I am a fortunate son. I’ve never had to work a day in my life. Sure, I’ve had jobs. But never had to work in the sense of work or I’ll go hungry, work or I’ll get evicted; not work like most of the world works. I work to play, to buy consumer trinkets.
Lately I haven’t worked at all. Instead, I train for triathlons and occasionally mow the lawn. My greatest challenge is choosing free-range meats and organic vegetables over junk food, and motivating myself to spend five hours of a beautiful summer afternoon on my bicycle.
I live in a world of make believe insulated by hierarchical privilege. This is a world where, in the words of Jennifer Price, we recreate to, “tell stories about ourselves to ourselves.” Attending a private college allows me to associate with others of a similar caste and block out the unpleasant realities that make my position possible. Like sweatshop workers making cheap cloths in India. Like illegal migrant labor working covertly for subsistence wages in the Red River Valley. Like wars in places I have never been to insure “security”, demanding the lives of my peers; but not mine. A lifestyle which demands these goods makes me morally culpable for their ills.
I am a second generation fortunate son. See, my father took his deferment from Vietnam. 1970 found him in a cozy private college, well positioned to make the most of the future. For his sons. My responsibility reaches back across generations because I was there, perhaps not in the flesh, but certainly in the metaphysical.
Yesterday my front derailleur broke. I posted about how buying a new one wasn’t really in the cards right now. Several people responded to the effect of, “What are you doing racing triathlons if you actually budget your money beyond the thousands place?”.
Does our sport demand that only those who live in the make believe world can participate at high levels? If so, and if this make believe world does indeed imply moral guilt, does then our sport necessitate transgression? Is triathlon only for Fortunate Sons? Is it only for the guilty?
I think the essence was that if $20 for the other der. while you waited for the replacement was too tight, you had bigger fish to fry than the der. itself. The “thousands place” is a bit more than an exaggeration to make a point.
I do believe in budgeting, and I do it myself. But if it’s that tight, then yes, you should question your participation in events that require an entry fees in the hundreds.
I think you’re missing the point. It’s really not about the derailleur at all; I bought one today.
I, as a single American college student, live a lifestyle that costs more than the average American household income, and I don’t work for any of it. That’s the real issue - that we haven’t really earned anything in its entirity, because it came at the expense of others - our parents, the Chinese, the environment, etc.
If it is really necessary a new bike, let alone a new derailleur, isn’t out of reach. It’s what it represents.
At least you have a conscience which is more than I can say for many a disaffected tyro.
A prof of mine read a similar piece from me back in my early days of global awareness and guilt over my station in life. He said, “Don’t knock it. You are just lucky, that’s all. If you must, find a balance between giving and receiving and you’ll feel better and even do some good. At a minimum, do no harm.”
So, years will pass, you may still have these feelings. Travel lots in places that are only moderately unsafe and come home with just a few coins left in your pockets. You may end up like me, working in a field where you help folks see how to lessen their harmful impacts on the world.
And you can still tri sustainably. It’s not that difficult actually.
Caleb…if that is true…get out on your own and earn your own…THEN and only then can you be proud of what you have. I am first hand on this one…I bet my daddys jet was bigger than your daddys jet (Citation S2). I left home VERY young…but, I have two brothers that didnt. One is now 26, the other 24 - neither really ever had jobs, always had nice cars (VERY nice), houses, vacation homes, clothing, dates, watches and on and on and on…neither had or have pride.
And…to the other point - the more important one. If someone cant afford a $20.00 due to scrimping for a IM race, hotel, travel, and on and on AWESOME…now that is a person who is really willing to work towards a goal (dream). You wont hear me ever complain about them, I admire them.
Actually Caleb, I think you are right. Triathlon is a sport that is very difficult to do without discretionary income. People do it on various budgets but to be quite honest there was no way in hell I could have afforded even one entry fee to do a race when I was still in school. I’m often shocked by threads with “I’m just a struggling student and can’t afford the 5k bike, which 3k bike do you think will work for me themes” cuz believe me that’s not the budget I remember.
Yupper…I remember the struggles…I admire those who are willing to give up that nice car, clothing, savings, or what ever to have that bike and pay that fee…then again, that was me…I was once homeless with a $4000 bike…huh.
Sorry if I’m missing your humor but I and most of my fellow students didn’t have a nice car or savings. We did have clothing but it wasn’t A&F. We had lots of loans. We also had a great time and I have no regrets. I think I’m better for living on very limited money for those times. Having said that I have no axe to grind with those who can afford stuff even while students. If they can I say do it.
I was a college student when I started in this crazy pursuit. My bike was a Trek 520 with Suntour Cyclone, 6 speed freewheel… I eventually got a set of Scott clip-ons and made my own arm rests, and later some first generation Look pedals and a Uni-disk wheel cover. I didn’t get any NICE equipment until I was out of college and had a good job as an engineer in the commercial aerospace industry. But I raced a few times a year, trained like a madman all year… Entry fees were nowhere near what they are today. $20-25 per race. I can’t imagine trying to come up with an extra quarter’s tuition to be able to do an IM… But that’s also part of budgeting.