What are DT hubs?
This sounds fun
tbh, this is a lie. Largely premised on a gut feeling that 'spending any more is intrinsically wrong / daft', and a need to justify the fact that I have blown far more than I could (or most people could) usually justify. I checked my bank account four or five times before going ahead with a carbon framed bike, and worked out three budgets (worst case scenario, best case scenario, somewhere in between) for the next three months, including fieldwork expenditure. That'll take me well into the next quarterly stipend cheque.
The worst case scenario is that I'm left with a financial cushion that's nearly the equivalent of my quarterly stipend, to absorb any financial crises / unexpected costs. This is in contrast to my standard buffer over the last 2yrs, which is £1k more than I'll be left with (worst case), and which I haven't (yet) had to dip into once. And that's without selling the hybrid, or reclaiming the rent deposit from my house (unlet since November) which'd equate to another chunk of income. I'm also expecting payment for work done, I've got another chunk of work coming up, and rental income'll be coming into my account in early Sept.
On the one hand, yep, I've blown a fair bit that I really didn't need to. Largely through ignorance and misplaced enthusiasm. That isn't particularly comfortable, but ey. On the other hand, I have been comfortably in the black for some time, and have been painfully sensible for a while - no holidays, no new clothes, no extravagances since the *cough* espresso machines last June(ish).
On the other hand, fuck it. I'm loving cycling. I've been pretty financially sensible (well within budget) for a fair while, and if a decent road bike is going to improve my enjoyment of what I'm doing for 10-20hrs per week (and is - hopefully - going to last for some time) then balls to it. This isn't unconsidered or suicidal financial blow-up. It's something that I've carefully checked I can afford, and am using as my luxury for this year / last year. Yep, there's an element of financial haemmorhage there; but I believe that should be pretty close to an end.
Camelbak and torque wrench aside, obv
