my buds on old beater mountain bikes.

I don't know anything but riding in groups (besides as a kid)... but wouldn't you rather ride with those nicer bikes and remind them how your cheap bike can hang just as good? :)

I've enjoyed it every time I get a chance to do this with my dirt bike.  My bike is 15 years old, air cooled, has crappier suspension and weighs a lot more than any of those fancy bikes I ride with but I still ride faster than most of them.  I also don't wear the fancy coordinated riding gear, I just wear some crummy old pants and a t-shirt.  The looks they give me before we start riding and after we get done are drastically different.

Air cooled? Are we still talking about bicycles?

[HairyUpperLip]

Air cooled? Are we still talking about bicycles?

lol - I thought the same thing...

[FunkyStickman]

I don't know anything but riding in groups (besides as a kid)... but wouldn't you rather ride with those nicer bikes and remind them how your cheap bike can hang just as good? :)

I did this for a while, actually. I could keep up with everyone except the hardcore racer-wannabes. After a while, I just got tired of it. If they invited me to a ride again, I'd probably do it, but more often than not, I'd ride to the start point by myself (6 miles) then do 35-ish miles with them, then ride another 6 home. It started eating into my free time on Saturdays, since I was already getting ride time during the week to/from work.

I still chat with some of those folks, but when they start spewing over some new carbon thing, I just roll my eyes and sigh.

(EDIT) A lot of it had to do with them talking about nothing except expensive toys... I guess you could say my lifestyle wasn't compatible with theirs. Either they'd ride too fast to talk, or they'd talk about stuff I didn't care about.

[Timmmy]

I was absolutely dumbfounded when this one Youtube video I was watching on top 10 upgrades for your bike (geared towards cyclists who race) said you should take the weight savings of your upgrade, and divide it by the cost of your upgrade when comparing two upgrade options. It then went on to give an example of aluminum -> carbon fiber handlebars vs butyl -> latex tubes.

Isn't this just common sense?? This struck me as incredibly obvious and yet this video was stepping through it like it was a big deal or something.

Years ago I read an article with a similar topic. But after calculating grams/dollar for the carbon-fiber brake handles and unobtanium-laced brake pads, they also calculated taking some Ex-Lax the day before a race, and just losing a pound of fat. Unsurprisingly, the latter two were quite a bit more cost efficient.

I just stopped bringing it up. The people who buy that stuff aren't interested in saving money. I used to do group rides with guys on $5000 Cervelos and whatnot, carbon aero tubular wheels, the whole 9 yards.

I just got sick of them going on and on about it, and poking fun at my mustachian steel touring bike. I ride either by myself, or with my buds on old beater mountain bikes.

I don't know anything but riding in groups (besides as a kid)... but wouldn't you rather ride with those nicer bikes and remind them how your cheap bike can hang just as good? :)

I've enjoyed it every time I get a chance to do this with my dirt bike.  My bike is 15 years old, air cooled, has crappier suspension and weighs a lot more than any of those fancy bikes I ride with but I still ride faster than most of them.  I also don't wear the fancy coordinated riding gear, I just wear some crummy old pants and a t-shirt.  The looks they give me before we start riding and after we get done are drastically different.

Air cooled? Are we still talking about bicycles?

No, but I suppose pretty much all bicycles are in fact air cooled. 

I did say dirt bike but maybe I should clarify.  Off road motorcycle. 

[dragoncar]

I was absolutely dumbfounded when this one Youtube video I was watching on top 10 upgrades for your bike (geared towards cyclists who race) said you should take the weight savings of your upgrade, and divide it by the cost of your upgrade when comparing two upgrade options. It then went on to give an example of aluminum -> carbon fiber handlebars vs butyl -> latex tubes.

Isn't this just common sense?? This struck me as incredibly obvious and yet this video was stepping through it like it was a big deal or something.

Years ago I read an article with a similar topic. But after calculating grams/dollar for the carbon-fiber brake handles and unobtanium-laced brake pads, they also calculated taking some Ex-Lax the day before a race, and just losing a pound of fat. Unsurprisingly, the latter two were quite a bit more cost efficient.

I just stopped bringing it up. The people who buy that stuff aren't interested in saving money. I used to do group rides with guys on $5000 Cervelos and whatnot, carbon aero tubular wheels, the whole 9 yards.

I just got sick of them going on and on about it, and poking fun at my mustachian steel touring bike. I ride either by myself, or with my buds on old beater mountain bikes.

I don't know anything but riding in groups (besides as a kid)... but wouldn't you rather ride with those nicer bikes and remind them how your cheap bike can hang just as good? :)

I've enjoyed it every time I get a chance to do this with my dirt bike.  My bike is 15 years old, air cooled, has crappier suspension and weighs a lot more than any of those fancy bikes I ride with but I still ride faster than most of them.  I also don't wear the fancy coordinated riding gear, I just wear some crummy old pants and a t-shirt.  The looks they give me before we start riding and after we get done are drastically different.

Air cooled? Are we still talking about bicycles?

No, but I suppose pretty much all bicycles are in fact air cooled. 

I did say dirt bike but maybe I should clarify.  Off road motorcycle.

Well of course your dirt bike is going to smoke those cyclists with carbon fiber frames

[Timmmy]

I was absolutely dumbfounded when this one Youtube video I was watching on top 10 upgrades for your bike (geared towards cyclists who race) said you should take the weight savings of your upgrade, and divide it by the cost of your upgrade when comparing two upgrade options. It then went on to give an example of aluminum -> carbon fiber handlebars vs butyl -> latex tubes.

Isn't this just common sense?? This struck me as incredibly obvious and yet this video was stepping through it like it was a big deal or something.

Years ago I read an article with a similar topic. But after calculating grams/dollar for the carbon-fiber brake handles and unobtanium-laced brake pads, they also calculated taking some Ex-Lax the day before a race, and just losing a pound of fat. Unsurprisingly, the latter two were quite a bit more cost efficient.

I just stopped bringing it up. The people who buy that stuff aren't interested in saving money. I used to do group rides with guys on $5000 Cervelos and whatnot, carbon aero tubular wheels, the whole 9 yards.

I just got sick of them going on and on about it, and poking fun at my mustachian steel touring bike. I ride either by myself, or with my buds on old beater mountain bikes.

I don't know anything but riding in groups (besides as a kid)... but wouldn't you rather ride with those nicer bikes and remind them how your cheap bike can hang just as good? :)

I've enjoyed it every time I get a chance to do this with my dirt bike.  My bike is 15 years old, air cooled, has crappier suspension and weighs a lot more than any of those fancy bikes I ride with but I still ride faster than most of them.  I also don't wear the fancy coordinated riding gear, I just wear some crummy old pants and a t-shirt.  The looks they give me before we start riding and after we get done are drastically different.

Air cooled? Are we still talking about bicycles?

No, but I suppose pretty much all bicycles are in fact air cooled. 

I did say dirt bike but maybe I should clarify.  Off road motorcycle.

Well of course your dirt bike is going to smoke those cyclists with carbon fiber frames

Those things are soooooo slow.  And they cost 2-3x as much as mine does. 

[auntie_betty]

Co-worker 1 - well maybe our syndicate will win £1,000,000 on the lottery
Co-worker 2 - that's no good that's only 200k each.
Me - you could retire on that (he's in his mid-late 40's)
Co-worker 2 - you're kidding. By the time I'd put some away for a holiday every year and done up the house it would all be gone.
Me - oh. Better get back to work then.

[ncornilsen]

Today we just got an announcement that our company will finally be offering an HSA/HDHP... and will be contributing $500 into individuals accounts, or $1000 into a families account! 

The HR lady was explaining the HSA. I heard comments from people such as the following:

CW1: "I'd rather they just give me the $500. I never go to the doctor and will just loose it and the end of the year anyway
Me: No, an HSA lets you keep it year after year. you're thinking of an FSA.
CW1: "you have a lot to learn about how finances work.

Hr lady: "And we'll allow you to invest your HSA money into any of a variety of mutual funds..."
CW2: (mutters to his coworker) "I ain't letting no bank fag take my healthcare money!" (this is a quote... I work in a steel foundry. I swear the cast of idiocracy works here.)
CW3: "I'm going to use my $500 to buy a boat"


I'm betting that these idiots will waste their money, incur penalties, and eventually get the HSA program canned due to their ignorant outcry about getting screwed.

[austin]

This is why the U.S. has social security. There is no chance that most of the subjects in this thread would ever have the ability or will to provide for themselves in their old age. It just blows my mind the way some people's heads work.

[otherbarry]

CW1: Hey you see the 401k limits went up?
CW2: Nah, I don't really mess with that stuff, I heard the fees eat up any returns.
CW1: You at least get the employer match right?
CW2: I just don't think it's worth it...

[Rosewhipped]

1st time poster.  I feel somewhat bad about sharing, but my work really does have a lot of gems.

Just this morning:

CW's 15 year old daughter has at least 35 pairs of SNEAKERS including 23 pairs of converse. 

This woman also makes her 2 dogs 3 hot meals a day.

[larmando]

How would they have a season 2? The movie takes place at the end of season 1...

Given that the movie was horrible, just "undo" the movie, and move on!

You take that back, take it back right now.

Nope. But good try!

[Proud Foot]

Posting this here, sorry if it has already been posted but I don't have time to go through the whole thread.

I listen to music on spotify while at work and keep hearing the Mobil1 ad where the guy claims to commute from Schenectady to Manhattan for work. I looked it up and according to Google it is a 2:30 commute one way!! I HOPE that no one would actually do this. That doesn't leave any time for anything else! That's 14 hours right there if working 8-5. Also to consider the gas. I would have to fill up every day in my car.

[Gin1984]

Today we just got an announcement that our company will finally be offering an HSA/HDHP... and will be contributing $500 into individuals accounts, or $1000 into a families account! 

The HR lady was explaining the HSA. I heard comments from people such as the following:

CW1: "I'd rather they just give me the $500. I never go to the doctor and will just loose it and the end of the year anyway
Me: No, an HSA lets you keep it year after year. you're thinking of an FSA.
CW1: "you have a lot to learn about how finances work.

Hr lady: "And we'll allow you to invest your HSA money into any of a variety of mutual funds..."
CW2: (mutters to his coworker) "I ain't letting no bank fag take my healthcare money!" (this is a quote... I work in a steel foundry. I swear the cast of idiocracy works here.)
CW3: "I'm going to use my $500 to buy a boat"


I'm betting that these idiots will waste their money, incur penalties, and eventually get the HSA program canned due to their ignorant outcry about getting screwed.

Wait....WHAT???  How does that even follow a logic train?

[zinnie]

This is why the U.S. has social security. There is no chance that most of the subjects in this thread would ever have the ability or will to provide for themselves in their old age. It just blows my mind the way some people's heads work.

Agreed. The last time I went to the 401k meeting at my company the poor rep was trying to convince everyone that if they just save $20 a paycheck, they will have $200,000 (!!!) by the time they are ready for retirement. I am just shocked at how low they are stooping--it's like any more than extremely small amounts taken out of their paychecks would turn people off. And since when is $200,000 enough for retirement? The way he said it was like 200k was some huge amount of money that would be impossible to attain without 30 years of compound interest.

I work at a company that pays very well. There is just no excuse for standards this low!

[MgoSam]

Today we just got an announcement that our company will finally be offering an HSA/HDHP... and will be contributing $500 into individuals accounts, or $1000 into a families account! 

The HR lady was explaining the HSA. I heard comments from people such as the following:

CW1: "I'd rather they just give me the $500. I never go to the doctor and will just loose it and the end of the year anyway
Me: No, an HSA lets you keep it year after year. you're thinking of an FSA.
CW1: "you have a lot to learn about how finances work.

Hr lady: "And we'll allow you to invest your HSA money into any of a variety of mutual funds..."
CW2: (mutters to his coworker) "I ain't letting no bank fag take my healthcare money!" (this is a quote... I work in a steel foundry. I swear the cast of idiocracy works here.)
CW3: "I'm going to use my $500 to buy a boat"


I'm betting that these idiots will waste their money, incur penalties, and eventually get the HSA program canned due to their ignorant outcry about getting screwed.

Wait....WHAT???  How does that even follow a logic train?

And then when they do, they will blame the gubermint.

[Albert]

Any sensible country MUST have a mandatory retirement contributions (like Social security in US) which must be sufficient to cover the basics. Why, you might ask? Because of huge amount of people who'll never save unless forced to and will have to be supported in old age anyway  for humanitarian and safety reasons. Fully voluntary retirement saving might work with most of us on this board, but can never be a general strategy.

[frugalnacho]

Today we just got an announcement that our company will finally be offering an HSA/HDHP... and will be contributing $500 into individuals accounts, or $1000 into a families account! 

The HR lady was explaining the HSA. I heard comments from people such as the following:

CW1: "I'd rather they just give me the $500. I never go to the doctor and will just loose it and the end of the year anyway
Me: No, an HSA lets you keep it year after year. you're thinking of an FSA.
CW1: "you have a lot to learn about how finances work.

Hr lady: "And we'll allow you to invest your HSA money into any of a variety of mutual funds..."
CW2: (mutters to his coworker) "I ain't letting no bank fag take my healthcare money!" (this is a quote... I work in a steel foundry. I swear the cast of idiocracy works here.)
CW3: "I'm going to use my $500 to buy a boat"


I'm betting that these idiots will waste their money, incur penalties, and eventually get the HSA program canned due to their ignorant outcry about getting screwed.

Wait....WHAT???  How does that even follow a logic train?

What are you, some kind of bank fag?

[dragoncar]

Today we just got an announcement that our company will finally be offering an HSA/HDHP... and will be contributing $500 into individuals accounts, or $1000 into a families account! 

The HR lady was explaining the HSA. I heard comments from people such as the following:

CW1: "I'd rather they just give me the $500. I never go to the doctor and will just loose it and the end of the year anyway
Me: No, an HSA lets you keep it year after year. you're thinking of an FSA.
CW1: "you have a lot to learn about how finances work.

Hr lady: "And we'll allow you to invest your HSA money into any of a variety of mutual funds..."
CW2: (mutters to his coworker) "I ain't letting no bank fag take my healthcare money!" (this is a quote... I work in a steel foundry. I swear the cast of idiocracy works here.)
CW3: "I'm going to use my $500 to buy a boat"


I'm betting that these idiots will waste their money, incur penalties, and eventually get the HSA program canned due to their ignorant outcry about getting screwed.

Wait....WHAT???  How does that even follow a logic train?

What are you, some kind of bank fag?

LOL, classic bank fag

[MandalayVA]

Today we just got an announcement that our company will finally be offering an HSA/HDHP... and will be contributing $500 into individuals accounts, or $1000 into a families account! 

The HR lady was explaining the HSA. I heard comments from people such as the following:

CW1: "I'd rather they just give me the $500. I never go to the doctor and will just loose it and the end of the year anyway
Me: No, an HSA lets you keep it year after year. you're thinking of an FSA.
CW1: "you have a lot to learn about how finances work.

Hr lady: "And we'll allow you to invest your HSA money into any of a variety of mutual funds..."
CW2: (mutters to his coworker) "I ain't letting no bank fag take my healthcare money!" (this is a quote... I work in a steel foundry. I swear the cast of idiocracy works here.)
CW3: "I'm going to use my $500 to buy a boat"


I'm betting that these idiots will waste their money, incur penalties, and eventually get the HSA program canned due to their ignorant outcry about getting screwed.

I posted upthread about how my company's HSA funds come on MasterCards and how many people got pissed off when they were told the cards couldn't be used like regular MasterCards. 

I'm surprised Bank Fag Guy didn't bust out an Idiocracy quote--"you talk like a fag, and your shit's all retarded."

[MrBuckBeard]

I'm going to out myself by saying, I have no idea what an HSA or an FSA are, either one.  But if I were told my company was going to put $500 of money into EITHER one, I would certainly find out before I went about slamming them for it.

[mak1277]

I saw a large Jeep Wrangler with huge jacked up tires in the parking garage at work today.

License Plate: MPG SUKZ

Bumper Sticker:
"Cool Prius!"
          - Nobody

[Pooperman]

I'm going to out myself by saying, I have no idea what an HSA or an FSA are, either one.  But if I were told my company was going to put $500 of money into EITHER one, I would certainly find out before I went about slamming them for it.

HSA - Health Savings Account. Carries over year-to-year and can be invested. Only allowed if you take a HDHP (High Deductible Health Plan). Only can be used for health spending until age 65 when it becomes another IRA. Can be added to even if you don't have a job, but has a limit.

FSA - Flexible Spending Account. Doesn't carry over year to year. Can be used for a variety of expenses (healthcare, child care, transportation). Can be used by anyone with a job.

Might have missed something, but that should pretty much cover it. Google is your friend though.

[Elderwood17]

Posting this here, sorry if it has already been posted but I don't have time to go through the whole thread.

I listen to music on spotify while at work and keep hearing the Mobil1 ad where the guy claims to commute from Schenectady to Manhattan for work. I looked it up and according to Google it is a 2:30 commute one way!! I HOPE that no one would actually do this. That doesn't leave any time for anything else! That's 14 hours right there if working 8-5. Also to consider the gas. I would have to fill up every day in my car.

I hear that ad all the time and hope it is just advertising fiction!

[MrBuckBeard]

FSA - Flexible Spending Account. Doesn't carry over year to year. Can be used for a variety of expenses (healthcare, child care, transportation). Can be used by anyone with a job.

Might have missed something, but that should pretty much cover it. Google is your friend though.

Google is my friend.  I wasn't so much as asking, as just saying these aren't common things everyone knows, but bashing them before you understand them is asinine. 

Also, it turns out I do have an FSA, although I've never heard it called that.  My company pays for public transit on my behalf.  That goes into an account which then pays the transit authority.  The more you know!

[enigmaT120]

I looked it up and according to Google it is a 2:30 commute one way!! I HOPE that no one would actually do this. That doesn't leave any time for anything else! That's 14 hours right there if working 8-5. Also to consider the gas. I would have to fill up every day in my car.

My day is 14 hours when I bike and use the bus for commuting.  1.5 hours of biking.  But it's free, as my work pays for my bus pass.  If I drive and go running after work I don't get home significantly earlier.  Luckily I get a lot of time off and when I have days off I rarely go anyplace.

[Pooperman]

FSA - Flexible Spending Account. Doesn't carry over year to year. Can be used for a variety of expenses (healthcare, child care, transportation). Can be used by anyone with a job.

Might have missed something, but that should pretty much cover it. Google is your friend though.

Google is my friend.  I wasn't so much as asking, as just saying these aren't common things everyone knows, but bashing them before you understand them is asinine. 

Also, it turns out I do have an FSA, although I've never heard it called that.  My company pays for public transit on my behalf.  That goes into an account which then pays the transit authority.  The more you know!

Agreed. I don't put my money places I don't understand. If I am recommended to do so, I make an effort to understand first and consider the ramifications of doing so and not doing so. But hey, that's why we're mustachians and not sukkas right?

[Davids]

I saw a large Jeep Wrangler with huge jacked up tires in the parking garage at work today.

License Plate: MPG SUKZ

Bumper Sticker:
"Cool Prius!"
          - Nobody

I admit i laughed, that is funny.

[Proud Foot]

My day is 14 hours when I bike and use the bus for commuting.  1.5 hours of biking.  But it's free, as my work pays for my bus pass.  If I drive and go running after work I don't get home significantly earlier.  Luckily I get a lot of time off and when I have days off I rarely go anyplace.

I would consider that too bad since you are getting in a workout during that time.

[fartface]

CW1: Hey you see the 401k limits went up?
CW2: Nah, I don't really mess with that stuff, I heard the fees eat up any returns.
CW1: You at least get the employer match right?
CW2: I just don't think it's worth it...

WTF?

P.S. Orange is the New Black ;)

[Bigote]

This woman also makes her 2 dogs 3 hot meals a day.

WTF?    Never even heard of such a thing.   


(Welcome to the forum, btw)

[Middlesbrough]

Today we just got an announcement that our company will finally be offering an HSA/HDHP... and will be contributing $500 into individuals accounts, or $1000 into a families account! 

The HR lady was explaining the HSA. I heard comments from people such as the following:

CW1: "I'd rather they just give me the $500. I never go to the doctor and will just loose it and the end of the year anyway
Me: No, an HSA lets you keep it year after year. you're thinking of an FSA.
CW1: "you have a lot to learn about how finances work.

Hr lady: "And we'll allow you to invest your HSA money into any of a variety of mutual funds..."
CW2: (mutters to his coworker) "I ain't letting no bank fag take my healthcare money!" (this is a quote... I work in a steel foundry. I swear the cast of idiocracy works here.)
CW3: "I'm going to use my $500 to buy a boat"


I'm betting that these idiots will waste their money, incur penalties, and eventually get the HSA program canned due to their ignorant outcry about getting screwed.

I posted upthread about how my company's HSA funds come on MasterCards and how many people got pissed off when they were told the cards couldn't be used like regular MasterCards. 

I'm surprised Bank Fag Guy didn't bust out an Idiocracy quote--"you talk like a fag, and your shit's all retarded."

+1

Brando's got what plant want.

[iris lily]

That last post reminds me: at work we have pay grades and when people have worked there long enough, they reach the ceiling. There's not raise in pay (unless the pay grades are changed.) So our boss invented a "performance differential" payout where if someone did a good job, they got a % of their pay over the ceiling. The percentages were flat, they did not go up each year, they didn't change.

So staff who received this performance differential would see one amount on their paycheck. Then, when the ceiling was raised (as it was every few years) they did not see a raise. They bitched and moaned about how they didn't "get my raise in my check." Even though in every situation, with no exception, everyone benefited from the performance differential program, there were complaints. It never worked against them.

The boss became tired of the bitching and he stopped the program.

[Malaysia41]

That last post reminds me: at work we have pay grades and when people have worked there long enough, they reach the ceiling. There's not raise in pay (unless the pay grades are changed.) So our boss invented a "performance differential" payout where if someone did a good job, they got a % of their pay over the ceiling. The percentages were flat, they did not go up each year, they didn't change.

So staff who received this performance differential would see one amount on their paycheck. Then, when the ceiling was raised (as it was every few years) they did not see a raise. They bitched and moaned about how they didn't "get my raise in my check." Even though in every situation, with no exception, everyone benefited from the performance differential program, there were complaints. It never worked against them.

The boss became tired of the bitching and he stopped the program.

Wow.  This is a case for representational democracy.  The average citizen is breathtakingly capable of miscomprehension.  Unfortunately, sometimes the representatives we choose are worse.

  Sorry was that too politically foamy?  I'll stop now.  Carry on.

[mm1970]

I don't know anything but riding in groups (besides as a kid)... but wouldn't you rather ride with those nicer bikes and remind them how your cheap bike can hang just as good? :)

I did this for a while, actually. I could keep up with everyone except the hardcore racer-wannabes. After a while, I just got tired of it. If they invited me to a ride again, I'd probably do it, but more often than not, I'd ride to the start point by myself (6 miles) then do 35-ish miles with them, then ride another 6 home. It started eating into my free time on Saturdays, since I was already getting ride time during the week to/from work.

I still chat with some of those folks, but when they start spewing over some new carbon thing, I just roll my eyes and sigh.

(EDIT) A lot of it had to do with them talking about nothing except expensive toys... I guess you could say my lifestyle wasn't compatible with theirs. Either they'd ride too fast to talk, or they'd talk about stuff I didn't care about.

Yeah, so I used to do races - I was running, worked my way  up to 1/2 marathons, got injured, learned to swim, switched to sprint triathlons. 

They were fun, but expensive.  A half marathon is $90-$120.  The triathlon was $120, plus the $250 (now more than that) training group fee, plus I had to buy a wetsuit and tri shorts...

I did two sprint triathlons total (before I had the second kid, and I haven't been able to get into the wetsuit yet, so...plus there's that $300 training fee + $120 tri fee).  Before the second one my friend REALLY tried to get me to replace my hybrid bike with slicks (that I rode 10 miles to work 1-2x a week) with an actual road bike.  In fact, they gave away a road bike that was donated, drew a name, but the kicker was that it was for people 5'4" and taller.  And I'm not.

I simply said "yeah, I'm not that fast.  But I'm a slow swimmer - 2nd to last out of the water, and I run a 10 minute mile.  The bike part of the race is 6 miles long, I don't think a new bike is going to help shave off a ton of time from my 1 hour and 4 minute sprint triathlon."

I'm still into fitness.  I have a gym membership and a bunch of workout DVDs to use at home on my hubby's gym days, etc.  But I can't justify replacing a perfectly good bike.  Even if only 7 of the 21 gears still work.

[austin]

^^^ I've paid $125 for a 100 miler. I think that's reasonable given all the snacks and gatorades needed to stock about 15 check points. Last year someone told me about a half marathon. I looked into it and it was $75. I don't get it. That's why I don't do road races. Trail races have yet to be completely commercialized.

[Paul der Krake]

Urgh, road races. Where ou pay through the nose to have a crappy tshirt filled with crappy corporate sponsors pushing their crappy products unto you. Oh and a crappy medal too. Crap, crap, crap everywhere.

[Malaysia41]

Urgh, road races. Where ou pay through the nose to have a crappy tshirt filled with crappy corporate sponsors pushing their crappy products unto you. Oh and a crappy medal too. Crap, crap, crap everywhere.

Agreed.  I think I paid $300 to do Ironman Canada (a long, long, long time ago).  Holy shite I see the fee these days has about doubled.  Then factor in shipping your bike and plane tickets.  Too much.

Even the Wildflower Tri got to be too expensive not to mention exceedingly annoying with all the cow-bell klanging TiT coaches at every turn.

I'm sorry, I'm derailing this thread again.

Carry on.

[Bigote]

A friend of mine is in that business.  He owns a whole bunch of marathons and triathlons in smaller cities and locales.    Once you build the sign-up website, the costs are all variable.   He makes a mint. 

[firelight]

Can you own marathons? I thought they were thrown by the city/town/organization for charity?

[4alpacas]

Urgh, road races. Where ou pay through the nose to have a crappy tshirt filled with crappy corporate sponsors pushing their crappy products unto you. Oh and a crappy medal too. Crap, crap, crap everywhere.

Agreed.  I think I paid $300 to do Ironman Canada (a long, long, long time ago).  Holy shite I see the fee these days has about doubled.  Then factor in shipping your bike and plane tickets.  Too much.

Even the Wildflower Tri got to be too expensive not to mention exceedingly annoying with all the cow-bell klanging TiT coaches at every turn.

I'm sorry, I'm derailing this thread again.

Carry on.

I paid close to $300 to do a half Ironman a few years ago.  I thought about doing a full, but the fees are insane (if you can even get a spot).

[Primm]

Can you own marathons? I thought they were thrown by the city/town/organization for charity?

Nope. Most of the big events are owned by corporations that make a shit-tonne of money out of them.

I have a friend who owns a sports store and runs triathlons as a side related business. I was talking to him one day about entry fees, and he said the cost to him for a small regional triathlon for road closures alone, which is paid to the local police service, was $12,000 for that one event! For a few hours, not even a whole day. Add to that all of your timing infrastructure etc. and they actually aren't cheap to put on. I can't begin to imagine how much the NYC marathon organisers pay to the city and the police force for the rights to  run that event.

[sol]

I can't begin to imagine how much the NYC marathon organisers pay to the city and the police force for the rights to  run that event.

Let's see, 50,000 runners at about $250/person is twelve and a half BILLION dollars in entry fees, not even counting corporate sponsorships.  I think they'll find a way to pay for police presence.

For reference, the budget for the entire NYC police department is less than five billion per year, and that pays for approximately 35,000 full time staff plus benefits, all year long. 

[Primm]

I can't begin to imagine how much the NYC marathon organisers pay to the city and the police force for the rights to  run that event.

Let's see, 50,000 runners at about $250/person is twelve and a half BILLION dollars in entry fees, not even counting corporate sponsorships.  I think they'll find a way to pay for police presence.

For reference, the budget for the entire NYC police department is less than five billion per year, and that pays for approximately 35,000 full time staff plus benefits, all year long.

Maybe my calculator works differently to yours, but I put in $250 x 50,000 and get $12.5 million, not billion. Still an insane amount of money though. And holy crap, $250 for a marathon fee? The big city ones here run at less than half that. 

[Bigote]

Can you own marathons? I thought they were thrown by the city/town/organization for charity?

Of course you can.    Why not?   


Im sire sometimes cities want their cut in permit fees or whatever.   

[One Noisy Cat]

Posting this here, sorry if it has already been posted but I don't have time to go through the whole thread.

I listen to music on spotify while at work and keep hearing the Mobil1 ad where the guy claims to commute from Schenectady to Manhattan for work. I looked it up and according to Google it is a 2:30 commute one way!! I HOPE that no one would actually do this. That doesn't leave any time for anything else! That's 14 hours right there if working 8-5. Also to consider the gas. I would have to fill up every day in my car.

    Back in 2006, I visited an aunt and uncle who have lived in Allentown, PA since they got married in 1958.  Allentown is roughly the same distance from Manhattan as Schenectady is.  At one point they commented how Allentown was having a building boom with houses and apartments for people who worked in NYC.  Massive traffic jams morning and evening with cars and buses going between Allentown and NYC, according to them.

[MayDay]

This wasn't overheard at work, but observed in our neighborhood. 

I had been noticing as we walk around the neighborhood in the afternoons, that a bunch if people in our 'hood have their older fridge in their garage.  I get a bit disgusted about it, such a waste of electricity, and how much fresh food storage could one family possibly need? 

At least it is families, though.  We visited my FIL this weekend, who lives alone.  One man, and he has two full size fridges.  One mostly full of his food, the other almost empty with a few beverages and not much else. 

The whole weekend I was thinking about what a fountain of wastefulness the average American is.

[sol]

Maybe my calculator works differently to yours, but I put in $250 x 50,000 and get $12.5 million, not billion. Still an insane amount of money though. And holy crap, $250 for a marathon fee? The big city ones here run at less than half that.

The especially embarrassing part is not that I typoed the calculator, it's that I didn't realize that a marathon shouldn't cost twice as much as the NYPD.  Brain fail, sorry.

[Zehirah]

This wasn't overheard at work, but observed in our neighborhood. 

I had been noticing as we walk around the neighborhood in the afternoons, that a bunch if people in our 'hood have their older fridge in their garage.  I get a bit disgusted about it, such a waste of electricity, and how much fresh food storage could one family possibly need? 

At least it is families, though.  We visited my FIL this weekend, who lives alone.  One man, and he has two full size fridges.  One mostly full of his food, the other almost empty with a few beverages and not much else. 

The whole weekend I was thinking about what a fountain of wastefulness the average American is.

Here in Australia we call that the beer fridge.  Used primarily for keeping beer (and mixers or premixed spirits, a few soft drinks for the kids and maybe a cask of wine for the missus) cold.  Nothing worse than warm beer, you know! ;-)

Kidding aside, many people I know keep their older, smaller fridge in their garage instead of selling it when they get a family-size fridge.  Most of the year ours is switched off with the door wedged ajar to stop smells but it is extremely useful to have it available when needed for extra food and drinks storage for parties, particularly in December when we need a lot of salads, meat for barbecues, etc, for Christmas and end-of-year breakup parties.  Doubly or triply so if it is our turn to host Christmas dinner.  I'd rather keep it and turn it on when needed (a few weeks per year) than have to run a giant 700L fridge all year round. 

My inlaws used to have an upright freezer that looked like a fridge in their garage for storing meat they'd bought in bulk.  A neighbour has a two fridges in his garage - one for making homebrew beer in (turned off and used for insulation) and one to store the bottled beer.  And my friend keeps her one and only fridge in the garage because she's renting and the fridge space in the kitchen is tiny. 

But they can be a definite waste of resources, especially if they're old and inefficient and/or mostly empty.