My first real job paid a grand total of R175,00 a month covert to @R8rand to a US dollar and around R12 to a British pound my first car cost me R750.00 ...We did our whole wedding for under R2000 (ok 27 years ago)…I just bought a set of mtbikes wheels that cost R6000.00 who would have imagined I’d still be ridding a bicycle all these years later or spending the equivalent six years salary on a set of bike wheels.
Times have really changed. I imagine your salary these days is what enables you to spend that much on a set of wheels. They are sharp looking wheels but I can't imagine spending that much on bike tires.
It's pretty crazy how inflation affects everything. I was just marveling the other week that I used to feed a family of four on a quarter of what I spend on groceries for two of us now. Like your artsy capture of those wheels that are worth their weight in gold!
Magnificent picture, Howard, Wish I could say the same about football. I was crazy on football when young and was considered a good footballer; today I get tired even on the armchair watching a match haha. I really love your narrative. It's so true, things were so cheap when I was a kid - even pay was very cheap.
well, i don't understand all this bike talk, and money talk without calculator, so let me put it in perspective: we only have one life to live and at our age, we have paid our dues like sending the kids to school and making sure they are set for life with their education and the values we instilled in them. we can't take that money to the grave, so buy the wheels and make the last leg of the ride enjoyable, and hopefully it will be a long enjoyable one. i say too much. why couldn't i just say: cool wheels, howard!
No question about it, inflation in recent years has distorted our perspective. My first year of teaching I made $5786 US which was about what my college tuition was my senior year and about what a new car cost. Nowadays beginning teachers make approximately the same amount in proportion to college tuition and a new car. So I guess we're treading water. The big difference is when I started out I had no credit card debt (heck there were no credit cards!) and there was very little stuff to drool over. Not much in electronics, no name brand clothing designers or expectation that everyone's home would have stainless appliances and granite countertops. No one felt deprived because we had no expectations. And frankly "no expectations" is a lot less disappointing than "failed expectations." Now I'll get off my soap box and tell you how much I enjoy your simple, clean image.
stunning capture of those wheels - and the way that the value of money has changed is so odd - I remember old boys at work chatting about buying their houses for £400 - ones that would cost them £400,000 now - but failing to compare their wages to that £400 compared to their wages now
Great set of wheels, Howard! - I so agree with Allison - inflation has changed everything. I think she and I must have grown up in the same era! summerfield says it right, too. You've worked hard, raised your family - now, enjoy your wheels!
My husband and I are the same...when it comes to buying toys or fixing the house...the toys always win. Hopefully we will fix the house when we retire one day :) Love your wheels...! I have an average mountain bike and hope to get a nicer one later on.
posted June 7th, 2012
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Cool shot, love the lighting & little bit of red :)
And for all the biking you do, you deserve them!!! enjoy 'em!