My cash is being drained by my bikes....

A while ago I bought a new ultegra chain, $35 for my workhorse. I bought the matching bib shorts ($65) to go with the ocbc jersey. My 2nd-hand floor pump ($37 a few years ago) became spoilt again (repaired it once about 1yr ago @$5), and I destroyed it while trying to 'force' it to work. Got a new one, same model but updated version ($65).

Now I'm still looking at replacing the rear jockey wheels of my workhorse. In case you are wondering, jockey wheels are the small little wheels that guide the chain through the rear derailleur. The rear derailleur is the thing that thing behind your bike that moves the chain when you switch gears... They are definitely worn out, and I don't want to destroy the new chain.

Anyway, few bike shops are interested in catering to the needs of practical folk like me. I mean, if you sell bikes, shouldn't you sell the spares and parts that might get worn out? Apparently, not. I popped into Tay Junction trying to find replacement jockey wheels, and they tell me they only have the ceramic one costing $160!!! I ask for the cheapest rear derailleur (whic comes with the jockey wheels) and it's the 105 rear derailluer (1 grade above my current) at $95.

Other dumb things at another bike shop. The cheapest pair of jockey wheels are going at like $35. The tiagra rear derailleur costs $45. Looks like this will be my choice (although they say the jockey wheel quality is lower, but to me it;s about the same)...

Other KIV list:
-training tires for my extra wheelset, to replace the one i ripped when I ran over the glass bottle shard...
-race tires, to replace my current michelin pro2 race tires on my race bike. it's about time the thing gave way man. I wonder why it hasn't. It's been really really reliable.

Oh yah, about that $65 floor pump I just bought. The exact same thing was going at $98 at Tays.... wth.

Enough ranting. back to the real world...