Over the past six months, I have slowly scratched together on a student salary most of what I need to be essentially carfree commuting. I thought it'd be instructive to post a breakdown of it for others who are on the fence. Anyone else with similar records, feel free to post your own breakdown of costs.

This is just my approach; anyone else undertaking this analysis would certainly come up with a different answer. For example, I bought two bikes (both used) so that I could maintain commuting uptime while either bike is broken or being serviced. Other beginner commuters might choose to rely on only one bike.

I have purchased low end components with an emphasis on utility and durability.

$100 - Main Commuter Bike: $050 - Winter Beater Bike:$400 - Commuter Components:$400 - Repairs:$150 - Safety Equipment:$125 - Clothing:$200 - Tools and Maintenance:TOTAL: about $1500 all in.

Now if driving a car costs about $.58/mile, I will need to replace about 3000 car miles with bike trips. So far so good. If I was in a position to sell my car and drop the insurance, I'd come out ahead immediately by a few thousand dollars. I am not yet willing to do that. Of course, the physical, mental, and emotional health benefits are more difficult to assess. There is very definitely a social cost associated with switching to bike commuting, even in an age of $4/gallon gasoline.

Note: the cost of any winter components, e.g., studded tires, was not figured in here. I figure those can be Christmas presents. Haha!

Wow. I'm not into it for nearly that much. I started commuting with my old 1983 Nishiki which I already had. I bought a trunk bag and a helmet and that was pretty much it for several months.

After wrecking the old Nishiki I had my radar up for a replacement, ended up getting a Nishiki hybrid (new with store price tags) for $100. Since they stopped making them in 2001, it's at least 7 years old but I don't think it had 10 miles on it when I got it.

Got some lights recently, a small saddlebag and some riding gloves.

All told, about $250, maybe $300, I'd say.

I spent another $25 this week but that was on a vintage Raleigh I haven't ridden to work yet, so that still sits in the "hobby" category and not the "commuting" category, although I think it may turn out to be my bad weather bike.

There are obvious differences in what people find necessary and what people wind up doing. $1,500 may seem high to some (myself included) but, for others, that may not be enough. Here's a quick breakdown of my expenses.

$100 - Beater MTB:
My dad gave me the bike after he picked it up from Freecycle, so the bike, while free, needed some work. I added a seat, Planet Bike Protege 9.0 cycle computer, Kendra Kross tires, new tubes, water bottles, a rear rack and two DIY panniers.

$250 - Daily Rider Used Giant Kronos:
Riding the beater taught me what I wanted in a commuter and I found it at a thrift shop. Came with a rear rack but it was pretty much useless since the chain stay is so short.

$150 - Bike equipment:
This includes tools, which I am slowly acquiring as I find I need new tools. After walking the bike for a good portion of my commute, I learned I needed a pump, spare tubes, tire levers, and a seat wedge to hold them all. I also recently purchased a set of lock blocks to hold my Ultrafire C3 Cree Q5 light on each of the bikes. I may wind up getting another one (or two) for added lighting in the coming darker commutes. I already had a cable lock from when I moved to college, and I was given a U-lock to better protect my investments.

$50 - Safety Equipment:
$15 for my first helmet, and after I used it, I bought a better fitting one for $35. I gues there's also a very cheap high-vis orange vest for foggy, dark or otherwise hindered visibility times.

$50 - Clothing:
I bought a few wicking shirts from Target as well as a pair of underarmor compression shorts and never looked back.

So, totalling it all up I'm at $600ish, and there are probably things I have forgotten. Many of my friends, and most of my family thinks I'm nuts when they hear how much money I've put into this hobby/way of life. I don't forsee myself selling my car any time soon, but eventually I could see discussing with the insurance company about a lower rate due to decreased driving.

HopliteGrad, this is an interesting perspective on commuting and the costs involved.

A potentially awesome thread, if people stick to the format to make for easier reading. Always fun to read what it took to get each of us up to speed.

$560 - Jamis Coda
Bought at LBS. My first adult bike. I ride it daily, and am looking for a cheap backup to supplement it.

$120 - Bike equipment:
Cable lock, U-lock, tool kit, floor pump, cycle computer (which I don't use). All purchased at Amazon.

$120 - Safety Equipment:
Helmet, P7 flashlight, Superflash blinkie. Helmet and blinkie from Amazon, P7 + charger, batteries, and mount from DX.

$0 - Clothing:
I use my regular clothes.

So it totals up to about $800. I save about $12 a week riding to class instead of driving. It's more than worth it. Both the bike and the car were gifts--the bike is mine, the car belongs to my parents--for grad school. I'm quite grateful for both, and hopefully will put many more miles on the bike. I ride about 40 miles a week, all of it on a utilitarian basis (class, groceries).

When I originally started it cost me:
$0 for a cheap mtb that I already owned.
$20 for a helmet

Done.

However, then winter set in. I purchased a new bike. Became addicted to lycra. Purchased a few more bikes and a boat load of accessories.

Actually, it is less. You don't need to save $1500 to break even, you need to save $1500 minus whatever you could sell all your bike stuff for. That $0.58/mile takes into account depreciation, but your car will never depreciate to $0... and neither will your bike.

$300-Kona Smoke
First real bike in years. Got it on clearance from the LBS.

$200-Equipment
Pump, locks, multi-tool, rack, spare tube from the LBS. Knog saddlebag panniers from an employee at the LBS who was moving out of state. Tire patches and levers from Wal-Mart. Already had a pair of old Nashbar Townies (about 15 yrs old now).

$35-Safety
Helmet and gloves from Wal-Mart. No lights yet, but am looking at probably another $120 for the works (led flashlights up front/PB Superflash in rear/batteries/chargers for all).

$100-Clothing
Not exactly, though. I don't own any cycling specific clothing. I tried to just use my old standard of denim shorts/cotton muscle shirts. Not comfortable. Searched the forums and decided that I would try a pair of cheap compression shorts/wicking shorts/shirt. MUCH better! Bought a whole bunch of shorts/shirts/socks during the state's 'Back-To-School Tax-Free Holiday'. A lot more comfortable now wearing this stuff in the hot warehouse at work too.

Cool, thanks for posting, y'all!

Dang. I'm on the way-high side cost-wise. You people and your money-saving approaches! And I thought I was being thrifty! Haha!

However, I'm now in a position of being abler to do most of my own repair and maintenance, so the cost over time should remain stable and low.

I'd like to hear the cost breakdown from any folks who went for a new bike instead of the thrift store approach.

Doohickie where are you scoring like new nishikis and raleighs for so cheap? Here at my college town, the fixie fad eats up any cheap bicycles very quickly.

i am well into the 2,000 mark

It cost me nothing to start commuting to work. I had already had my bike and various gear for years. Although after a month I picked up a better back pack $50 and a better light $35.

The first 6 months of commuting the most I spent was on Tubes, patches and a new set of tires (had MTB knobbies before) and basic maintenance like broken spokes brake pads or a tune up.

Then I picked up a better rack system that would accommodate panniers. The one I had was a Transit Seat post rack but didn't allow for the sides. Picked up the Topeak Seat post rack with side rails and the trunk bag with zip out panniers and the Navarro panniers from REI in total about $240

This last week was another hit $230 on new Mavic rims and a fender. ( i kept breaking spokes on the crappy one I had.

I figure in all I have prob spent around $600 dollars on things I needed. This includes clothes or replacing the stupid light that fell off my bike.

uke has the right idea : )

i will say, that by the time you spend the money on 2 used bikes of low quality, repairs on them, AND commuting equipment, that's $950 dollars you said, you could have easily bought a brand new high quality commuter with all the bells and whistles and simply carried repair equipment with you, i really don't think multiple bikes are necessary, maaybe a single speed/ fixed gear for the winter, but there's an easy way to fix that : P get a single speed for your commuter.

or you could have gone with the craigslist thing, and bought a higher end bike that was ready to hit the road (or 2 if you really wanted 2 bikes)

however there is something to be said for a lower end bike, they are much less likely to be messed with, even with good components, people rarely mess with schwinn bikes around here

either way, looks like you have a nice setup now : ) happy commuting!!

I think it's fair to say that you jumped into the deep end of the pool head first. However you've gotten it all out of the way up front and should have no issues other than some fine tuning.

I wanted to say that you spent way too much but other than having a shop do the initial repairs other than doing it yourself I can't really fault any of your costs. A bit of nit picking here and there perhaps on buying one more expensive brand over another cheaper option but on the whole and for two bikes I think you did well and presented a realistic budget.

It's great that you also factored in a spare bike. I know that having more than one has helped me out a lot when one goes down for whatever reason. Gives you an option to ride to get parts or just to delay any repairs for a day or two if you're doing other things.

I figure

$2000 <= x <= $3000

$450 - Main Commuter Bike:
2003 Norco Monterey (discounted old stock)

$220 - Commuter Components:
Rack (MEC), fenders, lock (Kryptonite New York), straps, pannier.

$160 - Repairs and upgrades:
After four years, I replaced the chain, cogs, rear derailleur, and cables. Also new seat post (didn't like the spring stock seat post), pedals, and toe straps. I'm getting more confident at making my own repairs, but in the middle of winter, I'd just as soon take the bike into the shop and let them take care of things (when the garage is freezing to work in and the bike is likely wet and dirty).

$150 - Safety Equipment:
Helmet, lights (Planet Bike, 2 front, 2 rear), seat bag to store them (MEC), reflective sash, ankle straps, and tape, bell.

$0- Clothing:
I wear regular clothes.

$120 - Tools and Maintenance:
Tough to estimate since I've just picked stuff up over so many years.

TOTAL: about $1100 all in. (or $820, if you don't count repairs and upgrades after four years or tools, which are a long term investment, not commuter bike specific)

$75 - Main Commuter Bike:
Pacific Elite 3.1 MTB, clearance at Target 5 years ago

$70 - Commuter Components:
When I started, Headlight, blinky, rack and trunk

$60- Safety Equipment:
reflective vests, reflective illuminite jacket

$0- Clothing:
I wore regular clothes when I first started commuting

Well, who wouldn't like to have a Civia Rohloff, a complete all-weather commuter wardrobe, a home bike workshop and a vault-like bike storage locker at your destination. You can get started bike commuting far more modestly.

In the summer of 1965, we moved from the country into town and I was able to quit riding the bus and ride my bike to school (3rd grade).

$0 - Commuter bike: I already had it, and furthermore it was a several year old hand-me-down from my older brother, and furtherfurthermore some ten years later my parents sold it for what they paid new. Schwinn with Wald basket, top quality!

$2 - Commuter components: My dad hacksawed off a length of chain for me, and I bought a good combination lock at the Five and Dime. I've seldom been disappointed in buying quality: I still have that combination lock.

______________

One other note about costs: many years ago a coworker was teasing me about the time and expense of bike commuting. I asked him what he was going to do once he got home. He said he would grab his exercise clothes and head off to the gym where he had a membership to work out...

Best,
tcs

Hmm. If I had gone the single bike route, the cost would have been more like the following:

$050 - Commuter Beater Bike:$250 - Commuter Components:

$100 - Repairs:

$150 - Safety Equipment:

$125 - Clothing:

$200 - Tools and Maintenance:

TOTAL: about $875 all in.

Not bad for a ready-to-kick-*** bike, gear, wardrobe, and repair station. I think I'm more satisfied with a 2 bike setup, but this would have been a perfectly serviceable approach.

We do not speak of how much I spend on cycling.

Though the majority of it probably isn't commuter or utility specific. I may build up a utilitarian singlespee dthis winte rthough, planning on spending ~400 bucks for that (working in a shop helps).

Oh and I don't own a car.

$260 - Main Commuter Bike:
Used Scott SUB 30 in great shape, came with sks fenders.

$80- Commuter Components:
rack (Blackburn), backpack (followed by messenger bag, back to backpack now), cable lock, trunk bag

$40 - Repairs and upgrades:
Ergon grips, took fenders off, definite upgrade in my book.

$40 - Safety Equipment:
Helmet, blinky

$0- Clothing:
I wear regular clothes.

$100 - Tools and Maintenance:
tire levers, tubes, road morph pump, multi-tool, various greases/lubes, freewheel tool, bottom bracket tool, allen wrench set


TOTAL: about $520. I'd call that low end of what you can get by with. I also got lucky with sales and discounts.

edit: that being said, i'm also looking around for stuff for a SS build, and a U-lock. add $200 to the previous breakdown if you'd like.

Every time I think I've spent "enough" on my bike, something else crops up. My evening commutes have become too dark, so I bought a Fenix L2D. I quickly found out that isn't sufficient for my riding needs so I dumped another $150 on a DiNotte 200L. The Fenix will go on my helmet.

That said, as long as I use what I'm buying and it increases my enjoyment of riding (or in this case, increases the enjoyable time I can spend on the bike), it's worth it.

I have the utmost respect for people who creatively make do with less gear. All the more for people who do this while eliminating reliance on a car.

Generally a £1 in the UK can buy the same as $1 in the US whatever the exchange rate.
When I started commuting:
£12- Main Commuter Bike:
Well-used Triumph All-Steel 3-speed with dynamo lights, rack, fenders,bell, pump (was £12 used).

£0- Commuter Components:

£0.5 - Repairs and upgrades:
New brake blocks

£0 - Safety Equipment:
My pre-helmet days before LED lights.

$0- Clothing:
Deerstalker hat inherited from grandfather. Otherwise all everyday clothing.

£10 - Tools and Maintenance:
Puncture repair kit (not spare inner).

This year I bought a new £700 Alfine/disk brake commuter bike and the bill for my dynohub-LED lighting just came in at £210.

I don't have mine totaled, but I hope to learn a lot this year to help me keep costs down.

Rough guess:
probaly $500 or so into it

I'll be volunteering at the local co-op to learn the ins and outs of bike mechanics. Should save me some $$ on tuneups and what not. For every hour of volunteer work, you get $7 credit for parts and such they have in stock and I think you also get an hour of stand time every month.

I'm also looking for a decent sewing machine off craigslist or ebay so I can re-purpose thrift store finds for cycling. Hack a pair of pants for knickers, sew a zipper into a wool shirt or reduce a long sleeve wool shirt to a zip up vest or short sleeve shirt.

I'm well over $3000... probably close to $4000. But then if I see something neat-0 (tm) I pretty much have to buy it. I'm not the archangel of thrift. I have GPS and heart rate on my bike. I balked at putting a power meter on it... the low end there is over $1000.

For the first 7 years I commuted, it cost me next to nothing to commute...I think the only thing I spent money on was about $20 for a light...I was commuting on my road bike and commuting was just another use for my existing equipment (so yeah, I did spend a few thousand bucks on those bikes, but I didn't buy them for commuting).

This year, I finally got a dedicated commuter (Swobo Otis ~$700), rack (~$35), panniers (2 different sets on sale, ~$70 total), new lock (~$30), new lights (~$35), and rain pants (~$30). My recent commuting related purchases have been around $1000.

I generally don't rationalize biking based on how much money I'll save on gas...I started commuting when gas was about $1/gallon :-). I bike commute because: I enjoy it, it relaxes me, it is good exercise, it is good for the environment, I live close enough that I would feel bad driving, and yes, it saves me some money (parking costs are about $200 a year, and at the current prices, I save about $15/week in gas...but this is just an added benefit).

Hmmm I wasn't going to document this but what the hell.


$120 for 1998 CL find Cannondale M400.


$55 for street tires.

That got me going with a back pack I already had.

But wait! we must have Swag! Cotton T-Shirts suck when you sweat.

$200 estimated for summer shirts in tech fabrics (many found on sale for $15 -20).

$150 for bike tools cause you do have to maintain it.

Chain whip, cassette tool, crank removal tool, Chain cleaner, bottom bracket tool.

$100 For rack and MTX bag

$20 new handle bars to replace that straight bar.

$80 Must have new computer, rear light, and other stuff.

$30 Freddy fenders

$40 Pit-bull with cable so I can lock up at stores.

$70 starting to get dark in the morning. Super flash, Blazer front, Safety vest, some reflective stickers

$20 after spend nearly 200 at REI I guess I should get the membership

$95 at Nashbar

Those trekking bars look cool.....ohh bar tape....Might need new cables, Ohh might be too low so tube extension, hmmm might need a short ter stem and the other stem can make a head light bar.

$50 for Topeak morph pump and new brake pads for the old Peugeot.

Man that Jamis Coda looked sweet and what a bargain at $700 had to pass they didn't have my size

$130 at Nashbar to gear up for winter

Can't pass up the 35 year sale with the extra 10%!
light jacket, medium weight jacket, winter tights, warm skull cap, water proof helmet cover.

$1090 and counting!


Garage sailing on the bike today. Found a nice old Colombia Tandem (early 70's) in outstanding shape. They are thinking about a price and will call me if they sell.

Then I found a older Jamis Dakar with Biospace cranks in good shape asking $90 and it had lights! but was way too small I should go buy it for the parts.


Yeah It would have been way cheaper to keep driving to work. I live close and we are only talking about $50 a month in fuel but it is not nearly as fun.