Every few days, it seems, I see a post on this forum, or on Living Car-Free, where somebody is very excited about the prospect of saving a few bucks by commuting, and optimistically asks everyone how much they've saved. Within the first few posts, it seems, somebody always scoffs at this naivete, and lists the $500 in parts, clothing and repairs they've spent in the last couple of weeks.
Maybe I just lack imagination, or have a tendency to round my numbers down, but I can't figure that I've spent more than $100 in the last six months.
Here is my commuter bike. A 1990s, cro-moly steel road bike, purchased second-hand for $20. The panniers are Nashbar townie baskets, purchased for $10 each from Nashbar, while the rear rack is a Bor Yeuh urban model, $15.
The Novara wasn't totally equipped for a rear-rack, so I had to get creative with a pair of "p-clamps," $0.99 each.
The pedals there are Chrome Bros egg-beaters, $40, and the front and rear lights are Trek, $10 each.
When I figure that up, I come to $97.99, so if you add to that spare tubes, Park tools, chain lube, etc., and more food than usual (thought I've always seen eating as its own reward), I figure I've spent about four weeks' worth of gas on transportation the last six months.
What am I doing wrong?