So just like any other triathlete that has a budget, often times I can only dream of having better equipment. Because of my budget, I felt that the most I could ever imagine spending on a bike is maybe $1500.
I came across the Felt S32. I thought, "I really like that bike" but it was a wish list item...not a realistic opportunity. It wasn't something that I would actually bank on, however it was something that was always on the back burner.
There were some negatives to it: It wasn't carbon. But there were also some pluses: It was a tri-geometry bike in my price range. I went back and forth in my head about it for several months.
At work, I would often times look at bikes. When other co-workers would see them they would say, "Is that what you would do if you won the lottery?"
I would tell them, "No. I just need to win $4000. That way I can buy my wife something nice for $2000, and then buy the bike with no guilt." --Remember that for later.
My wife is a great woman, and I would feel that I am cheating her by buying something for myself but not her.
....Fast forward 4 months....
My wife took on a new sales gig. She needed to spend $1400 on inventory. I was really hesitant because that is a LOT of money to spend on inventory items. I knew that she could move it all, but at the same time I was hesitant.
And then I came across this on Craigslist:
$750.
Yeah. You read that right. $750. 52cm frame. Just my size. In my head, I immediately began scheming about "If I sell my bike and a few other things, I can make this a net-zero deal...but I would have to sell that stuff first..."
I sent the link to her just as a "This is kind of crazy" thing. She responded back, "you can buy it if I can buy my inventory." Did she just turn the tables on me? Did she really use my desire for this to leverage for her purchase?!?! That was my idea!
Suddenly, that $1400 seemed like it didn't even matter. After all, she would make her money back, and I will sell my stuff to make my money back. We just became our own bank and gave ourselves loans.
I sent an email, and picked up the bike the next day.
The previous owner used it in 3 races, including Ironman Couer d'alene. This is the race that my wife and I worked the finishline for. The person who finished last was one of the training partners to this guy. His race data was still in his bike computer. 114 miles (Not sure about the extra 2 miles), average speed 16.0mph, max speed 41mph, and it had the time...but I forget what that was. He was selling the bike because his wife is sick and putting racing on hold for this year.
So I now own a 2010 Felt S32. My white pedals work perfectly with it.
I have ridden it on the trainer the other night and today is my first ride "out in the wild" with it. I am quite excited and can't really focus on work.
I came across the Felt S32. I thought, "I really like that bike" but it was a wish list item...not a realistic opportunity. It wasn't something that I would actually bank on, however it was something that was always on the back burner.
There were some negatives to it: It wasn't carbon. But there were also some pluses: It was a tri-geometry bike in my price range. I went back and forth in my head about it for several months.
At work, I would often times look at bikes. When other co-workers would see them they would say, "Is that what you would do if you won the lottery?"
I would tell them, "No. I just need to win $4000. That way I can buy my wife something nice for $2000, and then buy the bike with no guilt." --Remember that for later.
My wife is a great woman, and I would feel that I am cheating her by buying something for myself but not her.
....Fast forward 4 months....
My wife took on a new sales gig. She needed to spend $1400 on inventory. I was really hesitant because that is a LOT of money to spend on inventory items. I knew that she could move it all, but at the same time I was hesitant.
And then I came across this on Craigslist:
Yeah. You read that right. $750. 52cm frame. Just my size. In my head, I immediately began scheming about "If I sell my bike and a few other things, I can make this a net-zero deal...but I would have to sell that stuff first..."
I sent the link to her just as a "This is kind of crazy" thing. She responded back, "you can buy it if I can buy my inventory." Did she just turn the tables on me? Did she really use my desire for this to leverage for her purchase?!?! That was my idea!
Suddenly, that $1400 seemed like it didn't even matter. After all, she would make her money back, and I will sell my stuff to make my money back. We just became our own bank and gave ourselves loans.
I sent an email, and picked up the bike the next day.
The previous owner used it in 3 races, including Ironman Couer d'alene. This is the race that my wife and I worked the finishline for. The person who finished last was one of the training partners to this guy. His race data was still in his bike computer. 114 miles (Not sure about the extra 2 miles), average speed 16.0mph, max speed 41mph, and it had the time...but I forget what that was. He was selling the bike because his wife is sick and putting racing on hold for this year.
So I now own a 2010 Felt S32. My white pedals work perfectly with it.
I have ridden it on the trainer the other night and today is my first ride "out in the wild" with it. I am quite excited and can't really focus on work.
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