Road Cycling - how much have you spent on your bike and gear with it?

just being nosey like :) do any of you get insurance if youve spent thousands on the bike kinda style?

I got in cheap. I probably have around $800.00 in everything. I dont have clipless pedals and shoes yet, and I absolutely refuse to wear cycling shorts. :D

clipless pedals and shoes? i thought the good pedals were those shimano pedals with the clip on them that the shoe goes into..... or am i confused again?

:confused:

My bike came with pedals that have a toe clip and a strap that goes around your shoe. Good pedals require cleats on the bottom of your shoe. The cleat twists and locks into the pedal without having to strap your foot into it.

Sheepy, clipless pedals have clips. Do a search and find the wonder and mystery that is the "clipless" pedal.

My wife and I have decided that a "DO NOT ASK, DO NOT TELL!" policy is the best.:rolleyes:

I'm probably in the $3000 range with a race MTB, road bike, clothes, accessories, race fees, trail fees, and everything else.

-Middi-zon

Road Bike, Pedals, Shoes, Helmet, Shorts, Jersey, few tools, etc. Probably near $2000.

too much, but I don't regret a penny. Had a nice ride today, went down to Popham Beach, visited the fort, ate a sandwich and a piece of strawberry/rhubarb pie (a New England tradition) and rode back. Good day.

Idle thoughts on TOC (total cost of ownership), some things best not considered: Tires: cost $12-50, lifespan 1k to 4kmi 0.33c to 5c /mile. It is really unusual to get 4kmi though. Tubes: 30c/flat repair, $2-4/tube initial cost. Life span 1k to 6-8k... all over the map. Mine always fail and in general shorter life than tires judging from the # I have bought. For me best guess 0.3c /mi Chains:
$15-25, life 8spd 6-9kmi 9spd 3-5kmi for 0.2 to 0.8c /mile. Cables and housing: variable life, perhaps 1-3yr, more time than mileage based, rust and wear mostly. Allow 0.4c/mi. (8kmi, $30). Bar tape and brake shoes, bottom brackets and headsets are other replaceables, all in the tenths range except
BB: $40 and 10kmi 0.4c/mi. Headsets can be a lot higher but also tend to last a very long time. Used to R&R at 5-8kmi in the 70s but now more like 10-20kmi. This would be 0.3-0.5c per mile. (Shimano threaded $35, Cane Creek threadless $100). Saddles: some last centuries, others (the ones I favor- Terry Liberators about 4000mi. ) So for me Terrys run 1c/mi or a bit less.
Rest of bike: If you buy new and ride a few yrs and sell the price decrements about like a mobile home. 30-40% first yr, 20% for next few yrs. After 5-7yrs the run of the mill bike is down to 20-30% of new price. The cost per mile relates to the individual, but for me, my '96 Trek 5020 has $2200 and 17kmi so this would work out conveniently to 10c/mi if it is worth $500 now. In summary disposables run 2.5c to 3.7c/mi plus depreciation on the rest of the bike. Note that a Walmart bike will drop the bike part of this to 1-1.5c/mi or a typical LBS low end road bike at $400-600 will run 3c/mi, assuming you put 15kmi + on it. If less the costs go up. Bikes are not as cheap as they seem. Don't even think about $5-6k Sevens or Lite Speed Ghisallos. Also didn't cover shifters: my 105 8sp and Ultegra 9spd seem to break somewhere in the 8-12kmi range, and best price on those is $150, but includes cables. This would add 1.5c per mile for bikes so equipped, with one less cable change.
Steve

Ive spent a little less than 2K after my RM Pipeline is done. I paid 375 for my Klein Quantum, 750 for my Bianchi SL LIte, and the rest was for shoes/clothes/misc.

My new Fuji Cross with gear and modifications cost $1100. I also have shoes, clothes, a lock which was probably another $300 ish so I would say in the neighborhood of $1500. If you count each bike total it would be higher but my other bikes are much lower end then my Fuji.
-Duncan

Well...let's see..got nothing better to do:
(all figures in Canadian CAD)

03' R1000 - $1600
Specialized comp road shoes - $160
Shimano SPD-SLs - $160
Clothing, accessories, etc - $150
Helmet - $150
sunglasses (don't really count though heh) - $210

so that comes out to around $2400 CAD. Yikes!

I got my bike as a present from my wife, who said it was $450. I have easily spent triple that on clothing, shoes, wedge bag, tools, helmet, three pair of gloves, ....and counting!

Cycling ain't cheap, but it is so darned much fun! My wife and I made a deal, as long as I keep riding I can keep buying the best gear I need.

I like you're wife Trek!!! I try not to think about how much I have spent over the years.. What I don't know won't hurt me :)

$1k for the bike and about $300 for clothing and a few accessories.

bike 750
odds and ends ~50
jersey FREE
wheels FREE (for 3 more years)
shorts 50
shoes 100
pedals.... none yet :)

thats 950 and 461 miles on the bike so far so thats $2.06 a mile or 9.79 per day ;)

-Ross

why free jersey and wheels? you only ride 5 miles a day?

Originally posted by sheepy
do any of you get insurance if youve spent thousands?

The sunk cost on our bicycles and tandems alone is enough to scare the average accountant -- about the same as a REALLY nice ski-boat & trailer or small RV. Which, by the way, we don't own because we ride our bikes on the weekend. Hey, it works out...

To your question regarding insurance, they are covered for replacement value under our homeowner's policy and, interestingly enough, our underwriter does not require a special rider for the bicycles. We are required to carry riders for musical instruments, jewelry and antiques, but not the bikes. As I said, interesting; however, your policy will most likely vary unless you have the same insurer. As for making any claims, every penny paid on cycling is captured in Quicken and backed up by all of the receipts (this is a very sobering thing to look at since you can REALLY see what cycling can cost if left unchecked). Since our bikes and tandems are, for the most part, one-off custom frames and/or custom builds on high-end frames, having the hard-copy receipts is really essential. Also, keep track of your "miscellaneous parts", tools, accessories, training equipment and perhaps what many people don't keep track of -- cycling apparel. With perhaps 15 pair of shorts and more than 20 jersey's between us, never mind several helmets, 5 pr of cycling shoes, winter cycling apparel, rain gear and what-not the amount of $$ tied up in cycling can become rather staggering as the years go by.

When travelling via car, our auto insurance policy's comprehensive covers the bikes & equipment while they are in the car, otherwise our homeowner's policy is the source of our coverage, e.g., hotel room thefts, when travelling by air it kicks-in after airline caps run out, etc...

let me see...

*My Road bike: about $1200-1500 US (got it this year)
105/ultegra mix, Xtr hubs + rigida rims, custom built CrMo
frame, Look Carbon Fork, etc.
Bike 2(hybrid): more or less $300-$400 US (got it last year)
Acera Group, Ultegra hubs + columbus rims, etc.
Bike 3(MTB): about $200-$300 US (bought it 10 yrs ago)
GT allterra, Exage 300LX Group, Araya Rims, etc.

Gear: about $240 US

totals to about $2400+ more or less...

*based on prices at 'www.bestbicyclebuys.com' -- since I cannot remember how much i spent for each part/component....

In today's dollars or when I bought it? I ride a 15 year old Raleigh ... not fantastic, but with 2 kids in college I cannot afford anything new now ...

Bike ~ $500 (then)
Parts ~$200 (mostly tires, new rings, bottom bracket, etc.)
Gear ~$100 (cyclometers, etc.)
Clothing ~$300 (always need GOOD shorts)

With 6 bikes and all the gear to go with each between my wife & I, I was concerned about the insurance as well. Our Homeowners policy covers them unless on the car-(car insurance covers them at that point.) All policys are different and you may need a rider (which is insurance speak for additional coverage) to cover them. Also make sure that they are covered for replacement value.

Originally posted by sheepy
how much have you spent on your bike and gear with it?

uh... i don't want to know... if i knew i think i'd get sick :rolleyes:

Being a newbie, I haven't spent as much as some of the more experienced folks, but it feels like a fortune when you are handing it over at the checkout counter.

Specialized Allez Elite: $749
Shimano Pedals, Specialized Shoes, extra tubes, tools, pump etc: $300
Ridiculous jerseys, clothing: $200
New car to hold new bike: $22,000
The old car just didn't "go" with the bike!! :)

Originally posted by spazegun2213

pedals.... none yet :)




No pedals yet? Bet that's a rough ride!

My bike...
(R)I had put 1k down as a deposit (so my LBS would order it) and I went to go and pick it up and pay the rest off, and my grandfather had paid the rest off (something to the effect that he knew that I am in graduate school and do not use the heater during the winter, made him think that I was never going to have the bike paid off, so he paid it off for me =-) it was the best surprise ever (bikes plus inc.)
(M)Azonic DS1 frame $400, the rest was built up form parts I had off of my Klein, that was trued into a SS, then later sold
pedal-(R)Time challenge Ti $80 (serria trading post)
(M)egg beaters $90 (cycle path)
shoes-(R)northwave evolutions $23 (ebay)
(M)Xmas present
jersey socks shorts-some are older, and the rest are from ebay or my LBS ~$500 (bikes plus inc.)
pak-mt. smith $65 (cumberland outdoor inc.)
helmet-Giro $125 (cookeville bicycle)
gloves-$30 for each (R) and (M) (bikes plus inc.)

but it is still alot cheaper then our horse, so I never hear any complaining (I wish)

No pedals yet? Bet that's a rough ride!


lol, yes its very hard to pedal without any. I dont have clipless pedals yet, i do however have pedals. :)

Originally posted by sheepy
just being nosey like :) do any of you get insurance if youve spent thousands on the bike kinda style?

Well, in the last year:


'02 Bianchi Vigorelli: $1,200
Clothes, tools, and the like: $200
Fixing up '90 Schwinn Aluminum: $300
Fixing up '94 Gary Fisher Aquila: $300
---------------------------------------------
Total: $2,000
That seems like a lot, but then I think about what I've spent on my car and car related activities:


Track wheels/tires: $1,000
Snow wheels/tires: $600
Street tires: $500
1 year of worth of gas: $1,500
Track days and autocross events: $2,000
Brake calipers, rotors, and pad sets: $2,500
Suspension work: $1,200
Other miscellaneous modifications: $2,500
Detailing supplies: $1,400
Oil changes and other maintenance: $500
Car to use with all that crap: Don't ask
---------------------------------------------
Total: $13,700
:eek:

Wow, I never really added that up until now, I feel sick. I'm glad cycling is as inexpensive as it is.

Originally posted by deliriou5
uh... i don't want to know... if i knew i think i'd get sick :rolleyes:

Ditto that. It's best just to live in blissful ignorance. As long as there's still some money in the bank and the mortgage is paid, I'm not too worried about it.

Errrrgggghhhh, as follows

2001 Giant TCR team, built up from frame with Dura-ace, FSA team cranks, Brew ti brakes, Velomax wheels....

1992 Merlin Road, built as singlespeed with Dura-ace cranks/levers, ultegra hubs/brakes, Time featherlight fork.

2003 Santa Crux Blur, Talas/crossmax disc, hayes hydros, Race face cranks, sram 9.0sl...

2003 Merlin XLM, hugi 240 disc wheels, avid mech., SRAM 9.0sl, Race Face cranks, Manitou Black Super 80/100

2003 Surly Karate Monkey, Hayes Hydros, Race Face cranks, Brooks ti saddle, Paul ss disc hubs...

1996 Schwinn Phantom reproduction...


And that's just bikes. Not car racks, clothes, vacations.....

Just a quick count in my head gets me to >$5,000 Canadian easy. Ouch!:(

Marinoni Delta Extra with full Dura Ace and FSA bars and FSA Pro Team Cranks $3500.00

Shoes $200.00
Pedals $200.00
HRM $300.00
Cycle Computer $75.00
Clothing $500.00
Helmet $150.00
Miscelllaneous(pumps, tools, tubes etc...) $500.00

And I am going to keep on spending!!!

:D :D :D

Ya'll are gonna love this.

Bike $50 (Actually around $160 new around 1978)
Bike Shoes $185
Pedals $100
Shorts/Jersey $100
Fairly recently on bike, new tires, wheels, chain, freewheel, cables, tune-up
total around $120

Result.....I need a new bike :)

I really like the don't ask policy. I wish my wife would follow it. I've got the don't tell (or at least offer it up) down pat.

I would guess ~$5K over the last 8 years (when i really got into cycling). If i count Bike Forums and Bicycle Bid, double the figure ;)

Kev and Trek, I'm with you, and Trek you really do have a great wife!!....Kev totally agree with your point, have soo much stuff, but I do use it, that it would hurt my head to sit down and figure it all out..I know it's a lot, but the enjoyment, fitness and overall Joy I get from the sport is well worth it!!..

Benjamin

Okay, that's just the equipment and accessories. What about Gator-Ade, Clif Bars, etc? I have dropped a few bucks on this stuff. I take at least one Clif Bar with me for every two hours I plan to ride and carry two bottles filled with Gator-Ade and pack enough extra powder to refill both once each.

The only thing that would make cycling more enjoyable (if that really were possible!) would be to make Gator-Ade and Clif Bars a Constitutional right!

Some quick figuring puts it at just over $2300 for the care and feeding of my cycling habit, which includes an '02 Specialized Allez Sport, Trek 4300 MTB, various repairs and upgrades to both, plus all the gear, clothes, etc.

On the plus side, I was in terrible shape (high BP and cholesterol, plus being an overweight smoker) before I bought all this stuff and returned to riding and am now in the best condition I've been in since college -- I wonder how much a heart attack would have cost to fix and recover from? ;)

Originally posted by Grendel
On the plus side, I was in terrible shape (high BP and cholesterol, plus being an overweight smoker) before I bought all this stuff and returned to riding and am now in the best condition I've been in since college -- I wonder how much a heart attack would have cost to fix and recover from? ;) Very good point!!! I justified the purchase of my first mtn bike in '93 when I quit smoking...

Now after 10 years, I figure I've got at least $5k into the sport. That includes 2 mountain bikes w/ many upgrades, a road bike I recently ordered, and all my gear.

...and worth every penny!!! :D

-Mike

I used to hate going shopping until I found my LBS. My bike usually requires a little something every couple of weeks (new spoke/s, trued wheel/s, new rear derailleur, new cluster, winter tyres and some tubes all in the last few months). So on my sojourns into the LBS for my bike fixin I get myself something nice too like some new shorts, new racing top, some nice new gloves.....)
You will not see any figures next to these numbers in case my wife ever decides to one day review my posts!!!
All of the above is self justified my having a wife and kids and no car (for myself).

do i include ER visits?

Originally posted by The Toninator
do i include ER visits?

:D :D :D ....... well, it should:D :D :D

Originally posted by dexmax
:D :D :D ....... well, it should:D :D :D

SWEET
Five Figues for the last 3 years (5 new bike - 2 store bought 3 custom builds) clothes, training equitment, mtb endurance race gear including lights and such etc.
plus 3 trips to the ER with the most recent visit two weeks ago

Originally posted by sch
Idle thoughts on TOC (total cost of ownership), some things best not considered: Tires: cost $12-50, lifespan 1k to 4kmi 0.33c to 5c /mile. It is really unusual to get 4kmi though. Tubes: 30c/flat repair, $2-4/tube initial cost. Life span 1k to 6-8k... all over the map. Mine always fail and in general shorter life than tires judging from the # I have bought. For me best guess 0.3c /mi Chains: $15-25, life 8spd 6-9kmi 9spd 3-5kmi for 0.2 to 0.8c /mile. Cables and housing: variable life, perhaps 1-3yr, more time than mileage based, rust and wear mostly. Allow 0.4c/mi. (8kmi, $30). Bar tape and brake shoes, bottom brackets and headsets are other replaceables, all in the tenths range except BB: $40 and 10kmi 0.4c/mi. Headsets can be a lot higher but also tend to last a very long time. Used to R&R at 5-8kmi in the 70s but now more like 10-20kmi. This would be 0.3-0.5c per mile. (Shimano threaded $35, Cane Creek threadless $100). Saddles: some last centuries, others (the ones I favor- Terry Liberators about 4000mi. ) So for me Terrys run 1c/mi or a bit less. Rest of bike: If you buy new and ride a few yrs and sell the price decrements about like a mobile home. 30-40% first yr, 20% for next few yrs. After 5-7yrs the run of the mill bike is down to 20-30% of new price. The cost per mile relates to the individual, but for me, my '96 Trek 5020 has $2200 and 17kmi so this would work out conveniently to 10c/mi if it is worth $500 now. In summary disposables run 2.5c to 3.7c/mi plus depreciation on the rest of the bike. Note that a Walmart bike will drop the bike part of this to 1-1.5c/mi or a typical LBS low end road bike at $400-600 will run 3c/mi, assuming you put 15kmi + on it. If less the costs go up. Bikes are not as cheap as they seem. Don't even think about $5-6k Sevens or Lite Speed Ghisallos. Also didn't cover shifters: my 105 8sp and Ultegra 9spd seem to break somewhere in the 8-12kmi range, and best price on those is $150, but includes cables. This would add 1.5c per mile for bikes so equipped, with one less cable change.
Steve

Biking magazine did a story on the cost of yearly cycling and the bottom line it was less expensive than other forms of exercise and recreation. They even over did it on some, adding in a new helmet every year or two.

Adding up how much you spent and figuring out costs per mile is a useful exercise to toss in a golfer or skier's face.

My father has spent an easy $20,000 or more on my cycles and gear in the last two years. He just bought the FONDRIEST Top Carbon frame for me last week!!! So look out for me. I'll be the guy that flies past you in a blur--the guy you'll never catch, and the guy who will drop you like a lead balloon on the toughest of climbs. I am CANE---I am strongrer than the foundations of the Earth, all shall LOVE ME and DESPAIR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

When I got back into the sport a little over a year ago and spent in excess of $2,500 the first 6 months, I just explained to my wife that most men at my age go through mid-life issues and spend money on an expensive sports car and a mistress. Since I choose the bike, it is really a cheap deal. Also very little damage to myself if I had been caught doing the other options.

Now that's a deal. :beer:

Too Much!! Just on cycling stuff.

I would say $2500 a year (minimum). Since 1990. :eek:

I buy everything used it's the only way I can justify the costs. I have a easy 3700 in the roadwing with all the upgrades that have been done to it but in actual cash outlay around 1000 or so.

Of course this is a small amount of cash, I can spend triple this on my car in like 1 hour. Sorm who is actually thinking of selling his S2000 so he can get something that can carry his bikes.