tridork wrote:
I'm not rich, but I know some very well off people who do tri.
None of them buy stuff to show off their wealth. The ones that do buy expensive stuff, buy it for one of several reasons.
1. They are passionate about X and want the best, and can afford it.
2. the cost that appears expensive for us plebes is inconsequential to them.
I make X each year. Y% goes to my house, and Z% goes on triathlon each year.
A good friend of mine makes over 10 times what I make. He feels poor because he hangs out with some seriously rich friends. I take my 10 year old car to the race track for race days (but drive carefully because I have to make it home!). He drives a Porsche and has a well used race car. One of his buddies just bought an international car racing team!
We all spend about the same % of our annual income on cars. My friends friend isn't showing off, he likes cars and has the money available, so spends what I consider to be a crap ton of money on his race team.
In tri there are people like me that are totally addicted to tri, but still agonize and save up for some FLO's. Similarly, there are some who would have their PA get them a pair of the new Zipps, because they are actually, or are perceived to be the best.
Both poor people and rich people buy whatever speed they can on the bike. Most people don't buy it to show off or don't even buy it to win, but to be the fastest they can be, within the financial limits they have.
Well said...