Living Car Free - Frugal Cycling, or, Biking for Cheapskates

"The bitterness of poor quality remains long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten."

- spotted on a plaque at a picture framing shop this past summer.

This is the one I live by...


"There is scarcely anything in the world that some man cannot make a little worse, and sell a little more cheaply. The person who buys on price alone is this man's lawful prey."

Aaron:)

I am a guy raising a family on a tradesman's income (good money but not wealthy). So I have to be thrifty with my bicycle. I purchased it at a used sports store for $80 three years ago (1982 Norco Pinnacle). I put maybe $200 into the bike in three years, Fenders, Rack, Bags, Tires, BB redone, and many lights. I really like Canadian Tire for my Bike Bags they are Raleigh Cheapo's and the best deal I could find. I shop Mountain Equipment Coop for bicycle lights and fenders (half the price of bike shops) and top quality. For clothes I wear my work clothes with a wind breaking set of pants and jacket purchased on sale and you can find clothes on sale just about anywhere. I may not look as good as my friends on their fancy, $3000 racing bikes and special gear, but hey, it does the trick.

I have been car-free since 1994 and haven't spent a dime on bikes or parts.All my bikes(150) were either given to me or rescued from the trash(over 12 years).I am fond of the Sturmey Archer equipped bikes from the 60s-early70s(Raleigh,CCM,SuperCycle).I have 45 so far and always looking for more:).These bikes are very reliable.Kind of set it and forget it.They can sit for long periods(years) and just lube it up and go.You can't do that with these mtn bikes with v-brakes.I haven't had to buy a tire,tube,cable,seat,rim...etc.Anything!As for clothing I just wear my street clothes.In the winter it's all about layers.I usually build a sacificial mtn bike for the winter riding.
I figure I've gone over 50,000 miles and saved over $100,000 and my health too.:)

I have been car-free since 1994 and haven't spent a dime on bikes or parts.All my bikes(150) were either given to me or rescued from the trash(over 12 years).I am fond of the Sturmey Archer equipped bikes from the 60s-early70s(Raleigh,CCM,SuperCycle).I have 45 so far and always looking for more:).These bikes are very reliable.Kind of set it and forget it.They can sit for long periods(years) and just lube it up and go.You can't do that with these mtn bikes with v-brakes.I haven't had to buy a tire,tube,cable,seat,rim...etc.Anything!As for clothing I just wear my street clothes.In the winter it's all about layers.I usually build a sacificial mtn bike for the winter riding.
I figure I've gone over 50,000 miles and saved over $100,000 and my health too.:)

I hereby nominate thebikeguy as Carfree Hero of the Month. Second?

:) :beer:

Oh ya I almost forgot....Pics.
http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s148/thebikeguyCCM/Someoftheherd4.jpg
http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s148/thebikeguyCCM/Someoftheherd2.jpg

Today at the salvation army thrift shop in traverse city I scored:

2 pullovers by sunderland of scotland, water resistant single-layer & waterproof dual layer

chamois shirt from eddie bauer, new w/ tags

100 % wool uniform pants--now my main winter riding pants this year

>all 4 items for $14.71

Also a quick-dry t-shirt from meijers, $6.95 on clearance rack. Extravagant!

I hereby nominate thebikeguy as Carfree Hero of the Month. Second?

:) :beer:

I second.:beer: I have been doing the same kind of thing since about 2000. I can count the bikes I've bought on one hand in the last 50 years yet I've never been without a bike when I wanted one. It is known that I will take any bike no matter the condition for parts. I have had bikes that yielded one usable pedal or bearing. I have wheels that I've kept because the spokes are in good condition.
The problem is that I am getting too many good bikes. Bikes that I am not willing to break down for parts. For instance I recently had delivered to my yard two 26" cruisers and a 24" cruiser all coasters. I serviced them and set them out in the rain. Nobody wants them. My grandson won't even ride them because they are not cool I guess. He will only ride a BMX trick bike with the seat set too low because he may be mistaken for some kind of trick rider.
One of the 26" bikes is a Sears, Roebuck and Co Free Spirit from the early 70's in original condition made by Puch I think. Sure looks like a Raleigh. It's rusty but an excellent rider. I aired the tires when it was dropped off and set it out front. My wife who I have not seen on a bike in the 25 years I've known her said "oh I want to try that". Now I'm stuck with it because she likes it.
I'm rambling again.
Does spending $1500 to build a cover over your junk bikes sound frugal to you?

One of the 26" bikes is a Sears, Roebuck and Co Free Spirit from the early 70's in original condition made by Puch I think. Sure looks like a Raleigh. It's rusty but an excellent rider. I aired the tires when it was dropped off and set it out front. My wife who I have not seen on a bike in the 25 years I've known her said "oh I want to try that". Now I'm stuck with it because she likes it.
I'm rambling again.
Does spending $1500 to build a cover over your junk bikes sound frugal to you?

Free Spirits are going for $50 to $200 on Ebay (http://sporting-goods.search.ebay.com/free-spirit_Cycling_W0QQbsZSearchQQcatrefZC6QQfposZQ5AIPQ2fPostalQQfromZR10QQfsooZ2QQfsopZ2QQftrtZ1QQftrv Z1QQsabfmtsZ1QQsacatZ7294QQsadisZ200QQsaobfmtsZinsifQQsargnZQ2d1QQsaslcZ2QQsbrftogZ1QQsofocusZunknow n). Sell enough of them and you can build a garage for you bikes. Instead of a 2-car garage, a 200-bike garage!

For a new bike, there's some sweet deals on eBay Express, 60% or better off retail. That's where I got my Motobecane Elite hybrid. I went that route because I couldn't afford a quality bike at the LBS, and I lacked the patience to shop for a good used one. Needing to fit it and set it up myself was something I could live with. Took my first test ride on it today, and I'm pleased with the bike, not pleased with how rusty I've become in some 30+ years of being bikeless... but it'll all come back with practice.

Since I am on a low budget, I appreciate all the other cheap cycling tips in this thread. :D

bikeguy......thats is an awesome collection. How do you decide which one to ride?

* Begins planning to look for free/cheap bikes *

I second.:beer: I have been doing the same kind of thing since about 2000. I can count the bikes I've bought on one hand in the last 50 years yet I've never been without a bike when I wanted one. It is known that I will take any bike no matter the condition for parts. I have had bikes that yielded one usable pedal or bearing. I have wheels that I've kept because the spokes are in good condition.
The problem is that I am getting too many good bikes. Bikes that I am not willing to break down for parts. For instance I recently had delivered to my yard two 26" cruisers and a 24" cruiser all coasters. I serviced them and set them out in the rain. Nobody wants them. My grandson won't even ride them because they are not cool I guess. He will only ride a BMX trick bike with the seat set too low because he may be mistaken for some kind of trick rider.
One of the 26" bikes is a Sears, Roebuck and Co Free Spirit from the early 70's in original condition made by Puch I think. Sure looks like a Raleigh. It's rusty but an excellent rider. I aired the tires when it was dropped off and set it out front. My wife who I have not seen on a bike in the 25 years I've known her said "oh I want to try that". Now I'm stuck with it because she likes it.
I'm rambling again.
Does spending $1500 to build a cover over your junk bikes sound frugal to you?


Thanks guys.Just doing my part:).How's this for frugal(cheap)?I built a bike port using the wood from skids,3 cedar posts,2 sixteen foot 2x4s,2 sheets of plywood and roofing material.It's 4' wide and 16' long down the side of my garage.Total cost(including paint)- $150.I can put 20 or more bikes under it and it doesn't look bad.You'd never know looking at it that it was made from skids.They're usually made from a hardwood so it's gonna be good and sturdy.

.......How's this for frugal(cheap)?I built a bike port........

Please post cheap picture of cheap bike port. I am into cheap.:D