Reality slowly warping

No kidding.  I got interested in triathlon because I got tired of just running all the time.  I already had both mountain and road bikes.  Little did I know I would want to take the plunge with a tri bike (just started looking).  Hard for me to justify three bikes but don't want to dump the MTB yet (use it for family rides on greenway mostly nowadays).  Can't see dumping roadie yet either.

Besides that, I'm quickly learning that race fees for triathlon are much higher than running only races (especially once you get to HIM distances).  I'm also forced to drive much more for swim training (pool, lake) than I did when I could step out the front door and go for a run.

I haven't succumbed to the pull yet.

Until I can legitimately tell myself I'm a upper-level competitor that is doing EVERYTHING right with his training, it's no use for me to try to buy a few seconds of speed.  I honestly feel like I haven't earned any of that stuff until I have essentially maxed out my physical potential, which I am no where near yet.

My initial outlay of like $1,200 for my road bike 5 years ago is about all I've spent beyond race fees, a used wetsuit, and 2 pairs of tri shorts.

I probably shouldn't mention that I currently have 11 bikes?

I want to add to this that, in full disclosure, I've never done anything longer than an olympic.  I understand that the pull to get some fancy stuff gets even stronger when you're racing for 6 or 12 hours, etc...comfort is as much part of the equation at that point as speed.  So, I'm not trying to look down upon anybody that's shelling out coin for this...have at it and enjoy yourself.

I got a really nice bike i didn't feel like i 'deserved' and a roadie set me straight by telling me 'none of us deserves it' and it was some good perspective ... it's a hobby pretty much for us all - if you want it and can afford it you can have it - you set the bar for yourself

The cost reality warp is one thing - the other is the actual feasibility of racing and training ... at first it all seems like a pipe dream ... then all of a sudden i am signed up for an ironman. Wait, when did that happen?? Only a few years ago i was panicking in my first try a tri's open water swim!! hahahaha.

It's relative.

"At each end of the economic scale, there exists a leisure class."

Taken from a global perspective our sport is extremely expensive. Taken from the perspective of a citizen of the tax-free Prinicipality of Monaco, our endeavors are the stuff of servants and serfs.

If you are Sir Richard Branson and you take a liking to Formula 1, yacht racing, extreme endurance flying or even space travel, well, those are your hobbies, your passions, your pursuits. They are entirely reasonable.

It's relative.

People on holiday in Monaco with their Gazelle helicopter onboard their yacht:

Young lads improvise a football game in Central Africa:

I use the fishing and golfing examples a lot also. I used to do both of those and those hobbies are the same as triathlons, the longer you are in it the more "wants" you have. The only difference is I'm in much better shape since I stopped doing those and started S/B/R!!

Good news is, once you get everything, there is not much more to spend money on....

But seriously, of course I keep looking at new bikes and get bike envy and gear envy.  (I'm currently dreaming about the Shimano DI shifters)...  But I haven't bought anything gear related other than a few more clothes and tubes/Co2 for a couple years.

Fun is more about the people you are with a lot of times.  Both of these look fantastic to me...  But I would pick the bottom OR be up in the helecopter, not just looking at it.

i have always thought it's a little ridiculous how much some people spend to catch a few fish.  to each his own i guess...

I use the same excuses - golf is very expensive and time consuming, as is fishing, water skiing, etc.  I typically workout early in the morning during the week and on weekends.  Plus tri lifestyle is more healthy and I try to teach my kids the importance of staying active.  

Now if I ever figure out swimming and can step up to HIM distances, then I will have to work harder to manage training time.

True dat

THAT'S the truth...

Me and two friends would talk about Ironman races years ago and couldn't even grasp it.  We thought a 10k was hard/long...  And a marathon was daunting.  Then to run one AFTER a swim and 112 on the bike?  We almost couldn't fathom it.

We all went our seperate ways, but at a reunion, I was shocked to find out that one of them got into marathons - ran like 20+ of them.  The other got into adventure racing - the two to three day stuff.  And I have done marathons and 3 IM's.  We laughed at how we used to think it would barely be possible if we didn't see other do it on TV.

Try flying.  I'm single and multi-engine instrument rated.  Definitely not a cheap hobby.  Makes it easy to do weekend trips to the beach though.  And I volunteer for Angel Flight, which gives a good warm fuzzy feeling.

Or woodworking.  I have a few thousand dollars in my basement shop and none of it is high-end.