Have you spent more $$$ on bike accessories that ride with you than the bike itself?
 

Have you spent more money on the accessories or gadgets for your bike which ride with you, and which are not absolutely necessary, than what you paid to buy the bike itself?

Examples include:
Locks, locking skewers, lights, reflective devices, mirrors, bells, horns, rear/front racks, baskets, frame pumps, helmets, bottle cages, saddle bags, mini tools,...

The following do not count:
Replacement of parts that are basic/necessary for a bike (e.g. if you replaced the brakes or seat),
Accessories/tools that don't ride with you, e.g. floor pumps, tools that are not carried with you...

The purpose is to see how much money one is willing (as opposed to has to) to spend on the bike gadgets that you could ride without.

it's getting there...

I just voted--but I have a couple comments:

1. What about replacement wheelsets? I kept my original wheels but I had a custom set made for light touring and randonneuring (including a dynohub for lights).

2. Some of us would dispute the claim that we "could ride without" some of those accessories. I commute by bike, and I do long rides in the spring and fall, so I need lights. I can't ride without them, because I am neither reckless nor suicidal. (And in some places--Germany, for instance--it is illegal to ride a bike on public roads that is not equipped with dynamo-powered lights, unless it is a racing bike that weighs under 11 kg.) Other things I guess I could ride without, but I wouldn't want to. I do a lot of rides in rural Massachusetts, so I carry tools with me to fix the most common mechanical problems. Better that than face a long walk home. Similarly, a lock is essential when I get to work because I park my bike outside. No lock=no ride. Fenders are another "add-on" that many of us consider essential.

A fixed-gear purist might say that derailleurs and brakes are not absolutely necessary.

And consider that some bikes do come equipped with some of that stuff already. My Breezer Uptown8 commuter came with fenders, a dynohub-powered lighting system, a ring lock, a kickstand, a chaincase, and even a bell, all part of the price.

You might get further by asking forum readers what they consider to be essential components of a bicycle, whether included in the base price or not.

You mean like when I put a $300 computer on a $200 bike? :innocent:

Replacement wheelsets shouldn't count, otherwise one could have "replacement XXX" where XXX could be anything. You have the wheels on which you are riding, that's the necessary one. As for lights, it's very important but still something could be without. Fenders, etc,.... no. Please don't get pedant... Keep this in mind when voting: the reason I post this is just to see how much is enough, as one continues to add extras on his bike. If you have a $2000 bike, it's reasonable that you spend $400 for accessories, but if the bike is $200, that doesn't seem a good idea (we are talking about gadgets, not to convert a cheap single speed to a more sophisticated one).

Yes, that counts :). That computer is only for the bike, not a must-have, and it's riding with you. It shows you are willing to pay a lot for extras :)

Lights (and/or reflectors) and bells are legally required equipment for riding in the roadway around these parts.

The SRM power meter cost nearly TWICE what I paid for my Felt F55, (but I got a pretty good deal on the bike.) I'd write the check again without a second thought. It's transformed my training & riding. My FTP is currently 285W and I'm on-track to crack 300W before the end of the year.

The Dura Ace 7850 CL wheels cost about half what I paid for the same bike, and I got the strong-dollar/weak-Euro/free shipping discount, and I'd do it again. My current wheels are solid, but I still like having a set of event wheels for centuries. They're slicker than owl-poo.

And I don't even race. :p

Something riders can chose to ride without but get upset when you decide to NOT help them when you have something they need but chose to ride without.:eek:

True to my frugal nature I trick out my bikes then stop. I never, ever spend big bucks on accessories. Never!

All my recumbent has in terms of accessories is a rack, cheap computer, blinkie, and DIY light (900 lumen LEDs + Li.Po. battery), but the frame is modified from stock.

To be a little more specific and clear: all the accessories that you added after purchasing the bike, i.e. stuffs that were not on the bike when you bought the bike. This should be less ambiguous now.:ride: (Since it didn't come with the bike, it's likely it's not absolutely necessary. In case you bought a bike that did not have, say, a seat, and you bought a seat for it, then that does not count, because the seat is necessary.)

record 10spd/eurus equipped road bike:

i dont ride with a lock

no

no

none

none

none

none

none

none

co2 inflator $15

gift

$30

none (pockets)

$45 give or take

Well, my bike did not come with lights, but my commuting schedule is such that I must ride in the dark (especially in the winter). By law (and frankly, common sense), I'm required to mount a headlight (which I bought after I bought the bike) onto the bike if I am to ride after dark. Does it count? I can propel a bicycle without a headlight, but a headlight is necessary for me to ride a bike after dark. No lighting, no biking.

I ride in the winter, often on a solid, uneven sheet of ice all the way to school and all the way back home. While studs aren't strictly necessary for riding on the ice (you can propel a bike at slow speed, with no sharp turns, sudden acceleration, or sudden braking), they are necessary for me to ride on the ice. That is, with out studded tires, I will not ride a bike on the ice (which means, around here, any time between november and april). I bought my studded tires after I bought the bike. Do they count?

I share icy roads all winter long with motorists, who require more braking time in the winter. I have reflective tape on my bike; but, given the ice and the dark, I do not feel that this reliably gives enough advance warning of my presence in the roadway to overtaking cars. So I have a taillight, purchased after the bike was purchased. Without a taillight, I most certain would not ride after dark in the winter (so anytime after 5 pm, a full hour before my last class gets out). Does this count?

I use my bike to carry my groceries, and to haul my recycling. Both of these require more cargo capacity than even my largest backpack provides. So, I have bike racks, purchased after I purchased my bike. Without them, I would have to make multiple trips, and both Costco and the recycle center are about five miles away. I will take my car once before I consider taking my bike three times, so I certainly consider racks necessary. No racks, no utility runs.

I've noticed that road bikes are often sold without pedals. Now I know that I can sit on my top tube, plant both feet on the ground, and propel the bike (I do this sometime to reposition myself at stoplights while waiting for a light change). Do you feel that pedals for road bikes are unnecessary, seeing as how one can still technically ride the bike, and they must be purchased separately?

If someone will not ride their bike without an accessory; be it ergo grips, suspension seatposts, racks, or fenders; then I would say that, for that person, said accessory is necessary. I would not suggest to a touring cyclist that his panniers weren't necessary to how he rides. I'm not going to confront a downhill mountain biker about his superfluous body armor. I would never tell a night time commuter that she didn't need her lights. Because, honestly, I think that I would look like a bit of an ass for doing so.

Oh yeah, it's a good thing that most of it's transferable.

my answer is no. the only extra's i've bought are a camelback, a helmet, gloves, and a jersey that i sometimes ride in. those items to not come close to the amount i paid for any of my bicycles.

The bicycle I ride everyday was purchased 32 years ago,so I have far surpassed what it cost($500.00 1978 dollars) I think I've worn out more water bottles than what it cost.

I've spent quite a bit of money which hasn't yet surpassed the bike but it's getting really close.

Fenders, kickstand, rear rack, baskets, trunk bag, lights, bottle cages and water bottles, and computer.

After owning her 15 years since new, this summer I added a custom-built titanium rear rack ($350), a light and pair of panniers to my mountain bike.

I bought her new in 1995, when I was still a young guy still in my 40's. I'm in my 60's now and more in love with her all the time. So spending money is a treat for me.

I want to build up a nice "cockpit" with a really good waterproof computer, plus a Garmin 705 GPS (probably $700+).

I'm shopping for a top quality brand of rear panniers. Many touring guys here suggest Ortleibs. That's another $200-$300.

I paid over $3,000 for the whole bike new, but may approach that with extras.

Accessories such as good lights don't come cheap.. Still, neither does a good quality bike.. maybe , my accessories comes to about 1/4 of the value of my bikes.

Upgrades...yup. I can definitely double or in some cases triple the price of bike. The last one was my Redline R530. The base bike was a tad over $500. Replaced the front wheel for a dyno hub model, replaced the saddle and seat post with a non suspension post and Brooks B-67. Added a B&M IQ Fly head light, Spaninga LED tail light, Planet Bike SuperFlash, Basil Karavan panniers, Axa Defender wheel lock with optional chain, cork grips and replaced the pedals.

It is even easier on a vintage bike. I just bought baskets for my 1972 Raleigh Sports, the front basket cost more than the bike did...

Aaron :)

http://inlinethumb05.webshots.com/18...600x600Q85.jpg

I have many bikes. The cost of accessories is much less than my bikes. Unless you consider any N+1 an upgrade.

I recently went through a Diet, Nutrition and Exercise Clinic at the VA (Veterans Admin.). One interesting thing they impressed on me was to set realistic goals. Goals for weight reduction, gain of strength, etc. And they said, it's imperative that we reward ourselves when we reach a goal. Most anything except a fatty meal or something contradictory to our ongoing goals. So, nice add-ons for our bikes fit well with the purpose of rewarding ourselves for achieving healthy goals.

But, when the add-ons are going to cost more than the bike, would it be better to reward yourself with a new, better bike?

Not exactly addons but necessary parts to convert a bike to the use I was going to put it through.

Bought a New Frame that had a few bits on it to ride away from the shop. Supposed to be a full offroad bike but I bought this one for the frame. Paid £1700 for the last only frame available that if it was available was going to cost £1200. I knew most of the bits bolted on were not going to stand up to my punishment so strip down and the only Parts I kept were the Frame and the Cranksets. First of all new wheels and brakes-£1200. Then the Forks £500. new bars and stems and seat posts that would take the strain that this would be put through. Then the Deraillers and chains. So everything was changed to Full Freeride or downhill spec to take the punishment it was going to be put through. Final bill came out at just under £5000 and at the time this equated to $8,500. Lot Of money for a bike but this was a lot of bike. 8 years later and it is still in good condition and although not getting as much use as it should- it is still a bike to be reckoned with on the 100 mile and metric Enduros that it does.

But any tandem owner will tell you- especially off road ones. These thing break bits attached to them with ease. You have to buy parts that will stand up to the job and they don't come cheap.

Attachment 170360

And I still have the original Wheels for any mere mortal that needs a set of wheels that might be Indestructable. Had to rebuild them after the first downhill we went on.

But road bikes and the first one I bought was a lowly Giant OCR3. Used it for most of my winter riding and it cost £400. By the time you put top rate lights on it-£300- A garmin Computer £200 and then the quality saddle and change a few bits- you can be talking about double the price of the Bike in just accessories. Luckily these have been aquired over the years and get passed from bike to bike but if buying new bits for the bike- Buy the best you can afford for the use you are going to put them to. May be expensive but they can be passed from bike to bike over the years.

But a few years ago and I built a road bike up from a bare frame. Top rate frame that was going to weigh in around 15lbs when built up. That bike was expensive- but a few things that I have "In Stock" to cut the cost. The lights and the Garmin are interchangable between bikes- I have a "Good" wheelset that went on this bike and Saddles that I know work for me. Good accessories that are bought to last - do last - and go on down the years cutting their high initial cost.