[RC] The cost to riders - Tracey SmithGreat topic Angie! Unfortunately even before the devastation and rising gas prices fueled by hurricane Katrina I had begun to "re-think" my ride plans for next year. I compete in both CTR and endurance and this year, primarily due to a job change and not having time off I had to pick and choose between the two sports based on what rides were closest to me. Next year since I will have the vacation time available I had honestly hoped to get to some of the out of Texas rides I'd really been wanting to do. With costs like they are though, it looks as though I will be picking and choosing based on distance and whether or not I have a "hauling buddy" next year too. I am going out of town to ride with some friends this weekend for Labor Day and diesel fuel alone for the trip will cost me minimum $150!!! And that is just going from Fort Worth Texas to Killeen...just a 4 hour drive. So, the costs will cause me to 1. go to either endurance or CTR's based on which are closest to me and 2. try to have someone to share fuel costs with whenever possible. I do have one friend who I share hauling with quite often as she does not have a towing vehicle so we take my truck, her trailer and split costs on fuel. I plan to work on meeting more folks at rides so maybe I can develop one or two more "hauling buddies" as doubling up may be the only way many of us can do this sport for a while. I am making other concessions too...tightening my belt and taking my lunch to work (much cheaper) and doing every little thing to save a penny so I can continue to afford my horses and my sport. Maybe we should start a new thread...on how to "squeeze a dime" as I suspect many others are doing these things too. Tracey =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net. Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp Ride Long and Ride Safe!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
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