Nobodyetal

What's the longest you've ever gone without spending money on bike stuff?

I had a good several-month run but then had to buy some cold-weather stuff for the commute now that I live in Colorado.
Seems like I've got my LHT pretty much how I like it and shouldn't have to buy anything in the next several thousand miles.

How do you guys roll?

droy45

It took me almost a year to build up my all around good for everything bike so buying was a constant thing for that period of time and its not quite done but I should have it close in a couple weeks. Then I'm hoping I can go several months without having to do anything.

acidfast7

clothes only.

i buy multifunctional stuff to reduce over cost.

for example, i ride with lycra running parts, XC skiing tops and XC ski gloves. because I also run and XC ski that keeps overall clothing costs down.

i wear a gore-tex lined Adidas running shoe that i run with in the winter as well, which further reduces costs.

the most expensive input in biking is the extra food that i have to eat every day and the CR2032.

when one considers the environmental footprint of consuming an extra 500-1000 kcal/day, i actually wonder if i'm doing the planet a disservice versus using the subway

I-Like-To-Bike

I bought several tires from Schwalbe on-line about 18 months ago.

I've got everything my wife and I need for the foreseeable future, bikewise and otherwise. A very nice situation.

Brennan

Ugh. I don't want to add up what I have spent in the past few months. Hopefully, I am reaching the point where I won't have to buy anything else for a while. That is the goal anyway.

Bill Kapaun

The longest I went was about 50 years.
Since I've gotten into wheel building, it's hard to not buy stuff weekly to build wheels I don't even need!

ThermionicScott 

I keep telling myself that, too.

Stun

Hmmm...last 2 years=who-knows-how-many tubes, two sets of tires, 2 sets of shifter cables/housing, grips, saddle, 1 cassette, and 1 chain (due for another soon...)--Oh and some bar ends for fun since I was spending so much money anyway...I have also bought a new jersey, new shoes, new glasses...

The 2 years before that=3 tubes, nothing else.

My stuff tends to all wear out at the same time...I go a few years buying hardly anything and then other years I am buying stuff every month...

no motor?

Let me know if you get to that point. That's been my goal for a while.

ItsJustMe

3-6 months is the longest apart from the bail out? It's not unusual for me to go a year or so.

I did just buy a whole new bike for the first time in 8 years and I bought a front bag and a rear light, plus a floor pump, kickstand, multitool, spare tube, etc to outfit it, but generally I toss new brake pads on once a year and a new drivetrain every 2 to 2.5 years, and that's about it. I buy 2 or 3 sets of brake pads when I am out.

canyoneagle

I've had a couple of 2-3 year "gaps" in my cycling life since the 70's.
Otherwise, I tend to get maintenance items periodically, and do the occasional "project" (my Ciocc being the current example) brings frequent but short lived bursts of bike-related purchases.

PatrickGSR94

My wife says I keep the LBS in business since it seems like I'm up there almost every weekend, despite me also ordering stuff from Nashbar and Amazon.

But yeah I actually didn't have to go up there this past weekend, so it's been 8 days now since I bought stuff for the bike. But actually I have $10 credit at the shop and another $4 left on the gift card hmmmm what should I get

deeth82

One day I hope to be in a similar situation.

deeth82

I also feel that pain...although honestly, I think 8/10 times we force ourselves into that mindset. That being said, I hope to one day be in a situation similar to ILTB's...got what you need; everything else is a luxury.

Andy_K 

I'd guess that it took me about a year to get to the point where I had everything I "needed" -- even by the American consumerist definition of "need". It turns out that didn't stop me from buying things.

Last Friday I went to Universal Cycles to pickup two orders I had placed online. While I was there I picked up a seat post, a saddle, bar tape, a headset top cap and a rack -- in addition to my two online orders.

cyclist2000

I have been on a constant roll since my wife suggested that I get another bike. I have many and am always looking for another frame to build up, so I only go a week or two without getting something.

tsl

I was up to six months, had everything in stock for spring too, then a cracked head tube meant a new frame, fork, headset, cables, bar tape, bars (just because), stem, spacers.

Restarted the clock two weeks ago.

wolfchild

Usually about 6 months, before the temptetion to buy something gets too much , and I just have to go out and buy something. Yesterday I bought a set of brake leavers because I plan on changing the handlebars on one of my bikes. Right now I am very well stocked up with spare parts and components, enough to build a new bike.

Burton

Pretty much as regular as I buy groceries I guess! But then I like to rescue fix-R-upers which is how most of my bikes started out so the initial capital outlay wasn't there. Then there have been a few experimental projects.

This year there are a couple new bikes in the works and since both are pretty much make-overs - there have been a lot of goodies compiled over the past 6 months and only one bike is done at this point. First time I've ever 'bought' an entirely new bike and seems like a lot of trouble to go through for something I'm just going to give to someone afterwards. But they wouldn't go for a puppy instead.

Slowhead

I buy a little gear monthly and budget for it. Some of it can used in other activities, like XC ski and running.
I enjoy having fewer, but better quality items.

deeth82

I feel like I'm finally at the place where I know what it is I NEED for riding versus what it is that I WANT. That being said, I've been going strong for almost a year buying something bike-related each month. Before that, it was every 3 months, and before that, every 6. All of this started gaining momentum after being off a bike for nearly 8 years.

JReade

I bought new tires at Christmas, and I think that was it. I'm going to do some new bar tape/cables/housing soon though.

PatrickGSR94

I still want to replace the Nashbar adjustable stem on my MTB with a lighter, fixed stem. Also need a new saddle for the road bike before my upcoming metric century (still rocking the OEM Felt saddle at the moment). Really need a jersey or three, too. Also considering clip-on aerobars for that event.

Burton

I-Like-To-Bike

That's why I seldom have to buy bicycle related items, I bought my quality items years ago.

My bicycles and associated accessories have not depreciated any in their value or use to me, regardless of what new flashy gee-whiz items are put on the market