First, I am new here, and I love it. I need the Mustachian community to help me along this journey. My comments will always be what I would expect someone to reply to me with.
Disclaimers:
1. If you are retired, don't read my comments.
2. This is an MMM forum, not a Nashbar or other bike forum.
3. Thegoblinchief, I see you have kids and bikes, and in the short time I have been here, I can see you love you kids (which ROCKS!), and you love bikes (which is potentially dangerous).
So, with all that in mind.
Gauntlet
(That's supposed to be a 'Gauntlet' laid down, I hope it works!)
The challenge: You have $35 to buy your kids a 20" bike. (And I would lean toward multi-speed)
Use Craig's List, garage sales, friends networks, whatever it takes!!!
I live in a smaller community (Craigslist does not have a list for my city). I have still found 2 @ 20" multi-speed bikes for $30 each, and now a 24" for $30 (I passed up a 2nd one . . . . not sure if that was wise or unwise)
- They will ride it for about 2 years of 'light' riding. (They only weigh 50-60 lbs!) Then they will move up to the next size. And I understand if you bought the right color all 3 could use it.
- You have mentioned elsewhere that your cost savings from riding a bike was slowed down by your depreciation from purchases made for your bike. Stop it!
- You need that money to invest, pay off loans, whatever! (Remember you stopped reading if you were retired)
I know I sound like this righteous financial snob, but I will just let my accomplishments speak for myself:
- Until just recently I used to drive my car, sit in a room with men for 30-60 minutes, making small talk about sports I really didn't care about. At the end of this I gave some money to cut my hair!!!
- Until just recently I drove my car 2.5 miles to work ....
- Until just recently I had 2 cars!
- Until just recently we dried our clothes in a dishwasher, the dishes on heated dry, and had regular flow shower heads!!!
- Until just recently I was paying to insure a $390,000 house, when mine was worth $230,000! (Check your insurances!!!)
- Until just recently I paid for CFL bulbs while my power company gave them away for FREE!
- When I did ride my bike, I went to the bike shop to see everything I needed. It totaled $200. Luckily I woke up, found an old rack, modified it to fit, zip tied a milk crate to it, inserted a backpack with a garbage bag inside. Whatever the weather, I will ride. Money spent: $0. (And my mom just recently offered me free panniers!)
and my favorite:
- Until just recently I took those CFL's that I paid for and put them on the shelf, waiting for the incandescent's to burn out ....
So, as you can see, everything I write is with double black eyes from face punches. I have just picked myself up out of my suckiness, and I write out of respect for the community, and the I write out of the seriousness that we need to take in controlling the future of our families!
You guys rule, you guys are awesome! If you take up the challenge, please keep us posted!