ebike dilemma

[redpoint5]

I wouldn't bother with fairings unless you're going for a speed record since that commute is so short. Perhaps a small rack in the back would make the bike more useful for other trips as well.

I also wouldn't bother with school unless there is a career goal that requires a specific diploma.

Good call on just riding a regular bike. I'm all for tinkering, but that is best done with disposable money, not student loan money.

[Grant-53]

Sorry redpoint5 I disagree. I do coast down testing under 20 mph. I got a two year degree in manufacturing with out loans.

[M_a_t_t]

I usually have to have something I am messing with, otherwise I tend to buy something I don't really need. I will probably experiment with coroplast fairings and a rear rack, just to keep me busy if nothing else.

It's my sophomore year, and so far I haven't needed a loan. Hopefully it will continue to go smoothly.

[puddleglum]

Grant-53, do you have a album on here or a link to a thread with pictures of your fairings? I haven't had any success finding pictures of your work. I'd be interested in seeing what you've done.

[redpoint5]

Originally Posted by Grant-53

Sorry redpoint5 I disagree. I do coast down testing under 20 mph. I got a two year degree in manufacturing with out loans.

I'm not saying that fairings won't help, just that a "2.5 mi each way with minor hills" commute should be easily doable by a reasonably healthy and able-bodied person. The extra wind resistance can just be viewed as extra training.

When did you obtain your degree, and would you consider it necessary to your line of work?

My point is that "education" often has a double cost. First is the cost of tuition, books, fees, etc, and these are often financed with interest bearing student loans. Second is the cost of lost time in the labor market where you would be earning money, work experience, and seniority. Sure, there are plenty of people that work while in school, but those jobs are rarely useful towards the students ultimate career goals.

Knowledge is practically free these days, and the old system of institutionalized learning is becoming less relevant, except for certain careers which have a particular requirement.

I just put my wife through 2 years of $40k/yr physician assistant program. We borrowed no money for this education. The cost of the education is necessary to be a PA, and makes economic sense considering the 1st year salary will cover the 2 year cost of school. I don't have a degree; my career field doesn't require one and doesn't value it much.

[Xist]

Hi, Mr. Off Topic here. I work as an assistant and my supervisor keeps saying that she and her colleagues do not necessarily earn as much as I want to believe. I pulled up 305 job openings in the Phoenix area and said we can work where we want. She made a big deal out of this being the wrong career to pursue for the money and the people she knows that tried left, but took their student loans with them.

It just so happens that I chose the job that offered me the most pay, but I was only offered two, and there was no way I could have paid my bills with the other one.

Do you feel it is reasonable to find a compromise between the job you want and paying all of your bills? I could definitely see myself taking a job that paid more, but I enjoyed less, until I paid off my student loans.

I apologize for the distraction. Please enjoy your day!

[Grant-53]

I am 64 yr old and got my degree at a community college mid career to keep current in 1993. My one daughter graduated there and two sons are doing the same now. One daughter and our daughter-in-law attended a 4 year program at private colleges and they have the debt load their husbands have helped pay off. Our oldest son joined the Army out of high school and is getting a business degree online while working in IT. He earned Microsoft certifications studying during guard shifts. If you want to teach in NYS one needs a Master's degree. It does come down to value management and a vigorous reading program is important in every profession - even customer service entry level jobs.

As part of a modern transportation system being able to cover 25 miles in under an hour without needing to shower is a major game changer. The goal is to reduce the CdA by up to half on a common commuter bike. This is comparable to other ecomodder projects. Potential market world wide is roughly estimated at 500 million riders. Whether one is interested in reducing pollution, crowding, traffic deaths, or obesity there are gains to be made by aeromodding. If one is training for a sanctioned event then resistance training is beneficial.

[redpoint5]

My wife had about $10k in student loan debt for her bachelor's in biology when we married, which is not bad for a 4 year degree at a private school. She was making between $14 and $10/hr 4 years post graduation. I paid off the loans immediately with the sizable savings I had accumulated from working a $17/hr job for the past decade. A job I got with no formal related education and no degree, but with work experience as an intern.

Her first job as a PA will likely start her around $90k.

As an aside, I could easily provide for both her and myself on a single minimum wage salary.

My grandfather always used to stress the importance of obtaining a degree, any degree, to be "successful". That was more true of his day, but 4-year degrees are worth vastly less than they used to be worth. With how commonplace a degree has become, and with the skyrocketing cost of obtaining a degree (and the ease of self-learning), the old wisdom no longer applies.

Originally Posted by Xist

Do you feel it is reasonable to find a compromise between the job you want and paying all of your bills? I could definitely see myself taking a job that paid more, but I enjoyed less, until I paid off my student loans.

Yes, of course. If everyone "did what they love", there would be about 10 plumbers in the entire US.

It's often detrimental for people to constantly hear that they should be working at a job they absolutely love. I say, do what you're good at, decide to love it, and continue to pursue both work and hobbies that you enjoy.

... and didn't Uncle Sam pay for your education?

[Grant-53]

See "Working" by Studs Terkel. Just attended a town hall meeting with our state legislators. They are interested in updating our NYS laws on motorized bicycles. I will be making recommendations for bills so any ideas you may have, I will be interested.

I could use some suggestions on posting Google photo files or some other means of posting my pictures. I will respond to e-mail sent to endlesstailwinds@gmail.com in the mean time.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/7BmEMZGuUUu5bH9N2

[Grant-53]

I can now use Google photos to post pictures. Whoopee! So I added a link to the 9/20 post #29.
Just applied for a QA/QC Technician job. Years ago I got the degree through my unemployment benefits.