I feel ya RA, I'm pretty much the last guy runnin' 2x, can't get a squeak out out of the rear brake and fork needs a re-build. I like the bike but on one hand I don't have the time to wrench like I used to and hate to keep dumping money and time into a 7 year old bike that's been ridden hard. On the other I don't feel like spending $3,500+ for essentially the same bike....
Went to the Ski Company today in the Cuse while runnin errands. Talked with Jimmy, a long time ski team coach for Colgate. He fixed my boots a couple years ago as I had wore too thick socks at times and screwed the liner a bit and he had fixed it with some super duct tape to allow me to get em on and off with correct socks without doing further damage. He said he hasn’t seen the supply chain inventory for ski goods this bad in his life. They appeared to have lots of skis and clothes though.
The struggle is real!
My observation on the scene in NJ is a lot of older white guys 50+ crowd, some have gotten their kids into NICA and for those types its becoming a family thing. I've definitely seen the Filipino crews, yes they always ride in crews at least 10 deep, always 1 fat bike and can confirm that the rest are on Yeti's and SC spec'd out to the nines. I feel like all those dudes have to be single with decent pocket change, their Tacoma's and 4Runners are spec'd out "overland" rigs also done up to the nines. So from my perspective its less a white privilege thing and more of a hyper consumerist pissing contest between bros. I hate mountain bike "culture" and where it's headed yet am fully entrenched.
There is a reason that the term "tween" has become part of a parent's vocabulary. Can start by age 7 although supposedly 8-12. Lucky for me I did some reading by the time my daughter was 6.
