Cycling: Cost per Mile
11-29-18, 04:37 PM
#26
Keepin it Wheel
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~10K miles in 17mo is still no joke. Keep up that pace, and your lovely rohloff bike will be 'free' in no time!
11-29-18, 04:47 PM
#27
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)I like to also factor in the cost of driving a car to the same location. I think I'm getting close to having amortized the Gunnar when I look at total expense of this and my previous commuting bike (which I had since 1993) and the distance I've traveled commuting since I started in earnest in 2015 (thus saving the car expense of those miles) But I know that wasn't in scope for this thread.
11-29-18, 06:09 PM
#29
Senior Member
I keep a spreadsheet of expenses for each bike so here is the cost per mile for the most ridden 2 as they currently sit:
1990 Trek 520
Owned since Feb 2018
$0.37/mi
2017 Salsa Vaya
Owned since Feb 2017
$0.49/mi
Ironically, my newest bike (Vaya) is the bike I have had the longest.
1990 Trek 520
Owned since Feb 2018
$0.37/mi
2017 Salsa Vaya
Owned since Feb 2017
$0.49/mi
Ironically, my newest bike (Vaya) is the bike I have had the longest.
11-29-18, 06:15 PM
#30
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What's your cost per mile?
A working-condition road find is 0/mi from the instant you first set in motion, until you first have to replace a tube or a brake pad or something.
A bike that you pay $10000 (or even $1) for, but it only sits in the garage and is never ridden, has infinite $/mi.
Everything else is in between.*
The $/mi metric can be applied to individual bikes, or whole stables (or even individual components). It gets tricky (see ship-of-Theseus) for somebody that swaps parts between bikes a lot.
But if you start to factor benefit into the equation (I paid X for the bike, but saved Y because of riding instead of driving, or saving bus fare, or whatever), it gets too complicated I think. I'm not so interested in comparing bike cost to car cost (if you've got an axe to grind against cars, go do it in LCF), as much as all of us comparing our bike costs to each others'.
My #1 bike (Surly CrossCheck), has probably $2000 sunk into it (original build + upgrades + maintenance) over the last 6 years that I've been commuting on it, and has accumulated I think 15000 miles or so? That's a cost of roughly 13c/mi. It feels like kind of a high cost if I think of it in terms of pausing every mile to drop another 13c into a jar. (for my 11mi rt, I'm paying about a buck and a half a day, that would buy me lunch once a week). So I think it's better to think of how that cost/mi drops the more I ride (At this time, I've prepaid about a buck and a half a day)
My mountain bike (Surly Krampus): I got for like $1000, only a few months ago, I have maybe 100mi on it. So it's still an expensive $10/mi. Obviously I'd like to get that way down, and the only way to do that is ride baby ride. (Without spending a ton on upgrades). Maybe after a few years I'll consider upgrading to a (used) new model Krampus, because of the braze-ons, thru-axles, tubeless-ready rims, and simpler/stiffer frame (no jump tube, no need for custom chainstay yoke). If I do that and sell my current Krampus, then I can deduct my sales price from the cost and compute (estimate) a final cost-per-mile for the use of that bike.
My previous mountain bike (BD Moto hardtail) cost $750, plus maybe $150 in tires/parts. I rode it for 3 years, but only recreationally, most weekends, so maybe 1000mi? (I don't really have accurate numbers here. Strava users feel free to be as precise as you want, but others go ahead and ballpark it like me), so 90c/mi. (However, it is now my son's bike, so technically I still own it, and it contributes to the family stable cost per mile)
So there you go, I offer example bikes with cost-per-mile at three different orders of magnitude. How about you and your bikes?
* If you flip the bike for more than you put into it, your $/mi is negative!
A working-condition road find is 0/mi from the instant you first set in motion, until you first have to replace a tube or a brake pad or something.
A bike that you pay $10000 (or even $1) for, but it only sits in the garage and is never ridden, has infinite $/mi.
Everything else is in between.*
The $/mi metric can be applied to individual bikes, or whole stables (or even individual components). It gets tricky (see ship-of-Theseus) for somebody that swaps parts between bikes a lot.
But if you start to factor benefit into the equation (I paid X for the bike, but saved Y because of riding instead of driving, or saving bus fare, or whatever), it gets too complicated I think. I'm not so interested in comparing bike cost to car cost (if you've got an axe to grind against cars, go do it in LCF), as much as all of us comparing our bike costs to each others'.
My #1 bike (Surly CrossCheck), has probably $2000 sunk into it (original build + upgrades + maintenance) over the last 6 years that I've been commuting on it, and has accumulated I think 15000 miles or so? That's a cost of roughly 13c/mi. It feels like kind of a high cost if I think of it in terms of pausing every mile to drop another 13c into a jar. (for my 11mi rt, I'm paying about a buck and a half a day, that would buy me lunch once a week). So I think it's better to think of how that cost/mi drops the more I ride (At this time, I've prepaid about a buck and a half a day)
My mountain bike (Surly Krampus): I got for like $1000, only a few months ago, I have maybe 100mi on it. So it's still an expensive $10/mi. Obviously I'd like to get that way down, and the only way to do that is ride baby ride. (Without spending a ton on upgrades). Maybe after a few years I'll consider upgrading to a (used) new model Krampus, because of the braze-ons, thru-axles, tubeless-ready rims, and simpler/stiffer frame (no jump tube, no need for custom chainstay yoke). If I do that and sell my current Krampus, then I can deduct my sales price from the cost and compute (estimate) a final cost-per-mile for the use of that bike.
My previous mountain bike (BD Moto hardtail) cost $750, plus maybe $150 in tires/parts. I rode it for 3 years, but only recreationally, most weekends, so maybe 1000mi? (I don't really have accurate numbers here. Strava users feel free to be as precise as you want, but others go ahead and ballpark it like me), so 90c/mi. (However, it is now my son's bike, so technically I still own it, and it contributes to the family stable cost per mile)
So there you go, I offer example bikes with cost-per-mile at three different orders of magnitude. How about you and your bikes?
* If you flip the bike for more than you put into it, your $/mi is negative!
Which is pretty good, considering it was by far the most expensive single cycling purchase I have made.
Last edited by caloso; 11-29-18 at 06:19 PM.
11-29-18, 06:46 PM
#31
Keepin it Wheel
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11-29-18, 06:47 PM
#32
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Cool, good to see somebody else was already thinking along the same lines as me
11-29-18, 06:48 PM
#33
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It sure does help to look at the cost of cycling purchases this way (as long as you've put in the miles to decimate the cost)
11-29-18, 07:09 PM
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I dont consider mods or prematurly upgrading, so long as the original part is preserved for potential later use, as a cost to factor in until that mod fails or has lived out the life it is designed to last to.
im guestimating on the fat side to approximately .09 USd a mile.
im guestimating on the fat side to approximately .09 USd a mile.
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11-29-18, 07:16 PM
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My primary commuter, a converted drop-bar from flat bar hybrid, Giant Rapid, has about 12,000 miles. The original bike cost me $250, so add another $200 for the conversion, so average cost per mile is $0.033 CAD, but that keeps coming down every year.
My other bikes...not as great. More costly bikes, less ridden.
My other bikes...not as great. More costly bikes, less ridden.
11-29-18, 08:01 PM
#36
Non omnino gravis
Ballpark guesstimate, my first bike, a KHS CX100, was purchased in January of 2015 for about $900. It went through $800 in wheelsets, probably 15 tires, and had every component replaced at least once. I never added it up, and I still don't want to now, but I don't think it would be out of the question to say that $3,000 went into that bike over the 25 months that it lived. Frame broke at mile 19,144. Call it 16¢ per mile.
After that, it's really hazy to compute. The seatpost, fork, and both wheelsets are still in regular service on my Ritchey Swiss Cross-- I got the frameset for $700, sold the CF fork for $250, so I was only out $450 for the frame. But no other parts from the KHS remain. Entire drivetrain replaced, at least 4 handlebars, 3 saddles, switched from Shimano to SRAM, changed power meters, etc, etc. Absolutely no clue what's been spent. Probably put close to $1,000 into it in the past 12 months. It's second birthday is in February, it currently sits at 10,766 miles. I wanna guess anyway, probably ~30¢ per mile.
If I focus, I could probably pin down my Cervelo R3, as it's the youngest. The bike was $2,800, $500 for a wheelset, $500 for a power meter, and realistically another $800 in contact points (saddle, seatpost, bars, tape, etc.) accessories (bottle cages, bar tape, wheel skewers, etc,) and maintenance (tires, chains, cassette.) I did sell the Fizik saddle that came with it for $70 and the stock wheels and tires for $150, so that at least makes a small dent. It's 15 months old and has 7,333 miles on it. 60¢ a mile.
Even if I were to ignore the sunk costs of the bikes themselves, and just looked at per mile in terms of maintenance and service, it still costs quite a bit to sustain 200mi/wk for 4 years. Between wear and road hazards, split between two bikes, I've bought 10 tires this year alone. Four chains.
After that, it's really hazy to compute. The seatpost, fork, and both wheelsets are still in regular service on my Ritchey Swiss Cross-- I got the frameset for $700, sold the CF fork for $250, so I was only out $450 for the frame. But no other parts from the KHS remain. Entire drivetrain replaced, at least 4 handlebars, 3 saddles, switched from Shimano to SRAM, changed power meters, etc, etc. Absolutely no clue what's been spent. Probably put close to $1,000 into it in the past 12 months. It's second birthday is in February, it currently sits at 10,766 miles. I wanna guess anyway, probably ~30¢ per mile.
If I focus, I could probably pin down my Cervelo R3, as it's the youngest. The bike was $2,800, $500 for a wheelset, $500 for a power meter, and realistically another $800 in contact points (saddle, seatpost, bars, tape, etc.) accessories (bottle cages, bar tape, wheel skewers, etc,) and maintenance (tires, chains, cassette.) I did sell the Fizik saddle that came with it for $70 and the stock wheels and tires for $150, so that at least makes a small dent. It's 15 months old and has 7,333 miles on it. 60¢ a mile.
Even if I were to ignore the sunk costs of the bikes themselves, and just looked at per mile in terms of maintenance and service, it still costs quite a bit to sustain 200mi/wk for 4 years. Between wear and road hazards, split between two bikes, I've bought 10 tires this year alone. Four chains.
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11-29-18, 08:06 PM
#37
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Newest road bike i built- probably $4.50/mile as of now.
Modernized 80s road bike- probably $1/mile as of now.
different modernized 80s road bike- probably .50/mile as of now.
gravel bike- probably .50/mile as of now.
touring bike- probably .40/mile as of now.
mtb- probably $25/mile as of now.
then there are a dozen various road bikes and mountain bikes i have sold thru the years. Who knows on them. Most were sold for the same as or more than I spent on them. Couldn't even begin to break that down.
Modernized 80s road bike- probably $1/mile as of now.
different modernized 80s road bike- probably .50/mile as of now.
gravel bike- probably .50/mile as of now.
touring bike- probably .40/mile as of now.
mtb- probably $25/mile as of now.
then there are a dozen various road bikes and mountain bikes i have sold thru the years. Who knows on them. Most were sold for the same as or more than I spent on them. Couldn't even begin to break that down.
11-29-18, 09:19 PM
#38
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Looks like $18k spent on bike stuff in the last 8 yrs.
~ 4,500 miles/year so .50/mile.
That includes cost of bikes that don't get a lot of miles, so cost/mile for main rides would be less,
and continuing use & resale value would also bring it down.
,
~ 4,500 miles/year so .50/mile.
That includes cost of bikes that don't get a lot of miles, so cost/mile for main rides would be less,
and continuing use & resale value would also bring it down.
,
11-29-18, 10:42 PM
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Pretty high. Esp. if using it for utility vs taking a car. I did that calculation when I commuted. It cost more than the car.
Me - likely .15/mile. I ride latex tires and pretty good stuff.
Kids race bike easily $1/mile racing, maybe $2/mile (and then add airfare, hotels etc.), maybe $0.30 training.
Right now sitting at $200/mile for track.
Me - likely .15/mile. I ride latex tires and pretty good stuff.
Kids race bike easily $1/mile racing, maybe $2/mile (and then add airfare, hotels etc.), maybe $0.30 training.
Right now sitting at $200/mile for track.
11-29-18, 11:49 PM
#41
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Let's see, my current pet project, a repurposed 1999 K2 alloy frame/carbon swing arm (prolly 4000, no decals) that I bought used for $100 and now have about $459 in all up has gone about 25 miles (so far) ... So that's about $18.36/mi.
The trusty Trek 2000 that I've had for years, got free as a partial, and put about $150 in with rack and tires, one wheel, etc. - has a few hundred miles on it, so maybe $0.80/mi ...
My 1956 Schwinn 26" three speed that I just sold, got new as a kid, and put a few hundred dollars in over the years with replacement parts; had maybe 5,000 miles on it (it was still being ridden when it sold). So that's maybe $0.04/mi ...
My cycling club ride as a young man was mostly a Raleigh Grand Prix that I bought new in 1969 for $115 from Kesar Cycles and rode for a few thousand miles before selling to a bud for $100. It required one wheel, one chain and three sets of tires that I recall. So call that another $125 in parts - so that's about $0.05/mi.
So it varies by chassis. In my whole life, I'd guess all my bike projects and rentals and all have prolly got me in somewhere around $0.50/mi. I'm a tinkerer. Yes, I like to ride, but I like to tinker as much, so eBay parts swapping and going weight weenie (at least partially) on most projects costs.
I'm getting ready to build an eBike. That will be just shy of $2K when all assembled and I expect to ride it at least a few thousand miles before I build another. So that ought to be right around a $1/mi or so.
Now to ask about $$ per smile - that's a whole different equation
The trusty Trek 2000 that I've had for years, got free as a partial, and put about $150 in with rack and tires, one wheel, etc. - has a few hundred miles on it, so maybe $0.80/mi ...
My 1956 Schwinn 26" three speed that I just sold, got new as a kid, and put a few hundred dollars in over the years with replacement parts; had maybe 5,000 miles on it (it was still being ridden when it sold). So that's maybe $0.04/mi ...
My cycling club ride as a young man was mostly a Raleigh Grand Prix that I bought new in 1969 for $115 from Kesar Cycles and rode for a few thousand miles before selling to a bud for $100. It required one wheel, one chain and three sets of tires that I recall. So call that another $125 in parts - so that's about $0.05/mi.
So it varies by chassis. In my whole life, I'd guess all my bike projects and rentals and all have prolly got me in somewhere around $0.50/mi. I'm a tinkerer. Yes, I like to ride, but I like to tinker as much, so eBay parts swapping and going weight weenie (at least partially) on most projects costs.
I'm getting ready to build an eBike. That will be just shy of $2K when all assembled and I expect to ride it at least a few thousand miles before I build another. So that ought to be right around a $1/mi or so.
Now to ask about $$ per smile - that's a whole different equation
11-30-18, 08:41 AM
#42
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I bike commute 4-5 days per week at 14 miles per day for a solid year now, intermittently prior. Add in weekend runs and the mileage comes in about 4000 miles per year (maybe 1500-2500 before, I ride a lot more than just a couple years back) using 2 bikes. I don’t keep detailed mileage logs, I just began using a computer, was using the GPS running watch prior each ride.
I have older used bikes, my pure road (‘89 Fuji)is $275 total into it, my commuter(‘88 Panasonic) has about $400. Add in occasional tubes, bar tape, replacing worn tires and chains and I am around $0.15 per mile, maybe less when you figure the one bike I have owned for 7 or 8 years now.
I have older used bikes, my pure road (‘89 Fuji)is $275 total into it, my commuter(‘88 Panasonic) has about $400. Add in occasional tubes, bar tape, replacing worn tires and chains and I am around $0.15 per mile, maybe less when you figure the one bike I have owned for 7 or 8 years now.
11-30-18, 08:55 AM
#43
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I buy all my clothes from Rapha so...
11-30-18, 08:56 AM
#44
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11-30-18, 08:58 AM
#45
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11-30-18, 11:04 AM
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Paid $1700 for the bike about 5-6 years ago and rode it 20,000 miles. Over the years I changed the drive train and swapped the wheels. Dunno what the ordinary maintenance cost has been (bar tape, tires, tubes, etc...) so just the bike puts me at $.09 per mile, but could be as much as triple that.
I recently retired that bike and bought another one that cost quite a bit more, but I don't care.
I recently retired that bike and bought another one that cost quite a bit more, but I don't care.
11-30-18, 11:05 AM
#47
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11-30-18, 11:31 AM
#48
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Any costs per mile are paid well over by the health benefits I get from cycling. I just can't wait for the weather to warm up again, though, because spinning in my office is getting boring.
11-30-18, 11:37 AM
#49
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The Roadie (since April 2017): 26.1 cents/mile
Initial cost, upgrades, consumables: Best guess - $2000
- This was a hot deal on a used CF bike, and I upgraded the wheels and most of the groupset
Miles: 7660
Single Speed (since August 2011): 10 cents/mile
Initial cost, upgrades, consumables: Best guess - $1500
- This started as a BD single speed; I've upgraded most everything (near Bike of Theseus stage), but cheaply, and gone through many tires
Miles: Best guess - 15,000
Gravel (since December 2017): 81.7 cents/mile (but going down soon...this is also my winter roadie!)
Initial cost, upgrades, consumables: ~$1000
Miles: 1226
Initial cost, upgrades, consumables: Best guess - $2000
- This was a hot deal on a used CF bike, and I upgraded the wheels and most of the groupset
Miles: 7660
Single Speed (since August 2011): 10 cents/mile
Initial cost, upgrades, consumables: Best guess - $1500
- This started as a BD single speed; I've upgraded most everything (near Bike of Theseus stage), but cheaply, and gone through many tires
Miles: Best guess - 15,000
Gravel (since December 2017): 81.7 cents/mile (but going down soon...this is also my winter roadie!)
Initial cost, upgrades, consumables: ~$1000
Miles: 1226
11-30-18, 12:23 PM
#50
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Fortunately I have an occupation that allows me to dress casually all the time; the fantsy end of my clothing is one navy suit (for weddings/funerals), one black tuxedo (for symphony concerts), and one tweed blazer (for academic presentations). If I got a job offer, daily suit&tie requirement would be a dealbreaker, just like being too far for bike commuting (unless my family's survival depended on it)
Last edited by RubeRad; 11-30-18 at 12:26 PM.