When I was in Wisconsin a few weeks ago I was talking to a few guys about different things. One of the guys got a phone call about some tires for his drag car. The people on the other end of the line were offering the tires for a small chore around their house. We got talking about our hobbies and how much they cost. Looking at the cost he has into his car I could say that he is very very dedicated to racing. His car, engine, tires, transmission and entry fees come to large totals. Then we talked about my mountain bike. His eyes opened very wide when I told him my new bike was more than a thousand dollars.....and that is was on sale. He thought I was nuts for spending that much money on a bike. I was talking to another guy about golfing. He has a very expensive set of clubs. The difference was he never told me I was nuts. He put things into perspective. He told me that he would not flinch to spend $300 on a golf club while I might spend $400 on a certain part for my bike. It was put in a way that made me think differently about people and their hobbies.
People spend money on the things they love.
A worker in a bike shop in Ann Arbor smiled as Chris and I walked in on a Friday afternoon. He asked who was riding the Epic. I
acknowledged and asked why. He said that it really stood out because it was a nice bike. Then he asked Chris about his Stumpy. The guy had seen our bikes from inside the shop and took the time to see what they were. It made me think that I hang around with people that like bikes because I like bikes. I have never been called crazy for a purchase I have made. We all look at each others equipment and ask obvious questions that we already know the answers to. We ask to ride your bikes. How are those tires? Does it feel right?
There is an understanding among us. I just think that the right people make the difference.....