How many of you have several hobbies other than cycling. Im an avid golfer and bowler along with cycling. Trying to keep up with all my interest is starting to add up, most of my equipment consist of the latest and high end stuff. I love to keep busy and active but I cant see giving anything up. Does anybody else seem to have this dilema.

Oh yea....I do.

My other hobbies are RC Cars and Car Audio and at one point in the past used to SCUBA dive. Of the two car audio has taken an almost complete back seat to the other two, thankfully due to it's complete and utter expense.

However RC cars, as low as the entry price may be can empty your bank account quicker than anything you can even think of.

For the most part this summer, I have pretty much just rode my bike, which in the end takes up so much time I haven't been able to do much of either of my other hobbies. On top of that I want to start racing Time Trials next year, which means I'll continue to spend time on the bike instead of spending my money on the other two hobbies. However I did just spend about $1100 on a new bike for TT's so it's not saving much in the end :p

But I do look much better and feel much better with this hobby compared to the other two :D

Oh yea, I also like to play golf, but haven't spent too much there and don't play that often otherwise that would be another wallet gouger of a hobby.

Of course my wife doesn't help considering she's a choir director, which means we have to catch half the traveling Broadway shows that come through town and a few concerts every year. Then there are the choir trips...This year is New York City, last year Disneyland, four years ago New York, etc. Oh yea, and I have to go to a Ducks Game or two a year....Can't miss out on those...


Where did I place those lottery tickets again.......:mad2:

Yep, I have a couple other hobbies other than cycling, and cycling is pretty expensive as it is between entry fees and gas. If we start talking about the 3 Colnagos I built over this past year with Campy Record, my 4 sets of Zipp wheels and a disk, all the clothing I bought, and the Bianchi FG Lite frame with Cinelli Ram bars sitting in the garage waiting to be built, it was a really expensive year.

Add to that my other hobbies of hunting, fishing, shooting, and aquariums, and that is a ton of money. Luckily, I already have most of the hunting and fishing stuff I need, but a box of waterfowl shells costs $20 for the cheap stuff of 25, and some of them cost $30+ for a box of 10, which equates to $3 a shell. Consider that a waterfowl gun holds 3 shells and it costs about $10 for less than 30 seconds, but I guess it can be spread out over the entire hunt since it takes more than 30 seconds to get the birds in. Layout blinds cost $300 each, my waterfowl gun was $1,400, the goose decoys I use are $120 a dozen and I have 7 dozen. Lord only knows how many duck decoys I have. The truck was $42,000. My dog was $800. The vet bills have been insane. All of the above isn't the half of it as far as hunting goes.

I'll leave fishing, shooting, and the aquariums for another night, but suffice it to say that my wife is very understanding about all this stuff. With that said, I am getting pretty close to having everything I want as far as my hobbies are concerned. I only want one more bike, and that one can wait. I only want 2 more guns, and those can wait too. However, I do need a new fishing boat and once we get a new house I'll want a 240 gallon aquarium instead of the 75 and 55 I currently have. LOL

WIth that said, I gotta get back to work and start billing my clients.

If cycling was not expensive enough I enjoy photography. And we think cycling is expensive...;)

Cycling actually isn't too high on my list. As I'm just getting back into the swing of things, I have start up costs - new bike/accessories, shoes and clothes. I may also get a computrainer for the winter. However, the subsequent costs should diminish with time.

The cycling costs pale in comparison to my golf expenses, especially country club fees. Then there's the power boating interest - as they say, a boat is a hole in the water that you throw money into.

Based on a variety of factors (enjoyment, time invested, health), I consider biking to be one of my better, leisure investments. Golf is, by far the worst.

When in the States in addition to cycling, it was stereo gear. Dipolar speakers, tube and top end solid state separates, turntables with vacuum platters, cartridges costing more than a frame, cables costing $1,000 or more, etc. Offshore, I'm limited by household space so that's actually good.

Cars, a complete black hole. Did the Porsche 911 with mods, BMW 6 series with mods but now I have a car and driver, something that would be great elsewhere.

Computers- after buying four, or was it five, frames this year, I finally built a new box with Core 2 Duo, Direct 10x ready, etc. as I realized that my 5 year old Athlon box, like my bikes, was just modded as far as it would go.

Current cash drain, travel. 2007 saw Singapore, Thailand, Cambodia, London, the US 3 times (4 for the wife who has gotten way too used to business class), China trips to Beijing, Chengdu and Kunming, Vietnam in a few weeks and ending the year doing Saigon and Singapore.

I look back and brewing beer from grain was cheap although it took up tons of time and space.

How many of you have several hobbies other than cycling. Im an avid golfer and bowler along with cycling. Trying to keep up with all my interest is starting to add up, most of my equipment consist of the latest and high end stuff. I love to keep busy and active but I cant see giving anything up. Does anybody else seem to have this dilema.

Motorcycle racing, <shudder>

Build bike, practice trackdays, many sets of tires + all the goodies, crash & tumble - asphalt, grass, grass, dirt, OUCH - ambulance, recovery, and repeat

You can do pretty much anything you want if you give up using internal combustion engines for transportation or recreation.

I have a bunch of hobbies that I try to at least not let drive me to the poor house. I would have to say that as far as expense goes, the yacht racing makes everything else pale in comparison. Lets see, there is the annual maintenance fees which come to about $12,000/year. Then there are the sails, hmmmm need that new ultra shaped light No.1, $7,800. The 3/4oz Tri is starting to lose it's shape, $8,400. the list goes on, as I have 14(!) sails to keep up with. Hmmmm the rudder needs to be re-shapped. Stroked a check for $25,000 for that one. Best to have the bottom walnut shelled, faired, and hand sanded, $7,500. Upgraded the electronics with repeaters and a new computer/data matrix, $12,000. Better have the guys go through the hydraulics for the backstay and vang, $11,000. Ah the pleasures of it all! And to get a crew on the boat, I have to supply beer and food for the crew of 7 for a day... The money I spent on my Colnago this spring seems like a mere bag of shells in comparison. Even skiing seems like a bargin! But I just really enjoy being on the water. And there is nothing better than, when I'm not racing, just cruising to some new harbor, taking my bike ashore, and discovering the roads around the town.

It is all relative. I like to golf too but do it on the cheap, like bikes. I play off hours and look for buy one get one greens fees. I like to walk, and tend not to play courses that require carts. My clubs are new but last years "old" technology, picked up from e-bay like much of my bike gear. There are a bunch of old guys around the local courses that sell used golf balls they find on their front porches, beats $20-$30 a dozen. Hey the pros are playing blades why wouldn't just about any set work for me? Just a note too I live near Cincinnati and there are a bunch of golf courses around here that are just plan cheap compared to bigger metro areas of the country. Grass grows easily, and land is still available, and there is usually room to get out in this area.

I have a bunch of hobbies that I try to at least not let drive me to the poor house. I would have to say that as far as expense goes, the yacht racing makes everything else pale in comparison. Lets see, there is the annual maintenance fees which come to about $12,000/year. Then there are the sails, hmmmm need that new ultra shaped light No.1, $7,800. The 3/4oz Tri is starting to lose it's shape, $8,400. the list goes on, as I have 14(!) sails to keep up with. Hmmmm the rudder needs to be re-shapped. Stroked a check for $25,000 for that one. Best to have the bottom walnut shelled, faired, and hand sanded, $7,500. Upgraded the electronics with repeaters and a new computer/data matrix, $12,000. Better have the guys go through the hydraulics for the backstay and vang, $11,000. Ah the pleasures of it all! And to get a crew on the boat, I have to supply beer and food for the crew of 7 for a day... The money I spent on my Colnago this spring seems like a mere bag of shells in comparison. Even skiing seems like a bargin! But I just really enjoy being on the water. And there is nothing better than, when I'm not racing, just cruising to some new harbor, taking my bike ashore, and discovering the roads around the town.

sounds like a tough gig. Enjoy - we're here only once.

......hobbies besides cycling. This is my favorite, The Railroad Empire.

I was a golf addict before I took up cycling. I took up cycling because I was getting fat and have always loved bicycles. i belong to a bargin basement club so golf only really costs me $100 per month, especially now that I have learned that new clubs will not automatically make me Tiger Woods. I also stopped trying to compete at golf. I just play for enjoyment and socializing.

No time for hobbies.
.
I work, eat, sleep, and ride my bike.
The word is focus.
For the second year in a row, I've ended up in the black.

When in the States in addition to cycling, it was stereo gear. Dipolar speakers, tube and top end solid state separates, turntables with vacuum platters, cartridges costing more than a frame, cables costing $1,000 or more, etc. Offshore, I'm limited by household space so that's actually good.


I'm a bit of an audiophile, too. My current system cost me slightly less than my bike, so I guess I have a nice balance between the two. I also enjoy skiing, probably more so than cycling:eek: , but seeing as how I'm stuck in Ohio for the time being my skis have seen little time on the slopes aside from my annual trip out west. Nothing brings a smile to my face like rippin' some bumps, cruising the corduroy, and floating through some freshies:D .

Trying to keep up with all my interest is starting to add up, most of my equipment consist of the latest and high end stuff.... Does anybody else seem to have this dilema.

Im pretty sure you answered your own question. ie. if the $ is an issue don't buy the latest high end stuff. 105 stuff won't kill you. If that fails for whatever reason, MB1's advice is good too-money otherwise spent on your car can be better used.

I would agree, lots of hobbies and I try to get the good stuff for them also. My balance is staggering the focus of each hobby by a few years. That way I'm only really spending the big money on one at a time.

Too many hobbies also contributes to ADHD, especially when you are searching 300 sites for the best deal and watching 100's of items on fleebay waiting for each one to snipe.

My wife is always blasting me about my car hobby so I went into road biking. I figure a $5000 bike isn't as bad as my other car purchases.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v473/chromese5/cars.jpg

kidding... but yeah I used to be into my car a lot (previous fast and the furious wannabe).
BTW, the above picture was stolen from this thread:
http://www.6speedonline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=95722

Now that guy has an expensive hobby.

[QUOTE=chromese5]My wife is always blasting me about my car hobby ...QUOTE]

I was soooo about to hate you out of jealousy

Yep, I have a couple other hobbies other than cycling, and cycling is pretty expensive as it is between entry fees and gas. If we start talking about the 3 Colnagos I built over this past year with Campy Record, my 4 sets of Zipp wheels and a disk, all the clothing I bought, and the Bianchi FG Lite frame with Cinelli Ram bars sitting in the garage waiting to be built, it was a really expensive year.

Add to that my other hobbies of hunting, fishing, shooting, and aquariums, and that is a ton of money. Luckily, I already have most of the hunting and fishing stuff I need, but a box of waterfowl shells costs $20 for the cheap stuff of 25, and some of them cost $30+ for a box of 10, which equates to $3 a shell. Consider that a waterfowl gun holds 3 shells and it costs about $10 for less than 30 seconds, but I guess it can be spread out over the entire hunt since it takes more than 30 seconds to get the birds in. Layout blinds cost $300 each, my waterfowl gun was $1,400, the goose decoys I use are $120 a dozen and I have 7 dozen. Lord only knows how many duck decoys I have. The truck was $42,000. My dog was $800. The vet bills have been insane. All of the above isn't the half of it as far as hunting goes.

I'll leave fishing, shooting, and the aquariums for another night, but suffice it to say that my wife is very understanding about all this stuff. With that said, I am getting pretty close to having everything I want as far as my hobbies are concerned. I only want one more bike, and that one can wait. I only want 2 more guns, and those can wait too. However, I do need a new fishing boat and once we get a new house I'll want a 240 gallon aquarium instead of the 75 and 55 I currently have. LOL

WIth that said, I gotta get back to work and start billing my clients.

Shoot your dog it would be cheaper. And would accomplish basically the same thing.

I have a bunch of hobbies that I try to at least not let drive me to the poor house. I would have to say that as far as expense goes, the yacht racing makes everything else pale in comparison. Lets see, there is the annual maintenance fees which come to about $12,000/year. Then there are the sails, hmmmm need that new ultra shaped light No.1, $7,800. The 3/4oz Tri is starting to lose it's shape, $8,400. the list goes on, as I have 14(!) sails to keep up with. Hmmmm the rudder needs to be re-shapped. Stroked a check for $25,000 for that one. Best to have the bottom walnut shelled, faired, and hand sanded, $7,500. Upgraded the electronics with repeaters and a new computer/data matrix, $12,000. Better have the guys go through the hydraulics for the backstay and vang, $11,000. Ah the pleasures of it all! And to get a crew on the boat, I have to supply beer and food for the crew of 7 for a day... The money I spent on my Colnago this spring seems like a mere bag of shells in comparison. Even skiing seems like a bargin! But I just really enjoy being on the water. And there is nothing better than, when I'm not racing, just cruising to some new harbor, taking my bike ashore, and discovering the roads around the town.

That's a nice hole in the water you have there.

I grew up on sailboats in Annapolis. In college, got into windsurfers (on top of my ski habit which is not insignificant as a part time professional for the past 20 something years). But then I found an even more expensive hobby..... Triplets :cryin: :cryin: :cryin: There will be no more boats in my life, and I'm not looking forward to the college years.

My hobby is teh wimmenz and that can get pretty darn expensive depending on which high class chica I'm out with or a person who's just simple and laid back.

My last date, Cameron Diaz asked me to pick her up in a Ferrari so I had to rent one. :D :D :D

my other hobbies are enjoying our black lab, and watches. I'm on the low end of the watch world though. I have an Oris tt1 diver, which lists for about 1200, a Gevril GV2 with lists for about 1200, and a couple other watches in the mid hundreds.
I'm eyeing a $2500 dollar watch by a very cool american brand called Kobold,, another brand called Ball Watch and may get lucky on a purchase of a pre-owned Gerrard Perrageaux diver. Of course in the springtime I'll be pissed at myself for not buying that new DeRosa Neo Primato with Chorus, or VaMoots with Force.
I can't afford both hobbies, so I mix purchases every four-six months.
The design and function of watches is very interesting, and in my opinion parallels the cycling industry somewhat.
Anyone know what type of watch Cancellara is wearing in the new Cervelo ads in Bicycling Magazine?
Very interesting subject...

Add to that my other hobbies of hunting, fishing, shooting, and aquariums, and that is a ton of money. Luckily, I already have most of the hunting and fishing stuff I need, but a box of waterfowl shells costs $20 for the cheap stuff of 25, and some of them cost $30+ for a box of 10, which equates to $3 a shell. Consider that a waterfowl gun holds 3 shells and it costs about $10 for less than 30 seconds, but I guess it can be spread out over the entire hunt since it takes more than 30 seconds to get the birds in. Layout blinds cost $300 each, my waterfowl gun was $1,400, the goose decoys I use are $120 a dozen and I have 7 dozen. Lord only knows how many duck decoys I have. The truck was $42,000. My dog was $800. The vet bills have been insane. All of the above isn't the half of it as far as hunting goes.



I hunt as well, but not waterfowling. Deer, turkey, doves and hogs are what I hunt. Luckily I can hunt them all on my lease. If I want to duck or goose hunt, I just pay a guide a few hundred and they do all the rest. I don't really have the time to learn how to call and get geared up for waterfowling. I'd have to give up deer hunting if I wanted to do it right. And that isn't happening. Fabs, I'll trade you hunts. You bring me duck/goose hunting and I'll put you on any/all of what I have available.

You can go crazy with hunting stuff. Once I pay my lease fees, it's not too bad though. Just gas back and forth and keeping my feeder full. It's probably comparable to my old golf habit, which was maybe $250/month all in. I suppose I could gear up with new guns or bows every year, but I'm pretty much covered in that department. Anything new I get, would be a specialty item like a big rifle (7mm mag, etc.) or a 20 gauge semi-auto. Guns can cost anywhere from $300 to infinity. Esp. when you throw the cost of a scope in there. Of course, you can never have enough camo. Kind of like bike gear in that respect.

Its hard to give up any one thing but I can deny the benefits of riding and loosing my gut! hahaha My next project is gonna be a Titanium Lynskey.

On the other end, I know people with no hobbies, including hobbies that don't cost much. Life without a hobbie is no fun.

[Anyone know what type of watch Cancellara is wearing in the new Cervelo ads in Bicycling Magazine?
Very interesting subject...[/QUOTE]


I found this:
"Formex Watch SA joined efforts with Fabian Cancellara in creating a new watch model. Fabian, time trial world champion and Paris-Roubaix race winner, assisted the brand's watchmakers in developing the Cancellara watch.

The Cancellara timepiece has been inspired by the case suspension system patented by Formex, and the legendary cobblestones of Paris-Roubaix, a prominent one-day professional bicycle road race organized in northern France. The model is developed in a limited edition and will be presented at the forthcoming BaselWorld Show.

Fabian Cancellara enjoyed contributing to the development of the timepiece bearing his own name. The famous sportsman had a fine chance to find out more about innovative technologies that go into creating Formex timepieces. Among the Cancellara watch's special features you will discover its invisible suspension, the dial with the superb 'pave' cobblestones and the bracelet with texture similar to the profile of a bike tire. The creators of the timepiece applied the most robust and harmoniously-united materials into its development.

Formex and Fabian Cancellara formed an ideal team. The partners share the common passions - love for innovative ideas and strive for excellent performance. Formex timekeepers and the sportsman display great resistance to extreme conditions. The time trial world champion has been really enthusiastic about the project and will proudly wear the Cancellara watch on his wrist.

Fabian Cancellara, aged 26, is a professional road bicycle racer from Switzerland"

Formex site: www.formexwatch.com

Can you really have too many hobbies? I would answer yes but not for money reason, I just don't have enough time to do the hobbies I love to do. Also the key to a happy marriage with hobbies is to involve the wife in all the hobbies. I buy 2 of each, one toy for me and one for my wife.
Road bike = 2
Mountain bikes = 2
Kayaks = 2
Boat = 1 but we share
Wakeboards = 2
Snowboards = 2
Norm Abrams wood working shop = 1, but we have almost 2 of every tool (drills, mitre saw,sanders, routers, nail guns,
Snorkeling gear = 2
I know I am forgeting somethings. We have something to do on almost every day.

http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g163/killroy1999/8THill505292006.jpg

I'm giving up motorcycle racing for cycling because it is better for my health.

Henry David Thoreau, " Do what you love. Know your own bone; gnaw at it, bury it, unearth it, and gnaw it still."

Its hard to give up any one thing but I can deny the benefits of riding and loosing my gut! hahaha My next project is gonna be a Titanium Lynskey.

Jealous. I love those Lynskey frames.

For me, if it's not bikes (there are currently 7 in house but some are the wifes) it's
guitars or musical instruments or the recording studio or the computer collection.

It's too much.

Nice boat---it looks too new to be an IOR design but the pinched stern and mid ship bulge reminds me of the older custom Frers half and three quarter tonners.

Yep, she's an older 1 Ton, a 1976 Heritage One Tonner to be exact. An IOR I design, built like a tank and pretty much indestructable. Plus, she's the most balanced boat I have ever sailed that size (37'). I had raced against her back in the 70's on a Peterson Ganbere 34 and said I would own her one day! Picked her up in 1999 as a project and have brought her back, keeping with the original intent. Basically, I started with a hull and standing rig, everything is new from there on... motor, elec, plumb, running rigging, sails, etc. Labor of love, and I enjoy building/restoring things (Bikes Too!). Never get my money back out of her, but that's not the point. I just enjoy smokin the locals on their carbon/kevlar/titanium wunderboats whenever I get a chance...

Only one other hobby, OBSESSION, I collect and wear Luxury watches. In the last 8 years have spent about 80K on 11 watches. For the price of my most recent purchase, a Girard-Perregaux Worldtimer WW.TC in white gold, I could have bought 3 top of the line Trek Madone's. Now that's a sickness but I love it and once I dump some more of the worthless stock in my portfolio I will probably buy another.............WATCH. Already have enough bikes ...for now.

steppy

Luckily, I already have most of the hunting and fishing stuff I need, but a box of waterfowl shells costs $20 for the cheap stuff of 25, and some of them cost $30+ for a box of 10, which equates to $3 a shell. Consider that a waterfowl gun holds 3 shells and it costs about $10 for less than 30 seconds, but I guess it can be spread out over the entire hunt since it takes more than 30 seconds to get the birds in.

It pains me to read things like this. You'd be SO much better off to get into reloading. The initial cost of the setup isn't that high and you can easily do $0.25 a shell rather than $3.00. Equate those savings over a year :D. Plus reloading is a pretty fun little pseudo science, experimenting with different loads etc.

Pursuing that X-prize for private space flight just about wiped out my budget for midrange 1980's Japanese bikes. If I would have won I might have a Miyata 1000 by now.

I went to the violin store today and played a bunch of fiddles. Another expensive hobby, especially if you have a softness for Italian instruments.

Woodworking is my other hobby. Like cycling, you can do it cheaply, however if you get into the "bling", it gets expensive fast.

I like working with Walnut, and it's about $300 for 20 board feet in 4/4. Largish projects take much more wood than that. And if you want 8/4 or 12/4, be prepared to really put out some cash (not like that fellow into sailing though).

inline speed skating, wakeboarding, raising a 4mo old little boy(my favorite), and coaching skating.. yea.. takes up alot of time :)

skates cost about $1700, plus travel and entry/hotel
wakeboard is only around $300, but you gotta pay for gas, oh, and the boat..
coaching.. yea, free, for the students!! haha
dont get me started on the baby! LOL

Right, shooting my dog would accomplish exactly the same thing.

By any chance, do you actually ride your bike on the road, because a stationary bike would achieve the same thing.

If hunting and fishing were solely about getting meat, I can assure you that I would be better off going to the supermarket and buying it. At $3.00 a shell for a goose, if I even connect that is, things aren't too cheap. Add in the diesel fuel, the amortization of decoys, blinds, and guns, and I can assure you that I could buy a lot more chicken with the money than I end up with geese and ducks.

Last I checked, my dog will come when I ask him to. I wish it were so simple with the geese, ducks, deer, etc. If I were to merely ask them to "Come Here", I doubt they would cooperate.

Anyway, I think you get my point. Your comment is about as stupid as the comment one of the partners at the law firm I worked at made when I told them I was going turkey hunting at the beginning of November. She said "How hard can it be to kill a turkey when it is penned in behind a fence." Obviously, the numnut had no idea that there are wild turkeys, or that they can fly, or that they roost in trees at night, or that they run faster than a dog, or that they have eye sight better than a human and they will take off if they see any movement, or that you have to shoot them in the head without moving the gun very much. Yep, like my mother says, "It is the dumb ones that usually give you trouble." The managing partner's son in-law made another smart comment when I told them I was going dove hunting. His comment was "How hard can it be to shoot a dove with a 12 gauge?" Most people have absolutely no clue when they decide to make these comments. Luckily, another associate there had tried his hand at dove hunting because his dad was into hunting, and he vouched that it was nearly impossible to hit a dove with a shotgun. Now, my record this year has been pretty good. 12 doves on opening day with 26 shells, and 12 doves the following day of hunting with 31 shells. Most people average 5+ shells per dove, and I have seen people go through boxes and boxes of shells while dove hunting.

By the way, your comment almost ranks with the one I received a month or so ago from a lady in the passenger seat of a BMW. "Excuse me sir, but you will probably be safer riding on the bike path instead of the road." Yeah, I would love to see how safe the bike path would be at 30 to 35 mph because that is how fast I was going on the slight downhill after the light. I'm sure the bike path would accomplish the same thing as riding on the street, just like shooting my dog would accomplish the same thing as hunting.

Trust me, I reload plenty. I have a MEC 9000G for 12 gauge and 20 gauge, and a Steelmaster for waterfowl loads. Loading Hevi-Shot is still rather expensive. I think I can get the cost down to around $2 a shell, which is still a decent savings of $1 per shell, and I reload almost all of my rifle ammo because that stuff is down right insane when you want to buy it with specialty bullets (e.g., Barnes X, Barnes XLC, Nosler Partition). I use an RCBS Rock Chucker press for my metallic loading with an auto powder dispenser/scale that talk to one another to ensure that I get the correct powder measure. I use the same powder measure system for my non-toxic shotshell loading because Alliant Steel doesn't meter very well out of a MEC press. When we buy a house in a year or two and I can have my reloading room inside in a designated room, I'm going to look into buying a Spolar Gold or Ponsnes Warren loader for my 12 and 20, and might even start loading 28 and 410 if I can ever get a tube set for my 682 Gold.

Innergel,

What state are you hunting in? I'm in Maryland and we have deer coming out of everywhere. I killed 8 antlerless deer in 2 hours one morning, and the only reason I stopped is because I knew it was going to take the rest of the day to drag them all out and get them ready to donate to the "Feed the Hungry" program, and I was right. It is amazing how a couple of hours of fun can translate into a full day of hard work.

Cycling in all it's disciplines (road, cross, tandem, mountain)
Skiing (almost as expensive as golf!)
Home theater (Way more expensive than golf!)

Thank God I have no kids!

Before I started devoting more time and spending more money toward cycling, I was deep into restoring a 1972 Datsun 240Z I purchased back in 2002. At present, the car just sit in the garage on jack stands waiting for me resume work on it. To restore it right I expect to spend at least 15K. However, I just can't find the motivation to get back to work on it. Now the house needs attention and money will have to be diverted there. I guess the car will have to wait a little longer.

It’s always something. :mad2:

......hobbies besides cycling. This is my favorite, The Railroad Empire.

What are the details on that beauty? What is the track guage? 12" ? Can't tell, but it looks like a lot of fun (and work, I am sure). It definitely is much larger than my N scale stuff!

Cycling
Skiing
Phototgraphy
Stained Glass
Wife
Daughter
Family
Friends
...
Beer

Not exactly in order or $$$ involved.

Bikes - currently standing at 21, and I don't expect the list to increase. I'm out of room

Watches - back in the dotcom bubble I was nicely stock rich. Blew a lot then on timepieces and winders. Have 3 Baume et Merciers (including a 1954), 2 Omegas, Fortis, Revue-Thommen, Zenith, couple of TAGs. I still like to window shop but my interest level has flagged. I get into the "gee, I could have another custom bike for that much." Still want a Blanpain though, one of these days.

Horses - my wife's "business". Unlike bikes, they eat and get injured.

Digicams - I upgrade constantly, currently using 2 SLRs and 2 ELPHs. Coveting the Leica M8, but at heart I am still a working class guy with middle class financial sensibilities.

Other than that, I like to read and I don't hesitate to just buy the books. Our library holds several thousand volumes.

Innergel,

What state are you hunting in? I'm in Maryland and we have deer coming out of everywhere. I killed 8 antlerless deer in 2 hours one morning, and the only reason I stopped is because I knew it was going to take the rest of the day to drag them all out and get them ready to donate to the "Feed the Hungry" program, and I was right. It is amazing how a couple of hours of fun can translate into a full day of hard work.

I'm in Texas. Live in Dallas and my lease is in Throckmorton Co. They estimate the deer population in Texas at 5 million. The TPWD gets pretty ticked unless at least 500k are harvested every season. Landowners get a little crabby when they are overrun with does too. Crop damage can get bad. But the worst are the hogs. We've got traps all over and there is a standing order to exterminate every one we see.

How did you get 8 anterless deer tags? I'm not familiar with the regs in Maryland. In Texas you can only shoot two does unless you have a special MLD designation on your property. Then all bets are off. I know of several MLD properties that are relatively small (500 acres) that REQUIRE you to shoot 75 does a year for 3-4 years. That gets the buck to doe ratio down to where it should be. The herds are really strong after the initial few years.

I know what you mean about the hard work. I can only imagine doing 8 does. :rolleyes: Big old animals are tough to break down. They'll test your knives pretty well too.

Good on you for donating all that venison.

Yep, she's an older 1 Ton, a 1976 Heritage One Tonner to be exact. An IOR I design, built like a tank and pretty much indestructable. Plus, she's the most balanced boat I have ever sailed that size (37'). I had raced against her back in the 70's on a Peterson Ganbere 34 and said I would own her one day! Picked her up in 1999 as a project and have brought her back, keeping with the original intent. Basically, I started with a hull and standing rig, everything is new from there on... motor, elec, plumb, running rigging, sails, etc. Labor of love, and I enjoy building/restoring things (Bikes Too!). Never get my money back out of her, but that's not the point. I just enjoy smokin the locals on their carbon/kevlar/titanium wunderboats whenever I get a chance...

You did a great job the boat looks brand new. About a year ago I saw a Ranger 37 (Gary Mull 1 ton design) for sale for $8,500, I almost went for it but it needed so much work and I just don't have the time.
Those boats could always sail to their numbers, especially going to weather in heavy air and I want to whip some wannabes who trying to buy a trophy with their ultra light,asymmetrical chute, carbon fiber bulb keel "wunderboats"

See my username for two very expensive hobbies, in addition to biking, which is quite cheap in comparison. Add to those snowboarding, baseball (which is less expensive), and, when I have time, homebrewing, and it really adds up.

Guitars...I don't even keep track. My electric rig runs probably around $3200 (including guitar, pedals and amp), then I've got a backup electric and a nice acoustic. I could spend way more, but I go to college, so I ain't gots that money.

there are wild turkeys, or that they can fly
"as God as my witness, I thought turkeys could fly. . . "

Guitars...I don't even keep track. My electric rig runs probably around $3200 (including guitar, pedals and amp), then I've got a backup electric and a nice acoustic. I could spend way more, but I go to college, so I ain't gots that money.

For me it's: two electrics (both six strings but one is 24 frets the other 21 and one
is neck thru the other is set neck), one acoustic/electric, one six string bass, one
five string banjo, multiple synthesizers, drum programmer, three audio mixers,
guitar rack with Mesa Studio preamp, TC Electronic G Sharp, Lexicon Vortex,
a BBE 422 outboard unit, and old ART SGE (not used anymore), multiple pedal
FX, Roland JC120 amp, mics, stands (mic and guitar), pedal controllers, etc.

It's a sickness. But the bikes are encroaching on the studio so I'm tempted
to call the studio the "Bike Shop" soon.

+10,000

Just got my gigging rack system tweaked...Mesa Quad, Tubeworks 50 watt stereo power amp, 2 x 12 with 1 celestion G1230 and 1 Vintage 30, G Major, Axxess electronics Midi switching etc...

Les Pauls, Marshalls, strats etc...a weakness of sorts....

Zach

besides cycling...golf, home theater, travel and a bad addiction to expensive clothes and shoes. Luckily, my wife doesn't like to shop near as much as I do. Yea, I know it comes off a little....

besides cycling...golf, home theater, travel and a bad addiction to expensive clothes and shoes. Luckily, my wife doesn't like to shop near as much as I do. Yea, I know it comes off a little....

a little..........just kidding. I told my wife she needs to have a second "shopping" husband that will go out to Neman Marcus with her and you may be the perfect canidate. Intrested in helping a hot chick from Newport Beach Cali spend my money?

steppy

or 1.5" to the foot. The track gauge is 7.5". It's an oil fired 2-6-0 steam locomotive, weighs about 400lbs. Here's a few more pics. Google "Live Steam" and you'll find out a lot of info on stuff in this and and larger scales.

a little..........just kidding. I told my wife she needs to have a second "shopping" husband that will go out to Neman Marcus with her and you may be the perfect canidate. Intrested in helping a hot chick from Newport Beach Cali spend my money?

steppy

For some reason I've never been the shop with chicks guy even though I dig shopping. Selfish, I guess. My wife does the "how does this look" and i have the typical "good" response, which she's not wild about because she knows I like clothes. Only other person besides myself I've helped shop would be my brother, who needs it from time to time. Can't go wrong at Neman's though...jealous of your riding lo cal too!

Cycling - A roadie, a mtb and am about to get a nice carbon pinarello
Photography - Canon eos bodies and L series lenses add up real fast
Skydiving - Don't even ask. 2 complete parachute systems and jumpsuits, helmets, more camera gear, jump tickets........

But as another poster said, its better than doing nothing...

Wild turkeys can fly. If I got that wrong in my post, I apologize. the partner at the firm I was working at didn't know that they could fly.

Here are the regs in the portion of the state I hunt in.

http://www.dnr.state.md.us/huntersguide/regionb.asp

Generally, we can kill as many does as we want. When I said we have a ton of deer, I wasn't kidding. I live in Montgomery County, and while Montgomery County has the most cars out of any county in Maryland, more auto accidents are caused by deer than other drivers. For the most part, I hunt in Montgomery, Howard, Frederick, and Washington Counties, and I believe all of them allow unlimited does. The region for unlimited does used to be a lot smaller and the state was divided into 4 regions about 5 years ago. I believe last year was the first year we went to only 2 regions because the deer population is getting way out of control.

Driving to my parents the other day, I saw 15 just standing in my parents' neighbor's front lawn.

With you living in Texas and hunting in Texas and Colorado, it will probably be pretty hard to get together for a hunt. One of these days I'm going to try hog hunting, but I don't see that happening any time soon either.