Bike Week

[TiltonBB]

The city proclaimed that Bike Week was a success this year with great weather and large crowds.

I was in the Weirs area every day and the crowds and traffic still seem to be less every year, including this year. Coupled with the fact that there were numerous accidents, including three fatalities, I am not quite sure that I would be so quick to call it a success. I guess it depends on your perspective.

https://www.laconiadailysun.com/news...7ae6d5824.html

[thinkxingu]

Originally Posted by TiltonBB

The city proclaimed that Bike Week was a success this year with great weather and large crowds.

I was in the Weirs area every day and the crowds and traffic still seem to be less every year, including this year. Coupled with the fact that there were numerous accidents, including three fatalities, I am not quite sure that I would be so quick to call it a success. I guess it depends on your perspective.

https://www.laconiadailysun.com/news...7ae6d5824.html

One of the fatalities was in Hampstead, not sure I'd consider that part of "Bike Week." Though the arrests were up, even with reportedly lower LEO levels... In any case, Laconia HD said 30% of their business comes this week, which is huge, and the quote about, "even 5,000 visitors means 5,000 more to the area" is an interesting point.

In the end, though I don't ride, I think it's a cool event that, with some investment--both for the week and area as a whole--could be even better.

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[8gv]

Back to the cost of living factors...

1975 had no cell phone bills

1975 had no internet service provider bills

1975 health insurance was much cheaper

1975 people ate out much less

1975 was the year I graduated high school and probably the last year in which I had no concern about finances.

[noreast]

Originally Posted by 8gv

Back to the cost of living factors...

1975 had no cell phone bills

1975 had no internet service provider bills

1975 health insurance was much cheaper

1975 people ate out much less

1975 was the year I graduated high school and probably the last year in which I had no concern about finances.

Exactly right, Health insurance cost more than a mortgage use to, If you're self employed it's double, triple or more of what a mortgage cost in the 80's. The mortgage has also tripled at minimum, along with the tax, It's an absurd argument.

[Biggd]

Originally Posted by noreast

Exactly right, Health insurance cost more than a mortgage use to, If you're self employed it's double, triple or more of what a mortgage cost in the 80's. The mortgage has also tripled at minimum, along with the tax, It's an absurd argument.

Back in the 80's when my kids were young I had the best health insurance plan for $8000 a year. I paid zero out of my pocket other than a ten dollar co pay and my monthly insurance charge. It covered everything with no deductibles.
A family plan now is 4 times that with $25 co pays and $4000 deductibles for each person. That's insane!
I'm a year away from Medicare and it will cost me more at 65 to get less coverage for just me and my wife than it cost for complete coverage back then when I had a family of 5.

[Phantom]

From Bike Week ( Thread Title)

to

Cost of Living


I just laugh at how fast & how many threads get wayyyyyyyy off topic and spiral into the abys



.

[thinkxingu]

Originally Posted by Phantom

From Bike Week ( Thread Title)

to

Cost of Living


I just laugh at how fast & how many threads get wayyyyyyyy off topic and spiral into the abys



.

The OP asked about this year's crowds. A working thesis is that Bike Week attendance is declining because the younger generation cannot afford as many/as pricey activities.

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[Phantom]

Originally Posted by thinkxingu

The OP asked about this year's crowds. The working thesis is that Bike Week attendance is declining because the younger generation cannot afford as many/as pricey activities.

Sent from my Moto G (5S) Plus using Tapatalk

Thinkxingu -- respectfully, if THAT is the working thesis -- someone better explain it to my grown "children" who have houses/cars/ a phone & tablet for every household member/ vacation plans blah, blah, blah -- which I quite frankly stand in AWE of as I see no care or consideration being given to their kids (my grand kids) who will -within a few years- be of college age.

Perhaps my age/ Generation is showing -- but I too digress -- the working thesis that "Bike Week attendance is declining because the younger generation cannot afford as many/as pricey activities". I beg to differ -- they simply don't give a crap about Bike Week -- thus why most attendee's are silver haired !!




.

[jetskier]

Originally Posted by Phantom

Thinkxingu -- respectfully, if THAT is the working thesis -- someone better explain it to my grown "children" who have houses/cars/ a phone & tablet for every household member/ vacation plans blah, blah, blah -- which I quite frankly stand in AWE of as I see no care or consideration being given to their kids (my grand kids) who will -within a few years- be of college age.

Perhaps my age/ Generation is showing -- but I too digress -- the working thesis that "Bike Week attendance is declining because the younger generation cannot afford as many/as pricey activities". I beg to differ -- they simply don't give a crap about Bike Week -- thus why most attendee's are silver haired !!




.

Exactly right. I work with a number of associates right out of school...they are bright but culturally quite different than our generation.

1. For the most part they prefer to live in Boston. They want everything within walking or public transportation reach.
2. They don't even own cars...many of them don't have a license and others (who do) don't actively drive.
3. Social interaction is different than our generation...technology and local interests define social interaction and they tend to stay within bounds.
4. They do make decent money, however their spending choices are much different than ours (were). In some cases, rent and student loans limit disposable income...in other cases motorcycles and bike week are not in their generational interests.

Just my observations.

Jetskier

[Mr. V]

BW is over: how'd it go?

Boom, bust, or ??

[Biggd]

Originally Posted by jetskier

Exactly right. I work with a number of associates right out of school...they are bright but culturally quite different than our generation.

1. For the most part they prefer to live in Boston. They want everything within walking or public transportation reach.
2. They don't even own cars...many of them don't have a license and others (who do) don't actively drive.
3. Social interaction is different than our generation...technology and local interests define social interaction and they tend to stay within bounds.
4. They do make decent money, however their spending choices are much different than ours (were). In some cases, rent and student loans limit disposable income...in other cases motorcycles and bike week are not in their generational interests.

Just my observations.

Jetskier

In most cases their work is different also. The majority of them don't work with their hands, they work with their minds.
Our generation was the mechanical generation, theirs is the electronics generation. We dreamt of building things. They dream of buying things, but not motorcycles.
They don't want to get their hands dirty. Invest in companies that produce hand sanitizer.
Those are my observations.

[MAXUM]

Originally Posted by Biggd

We dreamt of building things. They dream of buying things.
They don't want to get their hands dirty. Invest in companies that produce hand sanitizer.
Those are my observations.

Astute observation which is why the blue collar trades as a whole are not considered a viable career option, fewer are doing it these days and kids are indoctrinated to think a higher education and a "professional" job is the only way to be successful. In fact many of those highly educated trend to smugly look down on these folks as second class citizens which is a shame. Just because somebody makes a living with their hands doesn't mean they are any less of a human as a result and I would argue many are quite talented in what they do even if they can't write a single line of computer code or aren't the best at calculating their balance sheets.

Funny thing is the guys in the trades are making as much if not more than a lot of so called "professional" jobs.

[joey2665]

Originally Posted by MAXUM

Astute observation which is why the blue collar trades as a whole are not considered a viable career option, fewer are doing it these days and kids are indoctrinated to think a higher education and a "professional" job is the only way to be successful. In fact many of those highly educated trend to smugly look down on these folks as second class citizens which is a shame. Just because somebody makes a living with their hands doesn't mean they are any less of a human as a result and I would argue many are quite talented in what they do even if they can't write a single line of computer code or aren't the best at calculating their balance sheets.

Funny thing is the guys in the trades are making as much if not more than a lot of so called "professional" jobs.

Correct and then they moan and complain when they have to pay a plumber or electrician their hourly rates and the less people coming into the trades like these will mean even higher costs for these services.

[jbolty]

Originally Posted by MAXUM

Astute observation which is why the blue collar trades as a whole are not considered a viable career option, fewer are doing it these days and kids are indoctrinated to think a higher education and a "professional" job is the only way to be successful. In fact many of those highly educated trend to smugly look down on these folks as second class citizens which is a shame. Just because somebody makes a living with their hands doesn't mean they are any less of a human as a result and I would argue many are quite talented in what they do even if they can't write a single line of computer code or aren't the best at calculating their balance sheets.

Funny thing is the guys in the trades are making as much if not more than a lot of so called "professional" jobs.

Not only are they making as much or more but they get started in their career years earlier and without a bunch of student loan debt. Mike Rowe has been pitching the trades as a career for years. Just look at all the threads here from people desperate to hire a contractor.

[Poor Richard]

From bike week to financial advice to....

[Major]

I think Jetskier nailed it. I see it with my kids. No interest in boating, motorcycling, snowmobiling, even though I tried hard to get them to do like and enjoy these activities. When we were kids, we used to build forts, go-karts, motorized bikes. We had three channels on TV (five if you include 38 and 56) and no video games. Kids now are more interested in technology. I grew up in the Weirs where my parents owned cottages along Weirs Boulevard, and have been a part of Bike Week for 40+ years. I don't think economics has anything to do with the lack of interest in Bike Week. Changing interests is the reason.

[tis]

It is so true. We desperately need kids to go into the trades. Also, there is such a truck driver shortage that the warehouses are backing up. Somebody needs to pay attention to this problem. Maybe perception needs to be swayed? I do hear a lot more lately about kids shouldn't go to college just to go to college.

[kawishiwi]

There are big changes afoot in the economy that are accelerating. Production of goods gets cheaper while provision of services is becoming more expensive. Simple services/labor will be taken over by automation while skilled services are in greater demand and at greater cost. The changes are happening too fast for many folks to adapt to. There is a skilled tradesman gap that isnt being filled yet even as many other jobs require greater secondary education & computer skills. Health care sits at the nexus of greater education needs and skilled service so the cost of it is exploding. Truck drivers are about to be replaced by automation. Burger flippers & floor sweepers same thing. Skilled craftsman and direct personal care not so much.

[kawishiwi]

The dwindling attendance at bike week may be due to a transition of hobbies of younger folks. As mentioned earlier 3 tv channels & no social media made for more exploratory fun. While bass fishing is a new high school sport! the population of fishermen is becoming a more graybeard dominated thing. Wherever I've fished with my teenage son we've been enough of an 'oddity' to make strangers comment how nice it it to see a father & son fishing together. Even got a similar comment at AJs when I was there with my son. This was a common thing to see when I was young. Also now there seems to be many more solitary people fishing in boats these days. I think the outdoors is losing out to the indoors poulated by electronics....

[Woody38]

We didn't stay for the full week of Bike Week. I and the dogs love the rumble of the bikes. Back at home I have met several who attended bike week on the weekend but alas had to work during the week. I met one young man who won his bike in the raffle.
On another count, we always bought things when we could pay cash. So after many years seeing my F-I-L buying a car every 2 years or so after paying off the loan, I wised up. Credit allows all sorts of purchases altho we pay cash for autos. Also keep them long time, putting 1,2,3 hundred thousand miles on each. One had 330 thousand + and was replaced only because I told my wife I wanted to make it new, new paint, replacing some interior leather. No problems with the engine. We were coming home and she said "drive to the dealer". Heck, just so happened that an auto just arrived that we both loved. So we bought that and donated ours to charity.
Drove that one for open air on weekends mostly until another one entered our view. Guess what. No, the old one was not donated. Given to our son since these stay in families. I got off subject, using credit was a boon
to financial well being.

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I am a retired workaholic and continuing aquaholic