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I need help making a big decision
OptionResults
Go travel for 1/2 year to a year. Note: benefits of training will be loss54 Votes - [65.85%]
Buy a new tri bike, and sign up for Ironman Western Australia22 Votes - [26.83%]
Other (explain).6 Votes - [7.32%]

2007-04-24 2:15 PM

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Expert
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Chandler, AZ
Subject: I need help making a big decision
Hi BT'ers,

What would you do in this situation?

You are single, you just finished an IM, you're job is going no where, and you've just sold your house and have made a nice profit - enough that you can dip into it a bit. Let's say you have $15k between money you've saved and earned.

Which of these options would sound most desirable to you:


2007-04-24 2:20 PM
in reply to: #774887

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Extreme Veteran
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Abilene, Texas
Subject: RE: I need help making a big decision
If it were me I would not be all that impressed with my 14+ hour IM finishing time. I'd use the time and money to get fast but maybe that's just me.
2007-04-24 2:20 PM
in reply to: #774887

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Crystal Lake, IL
Subject: RE: I need help making a big decision

Age matters in my response.  What is it?

 

2007-04-24 2:21 PM
in reply to: #774902

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Expert
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Subject: RE: I need help making a big decision
2007-04-24 2:22 PM
in reply to: #774901

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Expert
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Chandler, AZ
Subject: RE: I need help making a big decision
Yellow_Dawg - 2007-04-24 12:20 PM

If it were me I would not be all that impressed with my 14+ hour IM finishing time. I'd use the time and money to get fast but maybe that's just me.


Way to be an antagonist. You can GFY.
2007-04-24 2:23 PM
in reply to: #774887

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Expert
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Farmington, MI
Subject: RE: I need help making a big decision

I'd travel.  'Course that's what I do.  Let me know if you need any advice/recommendations on Japan, China, Tibet, Thailand....anywhere in Asia including New Zealand.  It all rocks-go, go, go!! When are you going to have another chance?  GO!!  Oh, and youth hostels are totally the way to go if you do it alone.  PM me if you want another pep talk or photos.    (I love to travel!). 

And, just for the record, I am TOTALLY impressed with your 14 hour IM finish!! 



2007-04-24 2:26 PM
in reply to: #774887

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Master
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Subject: RE: I need help making a big decision
Congratulations on the IM finish! If I were you, I would travel. You can resume training when you are situated back at home and working again.
2007-04-24 2:26 PM
in reply to: #774887

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over a barrier
Subject: RE: I need help making a big decision
I don't enjoying traveling so traveling wouldn't interest me for 1/2 year YIKES!....but IM WA is still traveling just not as bad.

Tri Bike and IM
2007-04-24 2:26 PM
in reply to: #774887

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Subject: RE: I need help making a big decision
Travel.  You can stay in shape while you travel and pick things up again when you  return.  I am old and totally committed (married, kids, job) and regret that I didn't travel more when I could.  Lived six years in Europe and still want more stamps in my passport.
2007-04-24 2:28 PM
in reply to: #774887

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Master
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Subject: RE: I need help making a big decision

I'd get my best friend (or significant other) and go sit on the beach in Belize for at least a month. You can travel all over Central America/Mexico from there if you want. $15K goes a loooooooong way there as well.

 

2007-04-24 2:32 PM
in reply to: #774887

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Abilene, Texas
Subject: RE: I need help making a big decision
"Go travel for 1/2 year to a year. Note: benefits of training will be loss"

Do you mean to say that if you travel your training will be LOST?


2007-04-24 2:33 PM
in reply to: #774887

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Champion
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Subject: RE: I need help making a big decision
do all of them,,

what I usually do when I get a nice lump some of cash, is divide it into thirds, so one part goes into my IRA, another into my daughters college fund, and the rest for me which is usually a cool trip.

Would your job be more tolerable if you were taking at least one cool trip a year for a couple weeks, what if you did an IM on a different continent? that way you would be training and taking a trip abroad at the same time.??

I would definately take a chuck of the cash and stash it for a rainy day..

gary
2007-04-24 2:33 PM
in reply to: #774887

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Subject: RE: I need help making a big decision

Travel, if you don't do it now, you may never have another opportunity like this.  By the way great time on the IM!!!

Adios
Dave
 

2007-04-24 2:35 PM
in reply to: #774887

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Master
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Falls Church, Virginia
Subject: RE: I need help making a big decision
What would I do? Get the bike and do the IM. I'm more of a homebody, and travel doesn't really appeal to me. At least not for 1/2 a year. A can see moving somewhere else, or traveling for a shorter period of time, but 6 months traveling sounds so daunting to me. Enjoy your cash!
2007-04-24 2:36 PM
in reply to: #774887

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Master
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Subject: RE: I need help making a big decision
Buy the tribike, then travel where you can with what's left. Best of both worlds.. you know you have to come back to something right? Why not come back to a shiny new tri bike to begin training and setting your next round of goals.. otherwise, I see a serious depression setting in upon your return.. lots of good memories and experiences, but no beautiful tri bike companion to welcome you home.
In short, do both. 15k is a lot of money. 3k on a 07 Felt B2, then 12k left to travel.. what's not to like about that scenario?
2007-04-24 2:37 PM
in reply to: #774887

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Subject: RE: I need help making a big decision
Ok you guys are helping me out already. Travel is what I have wanted to do. (and planned on.) I've just been getting a big case of the willies about actually doing it. (I will be going solo.) You guys are giving me some courage.

I've also been lamenting not being able to build on my fitness while travelling. I know I will be able to maintain with running, and if i'm lucky, some swimming. It's hard to give it all up though.

I've also really been wanting a new tri bike.

Edited by robin314159 2007-04-24 2:38 PM


2007-04-24 2:39 PM
in reply to: #774937

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Subject: RE: I need help making a big decision
atl_runner - 2007-04-24 12:36 PM

Buy the tribike, then travel where you can with what's left. Best of both worlds.. you know you have to come back to something right? Why not come back to a shiny new tri bike to begin training and setting your next round of goals.. otherwise, I see a serious depression setting in upon your return.. lots of good memories and experiences, but no beautiful tri bike companion to welcome you home.
In short, do both. 15k is a lot of money. 3k on a 07 Felt B2, then 12k left to travel.. what's not to like about that scenario?


Good point. You think 07 Felt b2 is the way to go?
2007-04-24 2:39 PM
in reply to: #774887

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Subject: RE: I need help making a big decision

A few years ago I took 3 months off work and went hiking in the woods.  It was the one of the best choices I have ever made.  I have so many great memories of that 3 month trip, it makes years in a cubicle bearable.

 You have plenty of time to work and make money.  See the world now while you are free of responsibility.

2007-04-24 2:41 PM
in reply to: #774887

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Subject: RE: I need help making a big decision
Both?  Ride your new tri bike across Australia.
2007-04-24 2:41 PM
in reply to: #774887

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Subject: RE: I need help making a big decision
How old are you?

In my situation, I'd pay off any debt I had (if there is any) before I'd ever consider using that money for other purposes.

Then I'd ask myself whether my retirement portfolio was in order for real-world expenses when I want to retire.

THEN I'd consider the question you're asking. And for me, $15 wouldn't go far if it meant living off it for several months.

So I'd go ahead with the bike, thinking maye 3-4K there, and the rest using toward coaching, training, etc. Maybe travel to a destination race...
2007-04-24 2:42 PM
in reply to: #774901

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Subject: RE: I need help making a big decision

Yellow_Dawg - 2007-04-24 1:20 PM If it were me I would not be all that impressed with my 14+ hour IM finishing time. I'd use the time and money to get fast but maybe that's just me.

 

Yeah, I mean you just did something less than 0.01% of the population have done.  Don't be proud, feel bad you're not as fast as yellow dawg...

 You're awesome, I'm not big on traveling, I'm all about toys toys toys



2007-04-24 2:42 PM
in reply to: #774887

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Subject: RE: I need help making a big decision
First, awesome job on the IM-- that's something I can only dream about accomplishing right now.

I would definitely train for the the Australia IM, then hang out down under afterward for a good several weeks. Oz is a huge country with much to see-- and once you make that 14-hour flight from LA to Sydney you'll want to spend a lot of time there.

My wife and I spent 28 days in Australia and didn't even feel like we really scratched the surface. We now have two kids and we still do a fair amount of international travel (yep, with the kids), but you'll likely never have this opportunity to travel so freely again until you're at retirement age. Take the time to get it in now.

Edited by scoobysdad 2007-04-24 2:52 PM
2007-04-24 2:42 PM
in reply to: #774947

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Subject: RE: I need help making a big decision

robin314159 - 2007-04-24 2:39 PM

Good point. You think 07 Felt b2 is the way to go?

You can get a LOT of bike for $3k regardless of the manufacturer! Get a good bike box and take it with on some of your travels! Either way, go see the world. This opportunity may not present itself down the road.

Cheers!

Tom 

2007-04-24 2:43 PM
in reply to: #774937

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Subject: RE: I need help making a big decision

I would go with IMWA and a new bike. FWIW, I am a single, 27-year-old female. Also, I do not consider $15K enough on which to quit my job and go travel for half a year...but that's just me. I am told I am cheap.

I LOVE traveling, but am all for pursuing all my tri goals now while I am young, healthy, and single. Besides, the tri stuff interests me more at this point. A trip to Australia to do an IM sounds far more exciting to me than a trip to anywhere in the world to site see (at least right now). But you have to choose the option that excites you the most. Do you get more excited when thinking about traveling the world or trekking around Asia or South American; or when thinking about training for another IM and traveling to Australia to complete it?

2007-04-24 2:45 PM
in reply to: #774887

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Subject: RE: I need help making a big decision

Hey Ironman!! 

I went to Australia for LC Worlds last November and it was AWESOME!!  At the Hostel and on the scuba trip we took, we ran into several 20 somethings that were on travel for 6 months or so.  They would get money by working at a mango 'plantation' for a couple of weeks and stay in a hostel.  You can do things on the cheap if you look hard enough. 

My recommendation:  Buy the Tri bike, train for IM WA and spend 2-3 weeks travelling around Australia after the race.  I wouldn't travel before if you want to do well.  I learned that.  :P

And for all that is holy, take Quantas not United if you're leaving from the states.  Trust me on this one.

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