Mountain Biking, Espresso, Photography, Travel, Fish, and Palindromes

"If money wasn't a factor…”  This is the poor dreamer’s adage.   Six little words (in this case four words, a contraction, and an ellipse) that cry, “Shiny, new, desire”! This is a simple expression of desire to attain that which is fiscally unattainable.  With that said, if money wasn't a factor…my new 29er full suspension mountain bike would be a Santa Cruz Tallboy C with the SPXXC292X10 kit (Shimano XT all around paired with a 2x10 drive train . This isn't Santa Cruz’s cheapest 29er, but it isn't their most expensive either.  Its middle-to-high end components on a carbon frame.  Unfortunately for me, at $5500-6000 a middle/high end Tallboy is still $2500-3000 higher than my budget. Those same components on a Santa Cruz aluminum frame would still be $1500-2000 more than my $3000 threshold.  Determined, I decided to compare other bike models that fall within my budget to see what kind of wallop I can ...

I am really close to someone who suffers from a disorder that I classify as obsessive-passion syndrome (although it’s more of a “hobby-accumulation trait” than a true medical disorder.) My friend’s real problem is that he has more interests than he has time or money...and every few months he finds something new to do, become, have, or see.  Mountain bikes with 29 inch wheels, high-end espresso grinders, DSLR cameras with associated accessories, vacations, cichlids, and words read the same backwards as they are forwards…nothing is safe from this obsession. To this end, my friend spends hours studying any information that he can garner on the topic du jour.  He researches researcher’s research.  He reads expert opinions and consumer reviews to determine which brands and models are the best.  He scours the internet to discover the best prices. Then he creates beautiful spreadsheets with components, sub-components, specifications, and the best price for each mo...