You are hereWhat will you do with Kevin Rudd's cash handout?

What will you do with Kevin Rudd's cash handout?


Buck's picture

By Buck - Posted on 04 February 2009

Buy lots of bike bling for your current bike
25% (15 votes)
Save, invest it or something else sensible
18% (11 votes)
Help pay for N+1
13% (8 votes)
Blow it on some big nights out
0% (0 votes)
Not sure yet
10% (6 votes)
I earn too much to get the cash handout!
33% (20 votes)
Total votes: 60
unclebullbar's picture

Thanks to K-Rudd (hopefully - please be kind in the Senate Liberals), I will finally be able to save the big Trek for the dirt and get myself a bike for my commute to school (work) each day. Background info - the ride is approx 13km each way, fairly flat and straight with a couple of climbs, really bad roads (potholes, gravel, glass, constant roadworks, and today I saw the remnants of one of those road-spike devices the cops use to catch baddies) and with a planned move overseas this year (Capital City somewhere around the world...), I need an everyday low maintenance bike that will handle my 6 ft 2, 100+kg frame. I borrowed a mates single speed conversion bike for a few weeks and I think it is they way to go. Here are the options I am looking at:

- CHARGE Duster SS - sweet looking chromoly rigid mountain bike. Pros: forgiving steel, disc brakes, easy to get slicks and tubes for it's 26 inch wheels and there is the chance of using it off-road for rides with mates when bike numbers are low

- Kona Unit 29er - Pros: discs again, larger wheels may go faster on road(?), off road adventurers may be a bit more fun than the Charge. How easy is it to get slicks for 29ers?

- Kona Paddy wagon - single speed old school roady should go a bit faster and may be more comfy on the road, but how will I go with punctures, potholes, gutters and will the wheels withstand my weight?

- Giant Bowery - as above with Alu frame, but a cheaper option. I like the look of the Bowery Mashup, but that doesn't appear to be heading to Aus.

- Trek Soho S - single speed hybrid, puncture resistant tyres, rubber top tube guard to withstand locking to bike racks, looks boring so may be less appealing to thieves. Decent price too.

Or the Brownie Points option: get the Warden a Kona Lisa 120 for her 30th Birthday, and turn her bike, my old Giant Talon in to a single speeder. Will she appreciate this and/or will I cop grief from her friends for this sort of present? Ladies, would you dig this gift?

Feedback appreciated, especially if you or your friends have one of these rigs.
BWOAR!

Alysum's picture

I thought you were selling your car and everything to go back to UK?

Earlier this year I was also looking at SS for commuting; I got interested in the Giant Bowery but it felt a bit cheap and not so good looking. I haven't tried any of them yet as my plan is delayed.

Some of the other SS bikes you may want to checkout:
* Felt Dispatch - very nice looking bike with a carbon fork, approx $1100. I went to CycleWorld to look at it and the guy told me to come back when they have some of the next 2 to compare
* SE Lager
* Schwinn Madison

Those 3 are, I believe top quality SS and definitely over $1000 at this time of the year so it depends on your budget... The Kona Paddy Wagon is also in the mix. I'm sure the Specialized addicts here will throw in the Langster but it's even more expensive than the rest.

Oh and if you ever pickup an old bike from a council collection, paint it and convert it like many have done on http://fixedgeargallery.com/ - some truly beautiful bikes on there.

Hope this helps!
Tom

lozza6's picture

I'll take my cash... order something online and get it shipped in from overseas, no duty.

Just what our economy needed. Great place for our 8 billion dollars of taxpayer $$ to go.. overseas never to be seen again Smiling

Bernd's picture

Lozza u r so on the ball, and a lot of it will go (thats Aussie?) into VB!
I'll take mine to Germany (Mrs Merkel will be happy!), to pay for my white sidewall tyres, the Rohloff chain and the white bar end's!!!
Bernd

Brian's picture

That's ok lozza, I mean they keep reminding us it's a Global Financial Crisis Smiling

lozza6's picture

is caring Smiling

Hot Rod's picture

I think KRudd has got the right idea but his Labor allegiances are going to make him implement the solution poorly i.e he will give the money to mainly nuff-nuff’s.

This aim of the handouts is to stimulate the economy via spend on goods which creates demand for materials and labour, which has a multiplier effect rippling through the economy.

Don’t give the money to the poor, those with big mortgages or pensioners, they will just pay it off their already huge mortgages, save it for a rainy day or gamble it away. This will result in the stimulus package not working and the whole country going into a deeper recession.

The money needs to go to those who will spend it, i.e. those who are well off and therefore not worried about the recession and the young who don’t have mortgages or other worries.

Krudd – give the money to those who will spend it.

That's my opinion FWIW

Roger Roger

kurt's picture

Just need 9 more handouts and the Demo 8 is mine
hahahahahhhaha

lorrie's picture
lozza6's picture

Stimulus Info... "This year, taxpayers will receive an Economic Stimulus Payment. This is a very exciting new program that I will explain using the Q and A format:

Q. What is an Economic Stimulus Payment?
A. It is money that the federal government will send to taxpayers.

Q. Where will the government get this money?
A. From taxpayers.

Q. So the government is giving me back my own money?
A. Only a smidgen.

Q. What is the purpose of this payment?
A. The plan is that you will use the money to purchase a high-definition TV set, thus stimulating the economy.

Q. But isn't that stimulating the economy of China?
A. Shut up.

Below is some helpful advice on how to best help the Australian economy by spending your stimulus check wisely: If you spend that money at Target, all the money will go to China .
If you spend it on Petrol it will go to the Arabs.
If you purchase a computer it will go to India ..
If you buy a car it will go to Japan .
If you purchase useless crap it will go to Taiwan ..

And none of it will help the Australian economy. We need to keep that money here in Australia . You can keep the money here by spending it at yard sales, going to a footy game, or spend it on prostitutes, beer and wine (domestic ONLY), or tattoos, since those are the only businesses still in this country.

PIVOT MACH 5's picture

Smiling

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