Trance... The new 2008 craze

Son of crapper. This is my DREAM bike. Its light, fast, and heck of a lot more comfortable than my GT Aggressor. But of course comparing this with my Aggressor is like comparing Brad Pitt with me. I'm so hot, and well, he's Mrs Jolie.

Now the problem with buying this bike are many. Firstly, its the moolah issue. Its $2000 without bargaining. Secondly, its me and my brilliant riding skills.

Now lets take a look at issue no. 1.

I have no problems coughing up the money by End July at most, while still comfortably maintaining my dangerous paycheck-to-paycheck style of living. The problem is, do I want to put my future financial earnings for a freaking dreamy bike?

If I put in $2000 now into my portfolio, and if markets rise 40% by mid 2009, I would be making $800 profit in slightly more than a year. And if markets rise an annualised average of 10% a year (averaging bulls and bears), my money would turn to $3221.02 by the time I turn 25. By that time, I'll be ready to buy my Zara shirts for my new executive position at Xyz MNC.

And its all doable, considering the markets are so shitty and dirt-cheap now.

Now, let's say I do buy my bike. By 2013, that bike would be still in relatively good condition, with many priceless memories, however, I would be $3221.02 poorer, not just $2000 poorer than if I had not bought the freaking sexy Trance bike.

That's the money part. Now, we come to issue no. 2. My brilliant riding skills.

I am a brilliant mountain biker. My days at Ubin can never be complete without me breaking a sweat, flexing my toned legs, or almost bleeding to death or breaking an arm.

Yes, I suck. There was a week in Ubin last month, where I crashed 4 times. And who can forget the stitches I got when I crashed into the Damai Sec wall, face-first? I'm sure my Aggressor won't forgive me for the damaged fork barely one-month into its existence that time.

But recently, I've been improving dramatically. I fell only once last week, with a deep cut on my arm, because I stupidly attempted something I KNEW I wouldn't be able to do. The rock garden was so uneven, and I wasn't confident enough, so I went slow, got my front wheel stuck in a rut, and instead of falling, I braced my arm against a sharp boulder, and got a cut that would give my torn lip a run for its money.

What was I talking about again? Oh yes. Me improving. But anyways, after that, I didn't fall in the singletrack. Oh, and there were many parts I could have fallen to my untimely demise.

All in all, I feel more confident now, and the ride yesterday at Tamp MB Park made me more so.
The only thing is, confident and improving or not, another big fall will come. Its all part and parcel of learning how to cycle. The problem is, do I want to fall on my $2000 bike or my already slightly damaged $400 one?

Another small issue would be my lack of technical bike maintenance know how. As you can see from the pic, the bike's full suspension is rather a bitch to clean, not to mention the hydraulic disc brakes would be a ITE worthy year-end project to manage and maintain.

But the question still stands. To buy or not to buy? To wager future monetary earnings for current and future happiness? To buy a bike meant for skill levels much higher than what I have now?

I say, if I can bravely see portfolio losses of 45% and still put in more money hoping for the best in the long-term, I guess I can reward myself with a little something to celebrate more of my future successes.

Haha. I'm so gonna buy my Trance.



You've served me well, my dear. And you'll continue to serve till the new girl comes. And ride her, I will. Heh.