Biking is so expensive
04-07-16, 10:54 AM
#176
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You are not a wimp for taking care of your body. Better living through science. I've lived my earlier life with the mindset of a dumb ox (and still have some of that in me to this day) and was exploited thus for contact sports in high school where I sustained most of those injuries - herniated discs, concussions, broken fingers, broken ribs, etc. Tough, maybe, stupid, absolutely.
08-02-17, 10:37 AM
#179
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Most activities are as expensive as you want to make them. If spending 500 dollars on your bike makes you broke, don't spend it. You don't have to have the best shoes or tires or helmet or bibs to enjoy riding a bike.
08-02-17, 11:06 AM
#180
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08-02-17, 11:54 AM
#181
Fredly Fredster
I've spent over $6,000 on bikes and accessories since 2013... and I have 4 active bikes and 1 inactive 26er hardtail mountain. To me, $6K is a *****load of money... but I realize there are people out there who spend that much or more on a bike alone.
08-02-17, 12:02 PM
#182
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08-02-17, 12:23 PM
#183
Fredly Fredster
I 2nd this! Tennis is cheap as hell these days.
I can buy 8 cans of Wilson or Penn tennis balls from Dicks Sporting Goods for $20. In all I've spent $500 in the past 10 years on Tennis gear. 2 Rackets, 2 pairs of shoes, shorts, shirts, balls, grip tape, etc. You're right... I have a Wilson K Factor-K Zero and Wilson Hyper Hammer racket, both were under $100 for high quality rackets.
As opposed to Golf which costs a ****load of money, annually, to play either as a member of private club or at least $40 per 18 holes on a public course. And that's not counting golf clubs, balls, tees, shoes, gloves, etc.
As opposed to Music... guitars/basses playing live and/or recording gear. Amps, Guitars, Basses, Recording equipment.. I've probably spent easily over $15K all together since late 90's.
Road Cycling/Mountain Biking/Gravel Biking.... a *****load more than Tennis.
Tennis is a great, cheap hobby and excellent cardio exercise. Tennis courts are usually deserted these days... so there's never any excuse not to play, other than bad weather.
08-02-17, 12:32 PM
#184
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Cycling is very expensive and the cost has gone up a lot in the past 6-7 years or so. Moots frames are over $5,000. I recall buying one for under $3,000. My Tarmac set me back $7K and mountain bikes are also in that range if you want a good suspension and light groupset. I prob have 30K in my bikes easily....maybe 40K. I'm a lot more wary now, about buying too many bikes and am trying to thin the herd. As I type this, I am thinking of getting a Moots or other Ti gravel/cross frame, so the addiction is worse than I initially realized.
08-02-17, 12:40 PM
#185
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Pfft. That's an inexpensive month for @trekmogul 
08-02-17, 12:58 PM
#186
Senior Member
Oh come on. The numbers some of you guys are throwing out are sort of ridiculous. That expensive bikes are for sale is not the same as the bar for entry to cycling being expensive. You can spend half a million on an automobile...but there's literally millions that drive <$10,000 used cars.
You can buy a perfectly serviceable used road bike for $300 very quickly and easily. Throw in maybe $200 for a few pairs of shorts, spare tubes, lock, etc.
You can buy a perfectly serviceable used road bike for $300 very quickly and easily. Throw in maybe $200 for a few pairs of shorts, spare tubes, lock, etc.
08-02-17, 01:11 PM
#187
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Pfft. That's an inexpensive month for @trekmogul
08-02-17, 01:37 PM
#188
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Oh come on. The numbers some of you guys are throwing out are sort of ridiculous. That expensive bikes are for sale is not the same as the bar for entry to cycling being expensive. You can spend half a million on an automobile...but there's literally millions that drive <$10,000 used cars.
You can buy a perfectly serviceable used road bike for $300 very quickly and easily. Throw in maybe $200 for a few pairs of shorts, spare tubes, lock, etc.
You can buy a perfectly serviceable used road bike for $300 very quickly and easily. Throw in maybe $200 for a few pairs of shorts, spare tubes, lock, etc.
08-02-17, 02:00 PM
#189
Recusant Iconoclast
Oh come on. The numbers some of you guys are throwing out are sort of ridiculous. That expensive bikes are for sale is not the same as the bar for entry to cycling being expensive. You can spend half a million on an automobile...but there's literally millions that drive <$10,000 used cars.
You can buy a perfectly serviceable used road bike for $300 very quickly and easily. Throw in maybe $200 for a few pairs of shorts, spare tubes, lock, etc.
You can buy a perfectly serviceable used road bike for $300 very quickly and easily. Throw in maybe $200 for a few pairs of shorts, spare tubes, lock, etc.
08-02-17, 02:28 PM
#190
Senior Member
That is sort of my point. If your goal is to go cycling, even seriously, the amount of $ required is measured in hundreds. If your goal is to look cool/pro, weigh your bike on a post office scale and feel good about it, and have better equipment than anyone else you know, the costs become astronomical very quickly.
That's still not going to help you (significantly) keep the guy on a $300 bike from dropping you.
That's still not going to help you (significantly) keep the guy on a $300 bike from dropping you.
08-02-17, 02:41 PM
#191
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While that might be true, I haven't seen a single high level racer around here on a cheap bike. I guess fast people like nice stuff too.
08-02-17, 02:55 PM
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Expensive? Just wait 'til Canyon starts shipping in the US - problem solved.
08-02-17, 03:34 PM
#194
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He's no longer with us.
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See, this is why we can't have nice things. - - smarkinson
Where else but the internet can a bunch of cyclists go and be the tough guy? - - jdon
08-02-17, 03:34 PM
#195
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08-02-17, 04:25 PM
#196
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Sure, I'm not surprised at all by that. "High Level Racer" is a pretty small percentage of the cycling population though. And also, I still think that mostly falls into the category of 'having nice stuff is nice', not necessarily a requirement for serious cycling.
08-02-17, 05:33 PM
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[on edit]
As for their good bikes, when you spend as much time in the saddle as it takes to be competitive, it's nice to be on a nice bike.
Last edited by caloso; 08-02-17 at 05:37 PM.
08-02-17, 06:00 PM
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I noticed in my two years of road cycling, as my motor improves, I am less concerned of what I ride or how I look. I have stopped perusing websites for "stuff" I must have and focused on how to be a stronger rider.
True, it can be an expensive recreational activity to start, but this wanes after awhile. I am in for about $5,000 for two bikes, gear and clothing in two years time. Best investment I could make for my health and spiritual growth in my early fifties.
True, it can be an expensive recreational activity to start, but this wanes after awhile. I am in for about $5,000 for two bikes, gear and clothing in two years time. Best investment I could make for my health and spiritual growth in my early fifties.
08-02-17, 06:37 PM
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UK Sellers
Buy from Ribble, Wiggle, CRC, Merlins etc. you'll save a bundle.
In 2 minutes I found https://www.merlincycles.com/contine...RoC2jgQAvD_BwE
Which is a pair of GP4000s with a pair of inner tubes for $71 shipped to your door with no tax.
In 2 minutes I found https://www.merlincycles.com/contine...RoC2jgQAvD_BwE
Which is a pair of GP4000s with a pair of inner tubes for $71 shipped to your door with no tax.
I just spent ~500, new shoes, pedal, tire and clothing. I am broke as hell and still student for a while. I carefully manage the few bucks I have but when it comes to biking I CAN'T CONTROL MYSELF! And it is far from being accessible...just changing from spd to spd-l is a good 200$! Would have been 300 if I did not find my shoes on clearance. Conti GP4000 are 100$ the pair! The rest went on clothing as I only had a cheap bib+ jersey from ebay.
I shopped around (local) every piece of clothing retail at around 100$. Shoes are nearly twice the price and the gp4000, 75$ the tire.
I love this sport but my wallet is telling otherwise. Every time I order, I need to order big to save on cost. There is a minimum for free shipping and I get charged extra fee at the custom. Sucks to be canadian!
I shopped around (local) every piece of clothing retail at around 100$. Shoes are nearly twice the price and the gp4000, 75$ the tire.
I love this sport but my wallet is telling otherwise. Every time I order, I need to order big to save on cost. There is a minimum for free shipping and I get charged extra fee at the custom. Sucks to be canadian!