less gear, more bike

 i was talking to a work colleague recently about her son, who's recently pitched up with a violin. good i said, music is great. true, she said, but i thought you'd rather he was getting into cycling. in contrast, the violin he's been bought, if he keeps it up, will see him all thru his basic education and all thru his grades, if he so chooses. a bike, on the other hand. growth aside, for what i'd consider entry level, to do the equivalent for cycling, i could buy him a guitar, a bass, all his baseline recording things (daw, interface, microphone etc) and some healthy electronics - synthesiser/drum kit. and likely have money left over for his violin. it's no secret that the cost of cycling has ballooned these last few years, the cost of making music, even allowing for inflation, has remained relatively static - and your gear isn't built to wear out/become obselete!

here's a couple of vids around this topic. points to note

- just ride your bike

- i pursued and english degree and became a bike mechanic

*i'm not saying you shouldn't have electronic shifting etc. buy what you want! but don't forget what a bike is/was. and all that other stuff - the clothes, the stravaing etc. that's cosplay