Looking for Gear, Equipment Investment Hacks + "De-Influencers"

Really grateful to see “de-influencing” and “underconsumption core” trends finally surfacing across social media promoting the fact we don’t need to constantly be purchasing the latest season of apparel and gear, or, going into debt or wasteful behaviors by stacking up the priciest of gadgets. I’m wondering if anyone knows of any athletes/coaches who would be good to follow online that promote de-influencing in the endurance sports space or who have hacks on how we can be more budget-friendly/less wasteful?

Thanks!

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You’d do well to get involved with riding brevets. It’s an almost curmudgeon lot, who ride the bike they got second hand in the 1970/80s, navigate via instructions printed on pieces of paper, and wear clothing that has seen use for the best part of a few decades.

The problem is, that most of us are decidedly not in the influence space. Many of us are not on social media (if you exclude cycling forums). We don’t film ourselves. We don’t do podcasts. We don’t foist our views on others. We just get on with our endurance hobby, quietly and unassuming.

The first bit is a stereotype, but it is true we are a very accepting type, and the cost / value or material of your bike, or the clothing you wear will not be noticed. Its mostly the quirky things that are both noticed and celebrated.

A good description of riders on brevets is “ordinary people doing extraordinary things”. You’d be surprised at the wide range of bikes and equipment it’s successfully completed on.