dfisha

Well I bought a road bike in august to get back into the sport and save some money. I ride close to 120 miles a week, about 48 of those commuting (its only 12 miles round trip). But the cost of all the extras is killing me.

I already had shorts, jerseys and some mtb spd shoes so i didn't need to buy too much gear...new helmet, glasses, water bottles/cages,pump, extra tubes etc.

but now that i'm commuting more I bought a messenger bag(120) its winter and the weather is rainy/cold in socal i had to buy lights(100), leg warmers(25) now i'm still freezing my ass off in this rain so i'm looking at booties, full finger gloves, tights...maybe actually buying road shoes...

Does it ever stop?? haha I know i don't really need this stuff, but at the same time I can justify it because I feel I need it to keep going. I suppose it will all pay off if i continue to commute and ride for the next couple years. Anybody got any tips for saving money besides buying the performance/nashbar brand gear?

Fyi people looking to commute plan ahead on your expenses, or just commute on the nice days

Rob_K

Yeah, a few of those things build up. Now think... about how much you've saved in gasoline and I bet those other expenses don't seem so bad. I bought an MTB a few years ago and I saved about $40.00 per week on fuel, plus all the little bits that go into running a car like tyres etc. I also got fit (lost 50 Kgs) and reduced my blood pressure from 170 over something else horrific to below normal.

Now tell me again how some add ons are busting your buns

xenologer

Milk crate is much more free than a messenger bag, and it holds more stuff, thats where I keep my water as well instead of in cages.
The right flashlight can be much better than a bike specific light in terms of cost and brightness.
Lose the helmet, and quit paying the big $$$ for bike-specific clothing and shoes.
The 'extra' tube I carry is my old one, with a broken valve; whenever I get a flat I chop pieces off of it and use it to make patches.

gear

Its easy to compare the cost of driving against riding but since you also get a workout when riding you need to add in the cost of a health club membership to make a fair comparison. This should also be a factor when comparing commuting times, when you figure out how long you take to drive you need to add time spent at the gym.

I don't care how much you spend on a bike and accessories you'll still spend less doing that than driving and working out somewhere and in most cases it will be quicker to commute by bike than drive and workout at club.

tarwheel 

It never stops. Once you get all the stuff you really need, then you start lusting after nicer stuff. I had finally gotten to the point in the past year where I really didn't need anything for my bikes, commuter or recreational. Then I set my eyes on a new touring frame for commuting and all hell broke loose. I ended up buying nicer components for the new commuter, rather than just switching all of the parts over, and turned my old commuter frame into a fixe/ss, requiring even more new parts.

In theory, bike commuting should save you money. In practice, it's just a more enjoyable way to spend money than buying gasoline.

FredOak

It's a hobby, it's a lifestyle, it's an exercise, it's transportation...take all those things and figure what it would cost you to do each of those instead of on the bike and you will easily out spend what you do on the bike.
So I keep telling my wife, look at the money I save by doing this

lil brown bat

If you're a gearhead, you're just going to spend a lot of money in life, whether you're bicycle commuting, playing tennis, or just sitting on the couch.

Joe Dog

A lot of the stuff you are buying also lasts a long time. You will get years of use out of your gear if you buy quality stuff. I agree, the initial set up can get spendy, but compared to driving I am convinced it's cheaper in the long run. Now if you start buying a new bike every year...

ItsJustMe

It CAN stop if you want it to. You probably won't need to buy any more leg warmers for quite a while. I haven't bought any new cycling clothes in several years. The only equipment I've bought is to replace stuff that's worn out; tires, chains, brake pads. I bought a new helmet recently because the one I like (Metro) was on sale, and I like to have a spare; it may be years before I use it. I bought a new fender because a stick blew into my rear spokes a few weeks back and destroyed the old one.

So that's been probably $250 in the last 12 months. But a big chunk of that is stuff that will last several years (new studded tires after 3 years = $130, but should be another 3 years worth; that sort of thing).

jagged

Like everything else involving spending money, ask yourself "do I really need this?" If the answer is yes, ask yourself that again. You can do backpacks rather than messenger bags. You can do Converse All-Stars instead of special bike shoes. You can carry an extra pair of socks instead of using booties. Lights, you do need; same with safety equipment.

At what point do you save money over driving? The 2009 IRS mileage rate for business mileage is 55 cents. That factors in gas costs, depreciation, and all the other stuff. By avoiding 120 miles per week of driving, you are avoiding paying $66/week on your car. Figure out some measure of depreciation for your bike (new brake pads every 4 mos?) and you will have a good idea.

DallasSoxFan

Gas is consumable, none of the bike crap is. One you build up a base its a matter of wants not needs.

Square & Compas

There are consumables on a bike. SPD cleats will need to be replaced as will a chain, brake pads, cables, even water bottles eventually need replacing. And don't forget bearings, bottom brackes, hub overhauls, tires, tubes, etc. Even bike clothing and shoes does not last forever so that is another consumable. Do not say there are not consumables on a bike, there are, several in fact. Some are as expensive as consumables on a motor vehicle.

Square & Compas

Startng in 2008 and continueing this year I figured up the cost of how much per mile it takes to drive my Jeep. I figured gas mileage and the cost per gallon. I also figured things like tires, maintenance, even the monthly cost of insurance. I came up with about $.09 a mile. I figure this is what I make back for evey mile I commute and run errands on my bike. I put that against what it has cost me to purchase things I need to ride March through November. At one time I actually had paid everything off and had a profit built up. Then I needed some more gear. Right now I am at $316.17 to make back before I break even and start showing a profit for commuting and running errands on my bike. My commute this year will be about 30 miles round trip. So that will be about $2.70 per commute that I will make back. Let's say I commute all 5 days of the week, which I will try really hard to do, that will come to; $13.50 a week.

buzzman

+1. You buy what you need to commute and that's it for a pretty long time-so there is an initial investment.

I'm amazed at some rider's need to "upgrade" and accessorize.

As lil brown points out you could be a couch potato and constantly need the latest wide screen high def TV with the most channels, surround sound and a barcalounger with built in fridge same thing on a bike.

BA Commuter

Most hobbies are that way. Then, you want to upgrade and buy more new schtuff!

For the holidays or my birthday, I always tell friends & family to get me bicycle accessories that I need or gift certs to help pay them...

tjspiel

Summer commuting is cheap, winter commuting can get expensive. Especially here where studded tires should be strongly considered if not actually required.

Most stuff aside from brake pads and similar items should last a few years at least, so it gets better after the initial investment.

How to save money?

Buy used

Buy offseason

Substitute non-cycling specific gear when you can. A lot of my winter clothing was designed for skiing or running.

GodsBassist

I've spent approx 1k dollars on my bike/kid trailer and accessories. About the same as one bad clutch problem on a car, or one A/C replacement.

I will say, though, that starting in the winter is a lot rougher than in the summer, and the initial investment can be kind of daunting. A lot more stuff to take into account than just a helmet and some racks that would be required in June.

FredOak

tjspiel +1

Agree, most of my clothing is non-cycling and was a heck of a lot cheaper and I find functions just fine.

daredevil

Exactly. From a PB Superflash to a Dinotte for example. I made that jump.

I-Like-To-Bike

What is the Ultimate latest wide screen high def TV with the most channels, surround sound and a barcalounger with built in fridge made out of carbon fiber that can be installed on my commuter bike? Is a Sony TV more efficient than a Toshiba; will a Westinghouse fridge cool my beer faster than a Maytag; how long will it take to break in my Barcalounger and will Proofhide make it last longer?

Sigurdd50

After a few initial investments, I've spent LESS time in bike shops and sports stores. i invested in some base layers a few years back that are still kicking. I bought a pair of snow/rain pants from Lou at Foxwear this fall. Some annual maintenance is expected (replaced a BB after 8K miles and will need a cassette on my fair weather bike). I work at a volunteer earn-a-bike shop and have culled two snow bikes for free off the hooks. I find my basic winter jacket and long sleeve base works fine for my 5 mile commute in sub 20F weather. I keep it low tech. I don't think you need to have hig tech gear to do this. A good balaklava, some decent gloves (mine cost 7 dollars at Farm and Fleet), a scarf now and then, wool, leather boots, warm socks, a good light, and a 10 ride bus pass when the temps drop below zero.

I'm saving 200 bucks a month in car payment, insurance for car, gas, maintenance, plus I get lots of cardio work out every day. Since I bike, I find I stop less on the way to and from , so I keep $$ in my wallet longer. Plus I get 30+ minutes to day dream each am and pm on the ride home.

afte a while, it's just what I do.

bhikkhu

I figure I save about $80 a month, having parked and de-insured one car, and cut down my driving on the other one to one trip a week for groceries.

But where it really makes a difference is what you don't have to spend on car upkeep. The car I parked needed engine work ($1000) and the transmission was getting shaky ($2000), tires were getting down there ($480), and so on. I used to cringe every time I drove it, knowing that it would have me in the poorhouse before long.

Now - screw it! I spent about $1100 on bike stuff last year, and enjoyed every bit of it. I look forward to spending some of my tax return when it comes too. Unlike cars, I figure my bikes give back to me much more than I spend on them.

crhilton

Winter gear racks up fast:
* Shell ($100)
* Warm boots ($40)
* Warm Socks ($10)
* Leg warmers ($30)
* Light mittens ($10)
* Light gloves ($10)
* Heavy mittens ($30)
* fleece ($30)
* Spare light shirt ($free, who doesn't have a shirt they don't care for?)
* Balaclava ($30)
* Hat ($20)

Total: $310
Commute miles per winter: 700

If I get 5 winters out of that stuff it's $.06 per mile. Anyway, I do it because I ditched my car so I'd have to commute every day.

Sigurdd50

I see the few cold weather items as useful but non-recurring investments (where as auto expenses recur every week/month). I don't have to buy a jacket or base layers or new gloves every month + I can use them even when I'm not biking.

If I had a newer car that I was paying off ($180-200/month) + avg of $50 month for insurance + $20-40 month for gas, multiplied by the winter commute months here (hmmm Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar).... that's a lot of do-re-mi. I could buy a (new-used) bike every year and break even.

But mostly it's fun and a challenge

SlimAgainSoon

All that stuff you can reuse next winter.

And as hobbies go, it is cheaper than a boat or a horse. Or even golf.