Originally posted by Pat
As far as consumables go - I get 4000 miles plus on a tire (front one much more than that). So that gives me 5 cents per mile. I get about the same on a chain which is another 5 cents per mile. So I am at 10 cents per mile. As for the bike, it costs $2000 and it has lasted over 30,000 miles so that is a 7 cents per mile. So I am at 17 cents per mile. Or about $2 to do a century. When I did all of my own maintenance that was nice and cheap and cost virtually nothing. Having a shop do the harder stuff might add bring the total up to 20 cents per mile. Of course, one could easily halve the above figure by riding large inexpensive tires, doing all your own maintenance and riding an inexpensive bike or buying a used bike at less than half price. I think if you work it out, bicycling is very reasonably priced compares favorably with belonging to a health club or even running (and going through shoes all the time).
But that is only for road. For me I replace my tires bi-monthy at 60$ a tire. My freehub goes on average about 1.5 months at 50$ for part and labour (will be buying the tool soon), Pedals monthly to bimonthly. Suspension maintenance depending on the courses I am doing can get pricey. Broken deraileurs, chains every 2 months and a cassette every 4 months.
While road cycling isn't expensive, mountain biking is very expensive. This is only with aggro xc and light freeriding. I would hate to see what a dhiller or real freerider puts into their bike.
