Don't understand why cyclo-commuting becomes expensive (a few pics of my commuter).
08-18-08, 07:22 PM
#101
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Exactly. I do not care if uke rides flat bars. What works for uke works for uke. What works for me works for me. I am comfortable on a track bike, a road racing bike, and my mountain bike. What I was not comfortable on was my old hybrid but that may have been due to a myriad of factors.
08-18-08, 07:42 PM
#102
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08-18-08, 07:43 PM
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08-18-08, 07:49 PM
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When people learn that I cycle everywhere, two of the responses If requently get get are:
1. I tried it, and it was too uncomfortable hunched over like that.
2. I don't want to wear lycra. (Or, It would be too inconvenient to have to change from lycra to regular clothing at work.)
1. I tried it, and it was too uncomfortable hunched over like that.
2. I don't want to wear lycra. (Or, It would be too inconvenient to have to change from lycra to regular clothing at work.)
08-18-08, 07:50 PM
#106
Pedaled too far.
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It's that sublime and lasting joy of thrift.
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"He who serves all, best serves himself" Jack London
08-18-08, 07:59 PM
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08-18-08, 08:07 PM
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In a controlled study all laboratory rats who rode drop bars died of cancer.
Can you say "runaway thread hijack"?
Just as a reminder:
You rock bro.
Can you say "runaway thread hijack"?
Just as a reminder:
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?
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?
Last edited by Cody Broken; 08-18-08 at 08:39 PM.
08-18-08, 08:11 PM
#110
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^^
+1
No arguments against commuting on the cheap. I rode the same MTB with slicks until I got a gleam in my eye for something fun. All I spent money on was a lock and a new seat when somebody stole mine.
I figured 15 years was long enough to ride the same bike and not feel guilty about the next one.
+1
No arguments against commuting on the cheap. I rode the same MTB with slicks until I got a gleam in my eye for something fun. All I spent money on was a lock and a new seat when somebody stole mine.
I figured 15 years was long enough to ride the same bike and not feel guilty about the next one.
08-18-08, 08:29 PM
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Just noticed...
Looks like ya got steel rims? Maybe?
In rain steel rims laugh HA HA! at brake pads.
First sudden stop situation on a rainy day ride will put alloy rims at the top of your to-do list.
and while yer at it, fenders like dems sed beferrr.
I'm tired, gettin loony (gettin? Ha!)
I'm out.
Looks like ya got steel rims? Maybe?
In rain steel rims laugh HA HA! at brake pads.
First sudden stop situation on a rainy day ride will put alloy rims at the top of your to-do list.
and while yer at it, fenders like dems sed beferrr.
I'm tired, gettin loony (gettin? Ha!)
I'm out.
08-18-08, 08:37 PM
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I'm back in!
I'm with them fellers.
THAT is the beautiful truth.
And recumbents cause brain tumors. (kidding)
THAT is the beautiful truth.
And recumbents cause brain tumors. (kidding)
08-18-08, 11:40 PM
#114
i won't f us over
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I spent a lot of money up front. I'm about to spend even more money, so that I can get an awesome bike as opposed to just an adequate one. I did not start bike commuting to save money, I started because I needed the exercise and because riding a bike is fun. Now all my 'gas' money is going into a savings account to buy my new Surly.
08-19-08, 01:45 AM
#115
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Who needs the pricey energy bars. I've gone that route in the past before and saw no advantage whatsoever other than my gas savings getting depleted and the stuff tasting like @ss. The only "pricey" items on my commuter grocery bill is the occasional can of gatorade powder and a huge bag of trail mix from the local warehouse mart that I can stretch out for a month or so. Other than, pb and honey is cheap and decent energy as is fruit. Oatmeal is cheap, rice is cheap, and raman rules if you've got a few recipes to break up the monotony of raman. Be sure to mix in some vegies and protein sources to the diet, though.
08-19-08, 04:19 AM
#116
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Actually as this thread demonstrates, a certain segment of out BF Brothers do offer emotional arguments against commuting on the cheap, and are adamant about defending the wisdom of their own choices, especially if it involves using (not cheap) road bikes with drop bars to commute.
08-19-08, 06:53 AM
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08-19-08, 07:10 AM
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On topic:
I suppose your spending habits regarding commuting are a reflection of your normal spending habits. It does not need to be expensive in many cases. Anyhow, I am cutting back on expenses and trying to alter my spending habits for good. Sick of my finances the way they are. This is a very good way to get to work and save cash if I can restrain myself from unneeded purchases.
Apparently letting my finances autopilot themselves was a very bad decision. Imagine that. duh
I suppose your spending habits regarding commuting are a reflection of your normal spending habits. It does not need to be expensive in many cases. Anyhow, I am cutting back on expenses and trying to alter my spending habits for good. Sick of my finances the way they are. This is a very good way to get to work and save cash if I can restrain myself from unneeded purchases.
Apparently letting my finances autopilot themselves was a very bad decision. Imagine that. duh
08-19-08, 07:29 AM
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I am right there with you. I am sick of spending money. My clearance bike that I bought last week is the last money I spend for some time. Happiness will now come from seeing my savings grow. I have stopped eating out completely, have quit doing a lot of the things that contributed to my wasteful spending. It is a shame that it took high gas prices for me to see things this way, but at least I can get started now, retirement is only 36 years away. Not that long if you think about it.
08-19-08, 07:54 AM
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I eat out all the time. Pretty much every lunch and almost every dinner. All weekend, too. The only thing that I tend to cook at home is breakfast. But then i'm sitting here at the office sipping on my Smoothie King so i skip cooking some breakfasts too. It got to a point where I hate the thought of cooking so much, i'd much rather pay someone else to do it. Picking up a grilled chicken salad on my way home is so much easier and quicker and saves me the time of shopping, cooking, and clean up. Well worth it IMHO. I just try to be careful with where, what and how much.
08-19-08, 07:57 AM
#121
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Oh yeah, i wasn't saying anything against cooking myself.. in fact I really wish I could do it. I just hate it so much! lol
And then to eat healthy it always seems to cost so much to buy the ingredients. Meats and veggies, a carb, etc. So i get frustrated and say screw it. lol
And then to eat healthy it always seems to cost so much to buy the ingredients. Meats and veggies, a carb, etc. So i get frustrated and say screw it. lol
08-19-08, 08:05 AM
#122
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My initial commuting investment was perhaps $300, maybe a few bucks less. I bought a new Fuji Crosstown hybrid (came with fenders!). I added a rear rack and a pair of those Wald folding baskets, and a seat back. I threw a patch kit, levers, a couple of CO2 cartridges and a multitool in there, but I already had those. I bought a blinkie that clips to the seat pack. Other than one replacement tube and one tire (Kenda - cheap), I haven't spent another nickel in the two and a half years I've been commuting on this bike.
It would have been even cheaper had I gone with a used bike, but I bought the bike on the eve of the last NYC transit strike. I didn't have time to search for a used bike.
It can be done on the cheap.
It would have been even cheaper had I gone with a used bike, but I bought the bike on the eve of the last NYC transit strike. I didn't have time to search for a used bike.
It can be done on the cheap.
08-19-08, 08:20 AM
#123
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Oh yeah, i wasn't saying anything against cooking myself.. in fact I really wish I could do it. I just hate it so much! lol
And then to eat healthy it always seems to cost so much to buy the ingredients. Meats and veggies, a carb, etc. So i get frustrated and say screw it. lol
And then to eat healthy it always seems to cost so much to buy the ingredients. Meats and veggies, a carb, etc. So i get frustrated and say screw it. lol
That and you start learning how to improvise and use whatever ingredients you have before they expire.
It's actually fairly easy. That and I like simple meals that are easy to make and do not have a ton of ingredients. Something like rice, black beans, salsa, all wrapped in a lite tort ilia makes me happy. Plus I eat quite a few small meals each day. Much easier to make.
08-19-08, 08:32 AM
#124
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It seems to have a little bit of a startup cost but once you get into things it is fairly cheap.
That and you start learning how to improvise and use whatever ingredients you have before they expire.
It's actually fairly easy. That and I like simple meals that are easy to make and do not have a ton of ingredients. Something like rice, black beans, salsa, all wrapped in a lite tort ilia makes me happy. Plus I eat quite a few small meals each day. Much easier to make.
That and you start learning how to improvise and use whatever ingredients you have before they expire.
It's actually fairly easy. That and I like simple meals that are easy to make and do not have a ton of ingredients. Something like rice, black beans, salsa, all wrapped in a lite tort ilia makes me happy. Plus I eat quite a few small meals each day. Much easier to make.
08-19-08, 08:45 AM
#125
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Oh and nothing wrong with commuting on the cheap. Some of us just like buying stuff we don't really need. My accessories cost more then my bike hahaa