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What is your $ per mile for your bike?

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What is your $ per mile for your bike?

Old 10-15-20, 10:54 AM
  #76  
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asking this question will only ruin your experience on the bike.
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Old 10-15-20, 11:15 AM
  #77  
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I'm not really sure, but it's got to be a lot cheaper than the cost/fish associated with my boat.
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Old 10-15-20, 11:26 AM
  #78  
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Originally Posted by mack_turtle
asking this question will only ruin your experience on the bike.
For me, getting all OC about tracking every mile and cent spent on my bicycling activity, and even worse being concerned about it, would detract from my bicycling experience.
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Old 10-15-20, 03:40 PM
  #79  
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My old Fuji cost me $195 new 44 years ago, and I've ridden it well over 55,000 miles, so that's like 0.35 cents/mile ( $0.0035) or a roughly a third of a cent per mile.
That was before I made some changes to it, like barcons, water bottle cage, seat bag, pump...
BUT now you've gotta add all of the wear items into the mix - that is literally dozens of tires, three replacement wheelsets, two replacement rear derailleurs, new crankset, new pedals, a dozen chains, several freewheels, brake pads, replacement pumps, cables...

I never added all of them together, and I'd be afraid to do so!

Last edited by Cougrrcj; 10-16-20 at 05:03 PM. Reason: Clarification of the 0.35 cents/mile
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Old 10-15-20, 06:06 PM
  #80  
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Figuring that out would take all the fun of cycling, or any other pastime or hobby, thus I never do. Last thing I ever wanted to be, was an accountant.
Tim
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Old 10-15-20, 08:47 PM
  #81  
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Originally Posted by John_V
I'm more concerned with enjoyment per mile than cost per mile.
I totally agree!
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Old 10-19-20, 07:43 AM
  #82  
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Originally Posted by gif4445
I'm not really sure, but it's got to be a lot cheaper than the cost/fish associated with my boat.
I remember this joke:
Fred, after spending $3K to renovate his boat, took his friends on a fishing trip over the weekend. They caught only 3 fish, total.

On their way back home, Fred said, 'Those fish cost me $1K each!'

One of his friends said, 'It's a good thing we didn't catch more.'
Originally Posted by I-Like-To-Bike
For me, getting all OC about tracking every mile and cent spent on my bicycling activity, and even worse being concerned about it, would detract from my bicycling experience.
Originally Posted by Cougrrcj
My old Fuji cost me $195 new 44 years ago, and I've ridden it well over 55,000 miles, so that's like 0.35 cents/mile ( $0.0035) or a roughly a third of a cent per mile.
That was before I made some changes to it, like barcons, water bottle cage, seat bag, pump...
BUT now you've gotta add all of the wear items into the mix - that is literally dozens of tires, three replacement wheelsets, two replacement rear derailleurs, new crankset, new pedals, a dozen chains, several freewheels, brake pads, replacement pumps, cables...

I never added all of them together, and I'd be afraid to do so!
Originally Posted by tkamd73
Figuring that out would take all the fun of cycling, or any other pastime or hobby, thus I never do. Last thing I ever wanted to be, was an accountant.
Tim
Originally Posted by Jumpski
I totally agree!
I do both. Every time I make a purchase, I make an entry in the spreadsheet on a computer, which keeps the totals, yearly averages, cost per mile, etc. up-to-date automatically!!. That 30 seconds every few months does not detract from the joy I take riding my bicycle.

However it illuminates the costs of riding a bicycle: I've spent probably $4K on a bicycle I bought for $500: maintenance swamped the purchase price. If a more expensive bicycle would have improved my enjoyment per mile, it would have been worth it easily. A $1K bicycle would have increased the cost per mile by 11%; a $2K bicycle by 33% (ignoring carrying costs). Knowing this helps the prospective purchaser make a better-informed decision.
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Old 10-19-20, 07:51 AM
  #83  
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Originally Posted by Arthur Peabody
I remember this joke:









I do both. Every time I make a purchase, I make an entry in the spreadsheet on a computer, which keeps the totals, yearly averages, cost per mile, etc. up-to-date automatically!!. That 30 seconds every few months does not detract from the joy I take riding my bicycle.

However it illuminates the costs of riding a bicycle: I've spent probably $4K on a bicycle I bought for $500: maintenance swamped the purchase price. If a more expensive bicycle would have improved my enjoyment per mile, it would have been worth it easily. A $1K bicycle would have increased the cost per mile by 11%; a $2K bicycle by 33% (ignoring carrying costs). Knowing this helps the prospective purchaser make a better-informed decision.
I know people like that but it ruins the fun for some..
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Old 10-19-20, 07:56 AM
  #84  
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Cyclists must be politicians

Most answers did not answer the question asked. Must be an election year.
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Old 10-19-20, 09:00 AM
  #85  
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Originally Posted by sfruechte
Most answers did not answer the question asked. Must be an election year.
Basically texting, I don’t know, or care, or something to that effect, is an answer to the op’s question. A better one then you get from any politician, or elected official. Still anything using a spreadsheet smells like accounting to me, Yuck!
Tim

Last edited by tkamd73; 10-19-20 at 09:09 AM.
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Old 10-19-20, 09:14 AM
  #86  
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My grocery grabber/RV bike a Magna 7spd Hybrid bought at Target in 2002 for $100.00 has 12,000+ miles with bare minimum maintenance.
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Old 10-19-20, 11:35 AM
  #87  
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wrong thread?

Originally Posted by tkamd73
Basically texting, I don’t know, or care, or something to that effect, is an answer to the op’s question. A better one then you get from any politician, or elected official. Still anything using a spreadsheet smells like accounting to me, Yuck!
Tim
I think you were looking for the thread questioning if you know, care, answers are better than a politicians, and if you like accounting? Or the tkamd73 for president thread?
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Old 10-19-20, 11:50 AM
  #88  
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42. Always 42.
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Old 10-19-20, 03:58 PM
  #89  
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Personally I’d be more curious in $/hour riding than $/mile.
  • Netflix subscription: $0.21/hr
  • XM radio subscription (based on my pre-Covid commute): $0.25/hr
  • Cup of tea: $0.75/hr
  • Alcohol: $1-5/hr
  • Catrike Trail: $4/hr (new trike in 2016)
  • Movie at a theater (pre-Covid): $7/hr
  • Round of golf: $8/hr
  • Eating at home (for a couple): $9/hr
  • Car: $15/hr
  • Ice skating: $20/hr
  • Meal at a restaurant (for a couple): $25-100/hr
  • Skiing: $25/hr
  • European Vacation (for 2, pre-Covid): $31/hr
  • Performer X-Low: $48/hr (new bike this year)
  • Flying a plane: $125/hr
This type of analysis lets me directly compare my spending. I can also weight each with an enjoyment factor (1-10) and determine where I get the highest value.

As for $/mile, my Performer is currently at $3.60 and continuing to decrease.

Last edited by skier; 10-19-20 at 04:02 PM.
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Old 10-19-20, 08:26 PM
  #90  
ofajen
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Originally Posted by vespasianus
42. Always 42.
Sure. But then what, exactly, is the question?

Otto
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Old 11-23-20, 11:06 PM
  #91  
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I’ve never thought about this but I bought a new bike in January for commuting and tooling around and I’m at $0.18/mile and dropping.

my previous commute bike I got for free and rode for a decade, hard to beat that ratio.
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Old 11-24-20, 10:40 AM
  #92  
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Remember too, if you take good care of a good bike or trike, the cost per mile goes down all the time.
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