u/Triathlonlover

I've been doing quite a bit of research over the last couple of days, as I recently got my first job as a part-time student worker. Since I don't get a huge number of hours and my hourly pay isn't particularly high, I'm trying to be careful with my money and build up a sustainable, high-quality, budget-conscious gear setup over time.

I'm still fairly inexperienced with all of this, so I'd really appreciate some advice on whether I'm making sensible choices with my money, what I should prioritise, and whether there are any better-value alternatives I should consider.

At the moment, this is the order I'm thinking of buying things in:

Look Keo 3 Classic pedals I currently use SPD pedals with a pair of fairly expensive shoes that are actually designed for SPD-SL cleats. I didn't realise the two systems weren't compatible when I bought them, so I've been using SPD cleats with them for now. However, I don't really want to risk damaging the shoes, so I'm hoping to switch to the correct pedal and cleat setup without having to buy another pair of shoes.

Wahoo KICKR CORE 2 This would be a big investment for me, but I think an indoor trainer would be really useful for consistent training, especially during bad weather.

Van Rysel RCR-R bib shorts

Van Rysel RCR-R jersey

Van Rysel RCR-X trisuit

Van Rysel undershirt + aero socks

Van Rysel RCR-F MIPS helmet

Canyon Endurace CF 8 Di2 This is obviously much further down the priority list. I currently have a 2011 Cube LTD 29 with clip-on aerobars, and it's working perfectly well for training, so I don't feel any need to upgrade my bike anytime soon.

Wetsuit + Speedo racing goggles I haven't researched specific models yet, so I'd appreciate any recommendations here as well.

Race shoes + orthotics I have very flat, but flexible arches, and the only running shoes I've found that consistently allow me to run without issues are the Xero Prio. I'd love to find a good pair of running shoes specifically for race day, but I still need to do more research. Recommendations for shoes that work well for people with very flat feet would be greatly appreciated.

I'm mainly looking for advice on whether this is a sensible order of priorities, if there are any items I should skip or buy later, and where I could save money without sacrificing quality or durability.

I'm also very open to buying second-hand where it makes sense. My main goal is to build up my gear gradually without spending money unnecessarily.

Thanks in advance for any advice!

For the past 3 days, almost every lobby I've loaded into—whether it's Casual, Pubs, or Ranked—has been full of campers or people hard stacking.

I know camping and stacking have always been part of the game, but it feels way worse lately. Out of all the matches I've played, I've had maybe five actual 1v1 fights. Everything else has just been getting third-partied, running into full squads holding angles, or people sitting in corners waiting.

Is anyone else experiencing this, or am I just getting insanely unlucky? Maybe it's a skill issue, but what the hell happened over the last few days? Is it because of the bo1 and bo2 ports?