General Cycling Discussion - Attention thrift store shoppers.

I have a problem. I'm a thrift store shopper and have been for years. Nearly every article of clothing (besides socks and skivvies) in my wardrobe was either a gift or a thrift store purchase. It's not out of necessity, I'd just rather spend my money elsewhere. It's just like bike commuting, when a bike can get me to work just as well as a car there's no reason to drive. I'd like to buy some cycling specific clothing, but I just can't bear to pay for even the cheapest gear. I'm sure for some people $40 for a jersey or $70 for shorts is no big deal, but I can't break out of the "t-shirts are $3, regular shirts are $5 and pants are $8" mentality. My wife bought me a pair of Swerve cycling shants for christmas, and I feel guilty (yet quite comfy :)) every time I put them on knowing how much they cost.

Does anyone else suffer from this affliction?

I throw nuthin away :D

I throw nuthin away :D

Yeah, I've got a mild case of that too. :rolleyes:

I've found lots of cycling clothes at thrift stores. Vintage jerseys, wool jerseys, regular jerseys, Pearl izumi jerseys, cycling caps, cycling shoes..

You know you have a probelm when you start buying stuff that isn't your size just so you can trade it online or sell it on ebay o the like..

The second hand stores around here sell many new items, with tags, for a fraction of the cost of high street shops. Why would I pay $70 for a pair of pants when I can get them for $10? It gives me a lot more money for my hobbies.

Thrift stores, Wal*Mart and clearance racks are my best friend.

I don't make a lot of money, but I have never had trouble finding quality items for cheap. You just have to be willing to look a little more.

I'm going super cheap on everything else for my first bike tour, becuase I'm going to spend the extra money on a nicer bike. So, it all evens out.
It's easier for me to sew up a ripped seam than fix a busted bike anyway.

I guess I'm different. Although I like a bargain as much as the next guy I'm willing to dish out the $$ for new well-made items, especially when it comes to the materials used in modern jerseys and cycling shorts. A nice cotton shirt for $2 is great but a cotton shirt on a long bike ride sucks, especially when it's really hot. A modern jersey, even the "cheap" ones at PerformanceBike and Nashbar, are worth every dime because of the moisture wicking abilities. And good comfortable cycling shorts with a nice chamois is priceless in terms of comfort and keeping you cool in all the "right" places.

So being frugal is one thing. But being a cheapskate on something that will help you or make the ride better/comfortable in the long run just doesn't make sense to me.

(not to discredit the guy that has found cycling stuff at a thrift store... that's a really good alternative for you too if you still don't want to spend $25 on a good jersey from Nashbar or someplace like that.)

But to each his/her own, I guess.

I say just try it once and you'll see what a big difference the right jersey material makes.

Good luck!

Here's another tip- walmart/target/kmart/etc. all sell synthetic sports shirts and the like, that work excellent for biking- some are coolmax, all are very moisture wicking and all are very cheap. The only thing is they don't have the 3 rear pockets, but..you can live without that...

Maybe I'm an odd size (6'2"), but I have trouble finding things in my size at thrift stores. I stop by one a week, but usually leave with nothing. And I've never seen any bike clothes. I wish you all would tell me where these thrift stores are.

Anyways, the other day when I was at the St. VDP checking out some of the prices, I was wondering if cheap made in China goods starting to take the thrift store market too.

i'm totally into reducing, reusing and recycling. i mean; i don't use gas, i make good food choices, i try to minimize my footprint etc. but i too have my "roadie kit" that i've spent a fair chunk of cash on.

i wish cycling companies incorporated more sustainable technologies, but even i have to admit there are a few things with a certain "quality" i wouldn't be able to find used. plus, i live in a big urban area where the second-hand stores are pretty well-combed through. when i do buy new, then i at least try to get it on sale/clearance.

oh, and i'm a big fan of stuff exchanges!! get a group of people together: bring what you don't use, take what you will. have some food, have some laughs and sort what's left over to go to a charity!

funny, I was just talking to my wife about thrift stores and such... I was saying that I wanted to start looking for a road bike to convert to a single speed for various reasons. she didn't really let me finish before blurting out "i wanna go, we can look for.... " I've been in two in the last month. didn't find anything for cycling though.

Hell yeah. Thrift stores, craigslist, ebay, freecycle, and comparison shopping are the best ever. I'd rather buy a cheaper "broken" item and fix it than pay exorbitant prices for new crap.

My wife bought me a pair of Swerve cycling shants for christmas, and I feel guilty

Thrifty is good. Guilt is a waste of time. Enjoy 'em. That's why your wife bought 'em for ya. Or as some wise soul said, "The best way to pay for a beautiful moment is to enjoy it."

Does anyone else suffer from this affliction?

No.

My cycling clothes are probably my most expensive clothes ... and I buy them on sale at places like Nashbar and MEC.

Except for event jerseys, I've never paid more than about $15 for a jersey, and my most expensive shorts are also my favorite ones. They go for $35 at MEC. You don't have to fork out a lot of money for cycling gear ... and you can still get it new!

I like thrift stores too...some are better than others, you just have to figure out which ones. I have seldom seen cycling specific clothes in any thrift shop. I will spend the money for the occasional high quality product like a good pair of shorts or a cycling specific jersey. But I will seldom have more than a couple of pair. Other clothes do come from thrift shops, main exception being socks and underwear...I would rather have those new please:p My big score on clothes this year was my company uniforms, they gave us 11 sets and the pants were Wrangler Rustler blue jeans:D I promptly marked 8 pair for work and 3 pair for casual wear:beer: and then they gave me the old set from last year to keep. So I have some old jeans to wear when working on stuff and not worry about getting too nasty.

Aaron:)

I like to wander around thrift stores for the occasional clothes. I am so picky that I usually never find something for myself. However, they are nice for kids clothes. A few weeks ago my wife and I bought 5 gently used toddler shirts for $10. Plus, the occasional household items like lamps.
For cycling I pay whatever is needed for my jerseys and shorts. They last quite a while and in my mind that justifies the price. Same goes for bikes. A $1000 bike tends to be cheap with the amount of miles I put on it. Anything less is destroyed by my 9000 yearly miles. You have got to know what is worth spending the extra money on. IMHO

I don't think I would want thrift store, used Chamois padded shorts :eek:

I haven't bought any cycling stuff at thrift stores. But I always buy at the wrong season for cheap. Even at most normal bike shops you can get deals. I bought a bunch of nice jerseys at a normally expensive bike shop on the end of season clearance rack.

My bike clothes are something I don't mind spending a little more for. They last and are very functional.

Similarily with thermal underwear. I am a fan of Patagonia Capilene, which is NOT cheap. But several places have end of year clearances on the stuff that makes it cheaper. I have some capilene that is (honestly) 15 years old and still has life in them.

-D

I never buy my clothes at thrift stores. I make plenty of money. I feel as though I'm taking something away from someone who really needs it for a low price.

My family donates all old clothes to thrift stores.

Just my take.

HOWEVER...I'm looking for a suit case to fit my folding bike into for travelling. I will use a thrift shop to buy that.

I only buy the best. Best bike, best clothing, best chardoney, best sushi. Stay in five star hotels when I tour. I figure that I work relatively hard and get paid very well. What's the sense having it if you don't spend it.

Although I haven't been to a thrift store in over a year, I bargain shop (clearance racks, on-sale).
when I do go to the mall, I almost never intend to get something for myself - usually it's a b-day present for someone, accompanying friends/wife to the mall. I will go to the stores (Banana Republic, Gap, etc) and focus on the clearance racks. If I find a good deal, i'll pick it up. If I don't, it's not a big deal since I wasn't expecting anything anyway.
I've been able to get durable, comfortable clothes quite reasonably that way (ex. Gap wool cargo dress pants for $15)
As far as bike components, I've used on-line and ebay to get the better deals on higher priced items.
Cycling clothes --> dont' have many, just a few cycling jerseys (loose fitting) that I was able to get from Rei.com using gift cards I got for free from the My Points program.

So I say just try it once and you'll see what a big difference the right jersey material makes.


Oh, I agree 100%. I have two jerseys, a pair of shorts and the aforementioned shants. I bought the jerseys and shorts second hand. They are absolutely great. I just hate spending the money, consuming the resources, etc...



I never buy my clothes at thrift stores. I make plenty of money. I feel as though I'm taking something away from someone who really needs it for a low price.


I've heard this argument before, but what you have to realize is that the money generated by these stores supports the other efforts of the charities that run them. By buying from thrift stores you allow them to continue operating and fund their other efforts. The benefits of thrift stores are not limited to cheap clothing for the less fortunate. Thrift stores have more than enough cheap goods to go around, and by spending your money there you fund humanitarian aid, job training, homeless shelters, soup kitchens and numerous other good causes. Buying at the mall, department store or other retail outlet just makes the rich guys richer, consumes resources natural resources, supports sweat shops, produces industrial waste and pollution and all kinds of other undesirable things.


I only buy the best. Best bike, best clothing, best chardoney, best sushi. Stay in five star hotels when I tour. I figure that I work relatively hard and get paid very well. What's the sense having it if you don't spend it.

I don't spend it cause
a) I'm going to retire early.
b) Everthing you consume comes at a cost, and it's not just coming out of your checking account.

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle FTW!

I have another kind of affliction: phobia of wearing someone else's cloths. The idea of wearing cloths that have been intimately touching another person's skin and private parts is just disgusting to me.

I never buy my clothes at thrift stores. I make plenty of money. I feel as though I'm taking something away from someone who really needs it for a low price.



I've heard this argument before, but what you have to realize is that the money generated by these stores supports the other efforts of the charities that run them. By buying from thrift stores you allow them to continue operating and fund their other efforts. The benefits of thrift stores are not limited to cheap clothing for the less fortunate. Thrift stores have more than enough cheap goods to go around, and by spending your money there you fund humanitarian aid, job training, homeless shelters, soup kitchens and numerous other good causes. Buying at the mall, department store or other retail outlet just makes the rich guys richer, consumes resources natural resources, supports sweat shops, produces industrial waste and pollution and all kinds of other undesirable things.


Well, you weren't asking for an argument for or against buying at thrift stores, you just asked what we thought. But now I see I was was set up.

Good job. I didn't see it coming.

I told you why I prefer not to buy CLOTHES at thrift stores. If some of us don't buy new clothes, where are the old ones going to come from that we DONATE to thrift stores?

This is the reason I would never hold a yard sale to profit myself. I don't need the money. I'll let the charities make the money through my donations of useable goods.

Really, I applaud your support of charities. They do a lot of good work. You support charities in your way as the consumer. I'll support them in my way as the supplier.

A frugal (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frugality) cyclist.. An interesting concept. :) Although far from unique.

Personally, I invest in things that I like, as frugal as I can be while not giving up comfort, fun and most of all pride. (Everyone has a little OCP in them.)

Make sure you're not lingering into the lines of stinginess however. ;)

I don't think I would want thrift store, used Chamois padded shorts :eek:



+1!!!

You'd have to pay me A LOT of money to buy used cycling shorts ... and even then I don't think I'd do it!!

I know what goes on inside lady's cycling shorts!

I'd rather buy a cheaper "broken" item and fix it than pay exorbitant prices for new crap.

I'm the opposite. I can rarely find the value in fixing up an old bike, for the price of say a pair of wheels and tyres, a rear derailleur, cluster and chain you can nearly buy a complete new bike where EVERYTHING is brand new. A while back I crashed my roadie, bent the handlebars and rear derailleur hanger and assorted cosmetic scratches and I got a quote from the LBS to fix it (not replace the scratched stuff, just replace the bent stuff and do some general maintenance) and it was going to cost me about $900. The bike only cost about $1200 new and that was several years ago, so I just cut my losses and sold it to a guy at work for $400 and bought a new bike. I guess I had been looking for an excuse to upgrade anyway.

But I have bought some reasonably priced good quality used cycle clothing (not shorts but only because there weren't any available). Even thrift/charity shops are not that good a bargain any more as all the cheap asian import stuff is available for not much more $$ brand new at large department stores like K-Mart.

I guess I've just been lucky enough to find decent priced bikes and do all my own work, but most of the "broken" stuff I've found really isn't. I have a 60's coaster brake schwinn that I picked up for free, and after ~$6 of paint/lube/bearings was plenty ridable, original tires and tubes worked too! I commuted for some time (maybe 2,000 miles?) on a trek 820 mtb that I picked up in near immaculate condition for $80, and once I grab some more tubes I'm gonna start putting miles on a Trek 610 ($80) that I lubed recently... And, depending on the item, thrift stores may not be the best place. But where else am I going to find a good as new jackets, t-shirts, etc... for $3, $1, and essentially under $5 a piece? I also missed out on a high amp/high volt stick welder which probably would go for a couple thousand new, $15. Even if it didn't work it would've been worth a couple hundred. Otoh, when I get the cash, I may grab the aluminum Wally's World special CigTech reviewed and pull the 610 apart for a repainting. I'm thinking tractor yellow. :D

I save where I can and splurge where I want to. I wear a lot of thrift store and hand-me-down jeans because used jeans are, in my opinion, better than new jeans. a good-condition t-shirt is the same as a new one. same with shoes. i don't mess with used socks and undies though. but when i started riding in the winter i found nothing in my wardrobe cut it, and the thrift store was devoid of anything that was windproof/rainproof/tear resistant/breathable so i got a $200 northface jacket... love that jacket! same with my cycling shirts/tights/pants/shorts i've found some good cheap shirts at walmart but most everything else was LBS retail. same with my bike, i didn't know much about bike fit so i bought one with the assistance of the LBS sales people, i learned they don't know much about fit either :rolleyes: most of my accessories were used or gifts though too (Rack $12, ergo grips $6, tires and spare wheelset $11) love those no reserve auctions ending at 4am!! :D

Used shoes? ew
Knowing how much my feet sweat I would never want used shoes. Plus, it is the main point of contact between your body and the ground...that is unless you fall down quite a bit. Worth the investment IMHO.
<-- has more shoes than his wife.

A frugal (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frugality) cyclist.. An interesting concept.

huh, i hadn't noticed that link before.


keep in mind people that second-hand and used are not *necessarily* the same thing!


i'm surprised no one commented about my "stuff exchange" idea?

oh, and i'm a big fan of stuff exchanges!! get a group of people together: bring what you don't use, take what you will. have some food, have some laughs and sort what's left over to go to a charity!


MEC does that. They've got an online gear swap:
http://www.mec.ca/Apps/outdoorGearSwap/gearswap_main.jsp?FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=1408474396038596&FOLDER%3C%3EbrowsePath=1408474396038596&bmUID=1171094956970

And once or twice a year, most of the stores have an in-store gear swap event.


Nashbar has a "returns" section:
http://www.nashbar.com/store_custom.cfm?storetype=2


And for generally fairly inexpensive stuff, you can also check out Sierra Trading Post ... especially their Bargain Barn - http://www.sierratradingpost.com/ They've got all sorts of things, and some cycling stuff.

I hit the local Goodwill and other thrift stores from time-to-time. Heck, I even pick up stuff off the side of the road, and it it's in good shape, take it home, wash it and wear it. Gave the wife and perfectly good fleece top a month or so ago. She buys a lot of my clothes from thrift stores.

However, if it's activity specific clothing, or safety related, I see nothing wrong with paying full price for something that is going to get used. Keep an eye on internet store clearance sales for reduced, sometimes greatly reduced, prices on what you want.

I used to shop at Goodwill when I was in college; cheap furniture and lp records. Now I donate all my old clothes and shoes to them. All of my leftover building supplies and old stuff like hinges and light fixtures I donate to the local Habitat for Humanity store.

I am curious to see what sort of bicycles they have; there's a woman down the street that rides an old BMX bike when she takes here grandson to school. Bike is too small, looks painful. I'm thinking I might be able to find a bike in her size, fix it up, then leave it on her porch one morning.

Used shoes? ew
Knowing how much my feet sweat I would never want used shoes. Plus, it is the main point of contact between your body and the ground...that is unless you fall down quite a bit. Worth the investment IMHO.
<-- has more shoes than his wife.

You would be shocked at how many women purchase shoes by the gross and NEVER wear them.

Eventually they go through the closets and decide that they should get rid of that pair of $300 shoes that they've never worn.

East Hill

MEC does that. They've got an online gear swap:
http://www.mec.ca/Apps/outdoorGearSwap/gearswap_main.jsp?FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=1408474396038596&FOLDER%3C%3EbrowsePath=1408474396038596&bmUID=1171094956970

And once or twice a year, most of the stores have an in-store gear swap event.


yeah, i went to one in toronto once. it was in the underground parking lot and the line-up to pay was *at least* an hour wait, so after braving the crowd at the entrance, and the madness at the racks, i gave up and left.

what i meant was something on a smaller level: i have a friend who hosts what she calls "goddess gatherings". she sends an invite to ~20 women around the time of the change of seasons. everyone brings a snack or goodie for the group, and whatever clothes/books/shoes/household items they don't use. usually there's a huge mountain of clothes in the center of the room and various piles of other sorted things around the apartment... and everyone just dives in. i usually cram my backpack full of stuff at home (even though every time i swear i've gotten rid of everything i can think of) and leave with just as much stuff... that i actually use! it's fun because you can play dress-up and actually see something that never fit you quite right look awsome on someone else (and vice-versa). and then like i said, whatever is left over gets divided up and taken to places in the community like shelters and women's employment training programs etc.


You would be shocked at how many women purchase shoes by the gross and NEVER wear them.

Eventually they go through the closets and decide that they should get rid of that pair of $300 shoes that they've never worn.


exactly!! (also known by thrifties as a "score" :D)

Maybe I'm an odd size (6'2"), but I have trouble finding things in my size at thrift stores. I stop by one a week, but usually leave with nothing. And I've never seen any bike clothes. I wish you all would tell me where these thrift stores are.

Anyways, the other day when I was at the St. VDP checking out some of the prices, I was wondering if cheap made in China goods starting to take the thrift store market too.
Try other thrift shops or other times that you shop. There is a local store near me that stocks the racks on Tuesday and Friday mornings. If you are there when they open, you can sometimes find good stuff. You just need to find the right store(s) and time.

yeah, i went to one in toronto once. it was in the underground parking lot and the line-up to pay was *at least* an hour wait, so after braving the crowd at the entrance, and the madness at the racks, i gave up and left.



Well that was the problem right there!! :lol: :D

You've got to go to ones in the more civilized western provinces. :)

If you can get up to Edmonton tomorrow, they are having a gear swap in conjunction with their annual meeting:

http://www.bikeclub.ca/pages/whats_new.html


But your local clubs might do the same sort of thing.

I've been visiting thrift stores and garage sales all over the Fort Wayne area looking for an older decent name brand road bike to restore and never found anything but WallyWorld type of junk and mostly kids bikes. Never saw cycling clothes in those places either.