Bike Forums - How much does it cost to bicycle?

Bike Forums (https://www.bikeforums.net/forum.php)

- General Cycling Discussion (https://www.bikeforums.net/general-cycling-discussion/)

- - How much does it cost to bicycle? (https://www.bikeforums.net/general-cycling-discussion/1082528-how-much-does-cost-bicycle.html)

I haven't seen any breakdown of 'cost' per unit of 'fun'. Seems some erroneous analysis abounds hereabouts.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gweedo1 (Post 19094247)

For me, I look at anything I buy in pursuit of my passions as "relatively affordable" as opposed to expensive or not. If I can afford it, I'll buy it and not think about the price.

One must examine such expenditures within a a cost-benefit analysis framework. Once viewed that way, the benefits far outweigh the costs, so the investments return huge dividends.

I simply don't keep track of the money I spend on my passionate pursuits. I just try and buy those things I can afford. This is not to say that at times I don't have foolish moments of accounting thinking about where that money could have gone if spent "responsibly", like into retirement savings, because then I would not have had all the miles of smiles I've had and how much is that worth?...more than I invested that's for sure. :thumb:

Pretty much the way I approach my hobbies. The only reason I know how much I've spent on cycling is that I just got back into it earlier this year. Now, with my other hobby, RC planes, not even going to attempt to add it up over the years. Assplodding carbon fiber doesn't have anything on exploding balsa wood. :cry:

I don't recall anyone calculating the "cost" of increased of health but I will, priceless.

Bike was paid for a long time ago, but just running the numbers for this year, I'm at about 30 cents per mile this season.

When we are discussing cycling for fun or cycling for sports, we should look at cost per hour, not cost per mile. Cost per mile is relevant to commuting or utility cycling

Quote:

Originally Posted by fastturtle (Post 19095896)

When we are discussing cycling for fun or cycling for sports, we should look at cost per hour, not cost per mile. Cost per mile is relevant to commuting or utility cycling

Good point, for me per mile cost times 18 is pretty close to the cost per hour either way. But doing both, and presumably at different speeds, how would you divide it up?

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeadGrandpa (Post 19095356)

Seems some erroneous analysis abounds hereabouts.

Not "erroneous", but the OCD vibe is intense.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phloom (Post 19095575)

I don't recall anyone calculating the "cost" of increased of health but I will, priceless.

We can try, simplifying by supposing that better health translates into extended life expectancy. I know, that doesn't address quality of life directly.

Using the EPA value for human life, divided by life expectancy in years gives a value for each year that we live. I chose the EPA because it's at the higher end of the ranges (that varies obviously). The EPA is primarily concerned with economic impacts in this regard, it's not perfect but their reasoning is logical. They use 9.1 million, which with a 78 year life expectancy comes to about $117,000 per year or $14 per hour.

the group of people who cycle every day at a fast pace gain about 5 years. Slower paced cyclists gained 3 years (sorry Dutch cyclists, but them's the numbers). So that's a gain equivalent to a third to over half a million dollars! The catch is that the time spent cycling pretty much takes up the extra life expectancy.

Quote:

Originally Posted by wphamilton (Post 19096007)

Quality of life is the most important thing in my opinion. Because I see a lot of age and lifestyle related suffering in my line of work it long ago made me realize simply being alive without quality of life is pointless. If someone gave me my choice of dying at 65 by being splattered while out riding, or 85 after lingering 6-8-10 years with Alzheimer's or something along those lines it would be a total no-brainer. Frankly if I make it to a decent age still healthy and out there, I kinda selfishly like the thought of going out instantly on my bike, but of course wouldn't wish that on the motorist involved. Maybe if I'm a spry 78 I can do a "real" mountain bike trek somewhere that a 400 foot hill isn't the highest thing in 150 miles and I can have a tragic accident on some rugged trail.

Some impressive stats and calculations presented here. I'm just keeping simple: I run, ride and eat decent because it makes me feel good and I know I'm healthy. It's improving my quality of life and adding x number of days to my life. Im almost 58 and certainly feel better when I stay active.

I rode a metric century today and it was nice to see cyclists of all ages, shapes and sizes out there doing either 25, 50 or 100K. Smart folks. :)

It cost me way more to run then it did to keep a bike maintained, running shoes cost me an average of $30 back in the mid 70's, which is the same as spending $178 in today's dollars, and I had to replace the shoes every 3 months, so that's $712 a year in shoes in today's dollars!